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SearchCleveland Clinic developed Autism Eyes, an eye-tracking technology that detects autism markers by analyzing how children view images. Acquired in early 2024, this technology aims to reduce the typical one-to-three-year delay between noticing symptoms and receiving a formal autism diagnosis.
Early diagnosis is crucial for children with autism, yet there has historically been a significant one-to-three-year gap between when parents first notice concerns and when their child receives a formal diagnosis. Now, thanks to innovative research at Cleveland Clinic, a technology called Autism Eyes emerged that could revolutionize how autism is detected. The technology, which uses eye-tracking to identify autism markers earlier than traditional methods, was acquired by virtual reality therapy company Floreo in 2024, representing a major advancement in making early screening more accessible.
The development of Autism Eyes emerged from a crucial clinical observation: individuals with autism tend to focus more on abstract elements, colors, and movements, while those without autism are naturally drawn to human faces. Under the leadership of the then-director of the Center for Autism, researchers developed a screening tool that analyzes these distinct patterns of eye movement when children view specific images, enabling earlier intervention during critical developmental periods.
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The success of Autism Eyes exemplifies how "smart philanthropy decisions can move the needle on big problems," as shared by Allison Cole, a board-certified behavior analyst and philanthropist whose contribution helped advance the project's development. Cleveland Clinic's unique ecosystem proved essential in nurturing this technology over its decade-long development. As Geoff Vince, PhD, Chief of Innovations, and Chair of Biomedical Engineering at Cleveland Clinic emphasized, "Taking that research and commercializing it is one of the major roles of Innovations because it directly will impact patient care."
Looking ahead, the integration of Autism Eyes technology into the virtual reality therapy platform represents a promising development in autism care. The team envisions these devices being deployed not only to schools and pediatrician offices but also to homes. The collaboration between research, philanthropy, and innovation demonstrates the power of partnership within Cleveland Clinic. As Mohammed Aldosari, MD, Director, Pediatric Neurosciences at Cleveland Clinic notes, "Teamwork is really at the essence of what we do here as a team at Cleveland Clinic." The success story of Autism Eyes and its future potential "would have only been able to be done at Cleveland Clinic," highlighting the institution's unique ability to identify unmet clinical needs and develop solutions that transform and improve patient care.
