Keep Your Eyes On: A Prospective Device for Self-Monitoring Vision
As part of the Strategic Project 'Success and Self-Sustainability of the Individual in a Changing World,' scientists at HSE University have conducted a study to develop an electronic device designed to reduce the risk of occurrence and progression of eye diseases.
In the digital age, the continuous use of gadgets and prolonged exposure to digital screens exacerbate health risks and are increasingly recognised as a public health problem. Statistics reveal that the number of hours spent in front of screens has increased dramatically over the past decade. Researchers worldwide attribute the increasing incidence of myopia in children and adolescents to this particular trend.
According to a survey conducted in Western Europe, only 50% of respondents regularly have their eyesight checked, while others tend to ignore early symptoms of visual impairment, which can eventually lead to serious vision problems, such as the progression of myopia in adolescents and hyperopia in adults. Using a personal device for self-monitoring vision can help prevent the progression of certain eye diseases: recent studies in Australia confirm that early detection of vision problems leads to better treatment outcomes and helps prevent the disease from worsening.
Pavel Korolev, in collaboration with a group of scientists, have begun developing a device for monitoring one's vision without the need to consult a healthcare provider. Their work is carried out in the framework of the Strategic Project 'Success and Self-Sustainability of the Individual in a Changing World.'
The researchers have published a report in which they analyse the structure of the human eye, vision parameters along with their normal values, monitoring methods, software and hardware for measuring eye parameters, as well as diseases, symptoms, and pathologies of the organ. As a result, the scientists have identified the primary requirements for a prospective device intended for independent vision monitoring.
The team working on the project is developing an electronic device capable of providing recommendations for eye rest and alerting the person to the need of consulting a healthcare provider if a visual impairment is detected. The goal is to help people mitigate the risks of developing eye diseases and prevent their progression. According to Pavel Korolev and the team, this can have a positive effect on overall human health by improving emotional well-being, interactions with the outside world and other people, safety at work and at home and productivity, and by slowing down the aging of the brain.
The scientists focus on the key parameters of human vision: intraocular pressure, field of vision, colour perception, visual acuity, visual evoked potentials, and eye refraction. Most existing devices for measuring these parameters are certified medical equipment, which is not always accessible for self-use and often necessitates professional assistance.
During the study, the scientists also determined that the critical flicker fusion frequency (cFFF) can be measured independently by an individual, while serving as an indicator of visual acuity. The cFFF refers to the frequency at which light flashes must occur for the human eye to perceive them as continuous light. This parameter can be used to assess the clarity and vividness with which a person perceives images in front of their eyes. Developing a self-monitoring device capable of measuring cFFF can mitigate the risk of undiagnosed glaucoma, cataracts, and other eye diseases.
Therefore, the development of a personal device for self-monitoring vision, aligning with the trend of digital medicine, can become a public health solution, offering potential benefits for promoting health and well-being in the digital age.
The prospective device will be particularly relevant for the at-risk group, including children, adolescents, and adults who spend prolonged periods working at a computer or handling small items. Furthermore, this technology can benefit individuals undergoing treatment or rehabilitation for optic nerve diseases, as it will help monitor the eye's ability to visualise and process information, enabling timely identification of complications or relapses. As an additional benefit, the device will not only assist patients but also alleviate the burden on healthcare providers.
See also:
HSE Scientists Optimise Training of Generative Flow Networks
Researchers at the HSE Faculty of Computer Science have optimised the training method for generative flow neural networks to handle unstructured tasks, which could make the search for new drugs more efficient. The results of their work were presented at ICLR 2025, one of the world’s leading conferences on machine learning. The paper is available at Arxiv.org.
Neural Network Trained to Predict Crises in Russian Stock Market
Economists from HSE University have developed a neural network model that can predict the onset of a short-term stock market crisis with over 83% accuracy, one day in advance. The model performs well even on complex, imbalanced data and incorporates not only economic indicators but also investor sentiment. The paper by Tamara Teplova, Maksim Fayzulin, and Aleksei Kurkin from the Centre for Financial Research and Data Analytics at the HSE Faculty of Economic Sciences has been published in Socio-Economic Planning Sciences.
Larger Groups of Students Use AI More Effectively in Learning
Researchers at the Institute of Education and the Faculty of Economic Sciences at HSE University have studied what factors determine the success of student group projects when they are completed with the help of artificial intelligence (AI). Their findings suggest that, in addition to the knowledge level of the team members, the size of the group also plays a significant role—the larger it is, the more efficient the process becomes. The study was published in Innovations in Education and Teaching International.
Advancing Personalised Therapy for More Effective Cancer Treatment
Researchers from the International Laboratory of Microphysiological Systems at HSE University's Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology are developing methods to reduce tumour cell resistance to drugs and to create more effective, personalised cancer treatments. In this interview with the HSE News Service, Diana Maltseva, Head of the Laboratory, talks about their work.
Master’s Students of HSE, University of Campinas, and Tsinghua University Publish Joint Student Research Collection
Master’s students of the HSE ISSEK programme ‘Science, Technology and Innovation Management and Policy’ have released a joint research collection with the University of Campinas (Brazil) and Tsinghua University (China) titled ‘Being Innovative or Being on the Safe Side—Managing the Risk of Failure.’ The authors explore how organisations perceive risks and embrace innovation within different cultural contexts.
‘A Turn Away from Stereotypes’: Moscow Hosts ‘Researching the Deaf Community’ Conference
On October 17–19, 2025, the third annual interdisciplinary conference ‘Researching the Deaf Community 2025: on the Periphery of Attention’ took place at GES-2 House of Culture in Moscow. The event was organised with the participation of the HSE International Laboratory for Social Integration Research. HSE University Vice Rector Irina Martusevich addressed attendees at the opening ceremony.
Exploring the Mind: HSE Scientists Discuss Cognitive Technologies of the Future
Why we make irrational decisions, how the brain responds to fakes, and whether neural networks are capable of thinking—these were the topics discussed by early-career scientists of HSE University during the NAUKA 0+ science festival. The event brought together students and experts from various fields, united by a common goal—to deepen their understanding of the human brain and cognitive technologies.
HSE Researchers Assess Creative Industry Losses from Use of GenAI
Speaking at the IPQuorum.Music forum on October 15, Leonid Gokhberg, HSE First Vice Rector, and Daniil Kudrin, an expert at the Centre for Industry and Corporate Projects of HSE ISSEK, presented the findings of the first study in Russia on the economic impact of GenAI on creative professions. The analysis shows that creators’ potential losses could reach one trillion roubles by 2030.
International Dialogue on Urban Development: Dynamic Urbanism and Green Infrastructure
In September 2025, the HSE Faculty of Urban and Regional Development (FURD) hosted a delegation of leading scholars and urban development experts from China. Two seminars were held at the Shukhov Lab with the participation of Chinese colleagues: the first focused on green infrastructure, while the second explored the theme of dynamic urbanism. In addition, a meeting between the Chinese delegation and representatives of FURD took place at the university’s main building on Pokrovsky Bulvar. The participants discussed opportunities for expanding cooperation between universities and research centres.
HSE Tops the Ranking of Universities with the Best Employer Reputation
On October 16, 2025, Forbes Education published its list of the top 20 Russian universities with the best employer reputation in 2025. The ranking was based on a survey of leading Russian employers, who named the higher education institutions whose graduates they consider the most well-prepared and are most inclined to hire. HSE University took first place in the ranking.