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PerZeption Secures NEI Grant for Innovative AMD Assessment Technology

On September 11, 2026, PerZeption Inc. announced its successful acquisition of a Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the National Eye Institute (NEI). The funding will support a pivotal project titled "Efficient Achromatic and Chromatic Photostress Recovery Assessment for Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD)." This initiative aims to create a streamlined testing method for evaluating macular health, especially after exposure to bright lights.

Collaboration with the Brunson Center for Translational Vision Research at the University of California, Irvine, will drive this study. The ability to assess how quickly vision recovers after intense lighting is critical; it serves as a sensitive indicator of macular health, identifying potential deficits often unnoticed by traditional acuity tests.

Traditional assessment techniques tend to reduce the recovery observation to a single measurement, necessitating specialized equipment and trained personnel, factors that hinder widespread adoption. In contrast, PerZeption aims to develop an innovative system using its Angular Indication Measurement (AIM) platform, which will focus on delineating the complete recovery curve rather than merely reporting a singular threshold.

Dr. Jan Skerswetat, PerZeption's founder and CEO, highlighted the significance of this research. “With around 20 million people suffering from AMD across the United States alone, early detection of functional impairments is vital for effective eye care,” he stated. “We appreciate the NEI for acknowledging our technology's potential in enabling earlier identification of sight loss among these patients.”

The peer-reviewed selection of this SBIR award indicates that PerZeption's AIM platform effectively addresses a noteworthy clinical demand. This follows the successful validation of AIM's ability to evaluate various visual functions through studies published in prestigious journals like Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, Optometry and Vision Science, and Scientific Reports. The forthcoming Phase I project will collect crucial clinical data, establishing feasibility and facilitating the company's regulatory strategy aimed at providing eye care professionals with a rapid and repeatable means of assessing macular functionality within routine clinical environments.

About PerZeption

Founded to innovate vision assessments, PerZeption Inc. is dedicated to delivering swift, self-administered psychophysical evaluations that tailor performance models through a cloud-based solution accessible on standard devices. The AIM platform stands out in its ability to assess more than 20 visual functionalities, many of which lack availability in commercial devices. By consolidating testing into one user-friendly platform, PerZeption significantly reduces the time clinicians spend with patients and alleviates burdens on staff, all while requiring minimal training or special space.

The secure cloud delivery system ensures that testing can be performed safely in-clinic or remotely, providing consistent and traceable results for healthcare providers, researchers, and pharmaceutical partners. For further insights on the AIM platform and the company's research initiatives, visit perzeption.vision.