Trust & boundaries
Ocura is designed to help you understand your eye health — not to replace your eye care provider. Here's what the app does, what it doesn't do, and how your data is handled.
What Ocura does
- Measures your blink rate and quality using on-device camera AI
- Keeps the OSDI path verified and disables new PHQ-9 collection by default in the safety update
- Generates a screening estimate based on a Bayesian probabilistic model
- Provides general next-step information for discussion with an eye care professional
- Tracks your eye health over time with longitudinal trend analysis
Older app versions may differ. Historical records labelled PHQ-9, DEQS, or CVS-Q remain readable; the safety update does not delete them.
DEQS- and CVS-Q-labelled paths remain open in the safety update as legacy/custom symptom check-ins; they have not been verified as equivalents of the published instruments or as licensed ePRO implementations.
Verified describes the app's implementation path; it does not claim independent clinical validation, regulatory clearance, or equivalence to a separately licensed ePRO deployment.
What Ocura does not do
- Diagnose dry eye disease or any other medical condition
- Replace examination by an ophthalmologist or optometrist
- Prescribe treatments or medications
- Claim to detect conditions that require clinical equipment (like slit lamp examination)
- Store or transmit any camera footage — video is never recorded
How your data is handled
All blink analysis happens entirely on your device. Your phone's camera is used for real-time facial landmark detection, but no video or images are ever recorded, stored, or transmitted. Only computed metrics — like blink count, rate, and completeness — are saved locally by default and may be synced only if you create an account.
In guest mode, all data stays on your device. If you create an account, screening data may be synced to enable cross-device access. You can delete your account and all associated data at any time.
How to interpret your results
Ocura provides a screening estimate (Healthy, Mild, Moderate, or Severe) based on available blink signals and symptom records. This is a screening result — it reflects patterns that may be associated with dry eye, not a clinical diagnosis.
A “Moderate” or “Severe” result doesn't mean you definitely have dry eye disease. It means the available signals may warrant discussion with an eye care professional.
How our articles are written
The articles on Learn are medically informed, not medically reviewed. What that means:
- Content is informed by published, peer-reviewed sources, with links provided where available.
- We do not (yet) have a clinician on payroll to sign off on each article. We would rather say so than claim a reviewer we don't have.
- Nothing in an article is a substitute for an eye care professional. If something in a piece sounds like it describes your situation, that is a cue to book an appointment, not to self-treat.
- If you are a clinician and spot something we got wrong, please reach out — we will correct it and credit you if you want.
When to seek professional care
You should consult an eye care professional if:
- Your symptoms persist for more than a few weeks
- You experience significant pain, sudden vision changes, or light sensitivity
- Your screening results consistently show Moderate or Severe levels
- Over-the-counter remedies haven't improved your comfort
- You have underlying conditions that may affect your eyes
Try a structured eye health check
Ocura gives you a clear, evidence-informed starting point for understanding your eye health — free, private, and on your terms.
Ocura is designed as a screening and wellness tool, not a medical diagnostic device. Results may help you better understand your eye health but do not replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified eye care professional for medical concerns.