"A SIMPLE eye test could help solve the biggest global cause of irreversible blindness glaucoma. In clinical trials the pioneering diagnostic  developed by researchers at University College London UCL and the Western Eye Hospital  allowed doctors to see individual nerve cell death in the back of the eye.  Glaucoma affects  million people in the world with  in  suffering total sight loss in both eyes. Early detection means doctors can start treatments before sight loss begins. The test also has potential for early diagnosis of other degenerative neurological conditions including Parkinsons Alzheimers and multiple sclerosis. Results of first clinical trials with glaucoma patients are published today  in the journal BRAIN. Professor Francesca Cordeiro at UCL Institute of Ophthalmology who led the research said Detecting glaucoma early is vital as symptoms are not always obvious. Although detection has been improving most patients have lost a third of vision by the time they are diagnosed. Now for the first time we have been able to show individual cell death and detect the earliest signs of glaucoma. While we cannot cure the disease our test means treatment can start before symptoms begin. In the future the test could also be used to diagnose other neurodegenerative diseases. Loss of sight in patients with glaucoma is caused by the death of cells in the retina at the back of the eye. This cell death is called apoptosis. As with other neurodegenerative conditions more and more nerve cells are lost as the disease progresses. Professor Philip Bloom Chief Investigator at Western Eye Hospital part of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust added Treatment is much more successful when it is begun in early stages of the disease when sight loss is minimal. Our developments mean we could diagnose patients  years earlier than was previously possible. The technique developed is called DARC which stands for detection of apoptosing retinal cells. It uses a specially developed fluorescent marker which attaches to cell proteins when injected into patients. Sick cells appear as white fluorescent spots during eye examination. UCL Business the commercialisation company of UCL holds the patents for the technology. The examination uses equipment used during routine hospital eye examinations. Researchers hope that eventually it may be possible for opticians to do the tests enabling even earlier detection of the disease. The research is funded by Wellcome Trust. Bethan Hughes from Wellcomes Innovation team said This innovation has the potential to transform lives for those who suffer loss of sight through glaucoma and offers hope of a breakthrough in early diagnosis of other neurodegenerative diseases. Loss of sight as you age is an incredibly difficult disability impacting quality of life and independence. Initial clinical trials were carried out on a small number of glaucoma patients and compared with tests on healthy people. The initial clinical trials established the safety of the test for patients. Further studies will now be carried out to into DARC and how it can be used not only to diagnose and treat glaucoma patients but also for other neurodegenerative conditions.    Link to paper The following link will go live at the time the embargo lifts httpsacademic.oup.combrainarticlelookupdoi.brainawx  For embargoed copies of the BRAIN paper and for media enquiries please contact Maggie Stratton m.strattonwellcome.ac.uk mailtom.strattonwellcome.ac.uk          For further information about DARC technology please contact Emma Alam e.alamuclb.com mailtoe.alamuclb.com        About UCL Business UCL Business PLC UCLB is a leading technology transfer company that supports and commercialises research and innovations arising from UCL one of the UKs top researchled universities. UCLB has a successful track record and a strong reputation for identifying and protecting promising new technologies and innovations from UCL academics. UCLB has a strong track record in commercialising medical technologies and provides technology transfer services to UCLs associated hospitals University College London Hospitals Moorfields Eye Hospital Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children and the Royal Free London Hospital. It invests directly in development projects to maximise the potential of the research and manages the commercialisation process of technologies from laboratory to market. For further information please visit http Twitter UCL_Business httpstwitter.comucl_businesslangen About UCL University College London UCL was founded in . We were the first English university established after Oxford and Cambridge the first to open up university education to those previously excluded from it and the first to provide systematic teaching of law architecture and medicine. We are among the worlds top universities as reflected by performance in a range of international rankings and tables. UCL currently has over  students from  countries and over  staff. Our annual income is more than  billion. http  Follow us on Twitter uclnews httpstwitter.comuclnewsref_srctwsrcEgoogleCtwcampEserpCtwgrEauthor  Watch our YouTube channel YouTube.comUCLTV https About Imperial Hospitals NHS TrustWestern Eye Hospital Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust is one of the largest hospital Trusts in England providing acute and specialist healthcare for a population of nearly two million people. The Trust has five hospitals  Charing Cross Hammersmith Queen Charlottes  Chelsea St Marys and The Western Eye  as well as community services. The Western Eye Hospital is a specialist eye hospital in West London with a  accident and emergency department. The hospitals facilities also include outpatients inpatients day case and inpatient surgery. The equipment used in the study was funded by a grant from Imperial Health Charity. Imperial Health Charity formerly Imperial College Healthcare Charity raises funds for five London hospitals within Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust Charing Cross Hammersmith Queen Charlottes  Chelsea St Marys and Western Eye hospitals. It has awarded more than million to  healthcare projects to date and in the autumn of  committed a further million to the hospitals of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust over the next three years for a series of major projects. About Wellcome Wellcome exists to improve health for everyone by helping great ideas to thrive. Were a global charitable foundation both politically and financially independent. We support scientists and researchers take on big problems fuel imaginations and spark debate."