Optalert's Owl Eye app tracks your blink pattern to detect signs of breathing issues during sleep.
Or read below to learn about Optalert's groundbreaking OSA screening technology.
1 in 8 people worldwide suffer from obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA)
80% of them are undiagnosed, living with an invisible weight holding them back
Around the world, 13% of people aged 30-69 have moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnoea, with 80% of them undiagnosed. That is 425 million people!
To get diagnosed, they would need to get a physician referral, wait months for a sleep study, with medical expert analysis, then receive results over a week later.
Sources:
Lancet Respir Med 2019; 7: 687–98. Published Online July 9, 2019. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/ S2213-2600(19)30198-5
Frost & Sullivan, American Academy of Sleep Medicine. 2016. http://www.aasmnet.org/sleep-apnea-economic-impact.aspx
Optalert has unlocked a new way to test for signs of sleep issues through eyelid movements
Blepharometry is the measurement of eyelid movement. A person’s eyelids are controlled by two parts of the brain. Someone with sleep health issues gets less oxygen as they sleep, which impairs their eyelid coordination in a particular way.
Optalert’s AI-based algorithm derives 64 parameters from a person’s eyelid signal and detects this impairment with astoundingly high accuracy.
The algorithm is in the process of achieving regulatory certification in major markets. Optalert is on track for its software to be classed as a medical device that screens for OSA in 2027.
Super simple test with fast results
First, the test participant needs to find a quiet, well-lit place. When the test begins, a circle appears on the screen, and every few seconds, it flickers between a diamond and a square.
They simply count the number of diamonds (not squares) that appear.
In the background, Optalert’s ingenious algorithm is processing their every eyelid movement – every blink, every micro-flutter. It then detects the subtle impairment caused by their sleep issues. After a few minutes, the app shows their results and lists recommended next steps.
High accuracy without the wait
Quick and Quaint questionnaires came first – fast but inaccurate.
Slow and Steady smartwatch screeners emerged next – a more accurate result after multiple sleeps.
Owl Eye introduces the best of both worlds: a rapid test with high accuracy. This radical innovation sets it apart.
It is more accurate than both smartwatch tests
Sources:
[1] Estimating Breathing Disturbances and Sleep Apnea Risk from Apple Watch, Apple Inc., https://www.apple.com/health/pdf/sleep-apnea/Sleep_Apnea_Notifications_on_Apple_Watch_September_2024.pdf
[2] De Novo Classification Request for Sleep Apnea Feature, FDA, https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cdrh_docs/reviews/DEN230041.pdf
Owl Eye is available in 4 languages across 12 countries
Owl Eye was featured on 7NEWS
Owl Eye is in the process of becoming software as a medical device (SaMD)
The above screenshot is of a product in development. The current Owl Eye app available on the Apple App Store is a health and wellness app, and not a certified medical device.
If you have concerns about your sleep health, consult with a health professional.
We are currently pursuing regulatory certification of Owl Eye as software as a medical device (SaMD). This new version introduces three transformative features:
- Clinician mode allows doctors to test multiple patients and review their test history.
- Owl Eye score now reveals the participant’s risk level.
- Export results provides a report for doctors to store results as a PDF or print for hardcopy records.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Owl Eye test is simple. First, you go somewhere quiet with good lighting. When the test begins, a circle appears on the screen and every few seconds it flickers to either a diamond or square. You must count the number of diamonds that appear. After a few minutes, the app shows your result and lists recommended next steps.
As you perform the test, Optalert’s ingenious algorithm is processing your every eyelid movement – every blink, every micro-flutter. It then detects the subtle impairment that arises from issues with your sleep. The video itself is discarded and only your head and eye data is retained. The underlying technology is based on collaborations with leading sleep laboratories at Monash Medical Centre, the Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, and the Institute for Breathing and Sleep (IBAS).
The underlying technology in the Owl Eye test is based on data collected at leading sleep laboratories at Monash Medical Centre, the Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, and the Institute for Breathing and Sleep (IBAS).
The result of this test is not a diagnosis of a sleep condition. If you have concerns about your sleep or health, consult with a health professional.
Australian medical technology firm Optalert developed its unique biomarker for rapidly detecting signs of issues with sleep and built it into the Owl Eye app. To collect data for its model, Optalert collaborated with leading research teams at Monash Medical Centre, the Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, and the Institute for Breathing and Sleep (IBAS).
Optalert was founded by renowned sleep researcher Dr. Murray Johns. It is the world’s leading organisation in the field of blepharometry, the study of eyelid movements. The firm holds multiple patents on its Johns Drowsiness Scale (JDS™), a proprietary biomarker that is used in sleep laboratories around the world and Harvard Medical School has deemed “commensurate with gold standard laboratory measures”. It has also developed an algorithm that quantifies impairment due to intoxication.
Optalert operates globally and has been commercially active in fleet management for over 16 years.
Our technology is currently only available on Apple devices due to technical constraints. We are working to overcome these limitations to broaden access to this transformative test.
Currently the Owl Eye app is available in USA, China, Germany, France, UK, Canada, Taiwan, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand.
There are two versions of the app, depending on your location:
- Australia/New Zealand: Download here.
- USA, China, Germany, France, UK, Canada, Taiwan, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland: Download here.
Get in touch
Get in touch using the form below. Just enter your name, email address, and your message, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
Contact Owl Eye Support
If you need support with the current Owl Eye app, get in touch with our support team.