đ Ocular: A Better Way to Diagnose ADHD
This startup is tracking eye movements to accurately diagnose ADHD
Nearly 1 million students in the US are wrongly diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, and an unknown number of students who struggle with the condition have not received a formal diagnosis. Misdiagnosis wreaks havoc on a studentâs life, resulting in worse outcomes in standards like graduation rate and future earnings. This weekâs startup has created a faster and more accurate way to diagnose ADHD: by tracking a patientâs eye movements.Â
đ„ Whatâs the Deal?
As recent high school graduates, Will Das and Shubh Khanna were acutely aware of the struggles of peers who sought ADHD diagnosis. Traditional diagnosis methods are flawed, requiring subjective assessments by overbooked psychiatrists or clunky machines that cost thousands of dollars and are hardly used. With webcam-tracked eye biometrics and proprietary AI-based algorithms, Will and Shubh designed a much-needed improvement to the system.
Ocular Diagnostics decentralizes ADHD screening, envisioning a more equitable future for ADHD diagnosis. A patient can log onto Ocular at home and complete a 20-minute visuospatial memory task that assesses their attentional performance. The system tracks their pupil and eye gaze movements using the device webcam and submits the data to Ocularâs servers for analysis. Final eye biometric statistics are then presented to the patient along with an ADHD probability score.Â
The elegant screener gives psychiatrists crucial data on whether or not to make an ADHD diagnosis, and it also eliminates much of the existing glut by signaling to those who clearly donât have ADHD not to pursue treatment. Will and Shubh are planning a large trial of their system before applying for FDA approval to start helping patients across the country.
đ Fast Facts
Company:Â Ocular Diagnostics
Website:Â https://www.oculardiagnostix.com
Founded:Â 2020
Stage: Seed
Industry: Healthcare
SDG: #3: Good Health & Well-Being
Team: William Das and Shubh KhannaÂ
Traction: Selected by Columbia and Stanfordâs top accelerators; $100,000 from Soma Capital; $30,000 grant from Columbia
đ Why We Love It
đ The underlying science is soundÂ
Will and Shubhâs system is based on peer-reviewed research they published in Nature Science Reports. They have acclaimed experts (including a neuroscientist and a computer vision researcher) as advisors, and they make sure to consult with psychiatrists involved in the day-to-day of ADHD diagnosis.Â
đ€ The algorithm will continually improve over time
Ocular Diagnosticsâs algorithmic structure means that the more tests it conducts, the more accurate its diagnoses will become. In the future, the screening tool could eventually be used as a stand-alone method for diagnosis. In addition, the platform and the technology can also possibly be trained to screen for other neurological disorders, like Autism Spectrum Disorder.
đ A commitment to impact
Midway through their time at Hunter College High School in New York City, Will and Shubh created Coding for Impact, a platform that paired civically-minded programmers from all over the globe with nonprofits that needed their expertise. After seeing the great solutions that other students came up with through Coding for Impact, Will and Shubh were inspired to come up with their own. With Ocular, they dream of a world where people around the world can get the ADHD diagnosis and treatment they need no matter their financial status, demonstrating how new software-based solutions can promote equity in healthcare for underserved populations.
đ Get Involved
Want to try it out? Join the Ocular beta list here
Inquiries? Shoot them an email at williamdas@oculardiagnostix.com
âYash Mangalick (Columbia)