2024’s Biometric Verification: An Inclusive Guide on Retina Scan Authentication

In biometric authentication, the quest for security and accuracy never finishes. That’s why the human eye, usually referred to as the “mirror of the soul”, turned out to be a gateway of future protection and identification. Retina Scan that’s hidden but a secure and intricate method whilst iris verification has gained acceptance. Besides, the colored iris has a retinal structure that’s a unique and complicated roadmap shaped by the fragile blood vessels beyond the eyes. 

In the era of retina scans, the overlooked light beams embellish our deepest secret, and safety leaps into the future. The retina scan market will gain prominence by 2028 at a CAGR of 26.6%, reaching $4.9 billion. Connect us on this dive into retina scan, its history, its differentiation with iris, and its guarantee of fortifying the digital world. 

Key Takeaways

• Retina scan biometric technology uses unique eye geometrical patterns to authenticate users and provide accurate results. 
• Retina recognition is an advanced biometric method that verifies the unique patterns of individual retina by using a low-intensity light source. 
• Secure banking and health industry through retina scan advanced technology. 

How Retina Scan Invented? 

A research paper published in 1935 by Dr. Isodore Goldstein and Carleton Simon depicts every retina having distinctive blood vessel patterns. Afterward, they published research that suggests using images of these blood vessel patterns to identify individuals. In the 1950s, Dr. Paul Tower conducted the second study, which discovered that blood vessel retina patterns are distinctive even among identical twins. In 1976, EyeDentify, Inc. was the first significant dealer in developing, producing, and researching retinal scanning technologies. The Fundus camera was the first device to acquire retina images through instruments made for ophthalmologists. In 1981, the first prototype retina scan device was invented. It used infrared lights to illuminate the retina pattern of the blood vessel. 

Let’s move forward to learn where retina scans are being used and why.

Which Industries are Transformed through Retina Scan?

Advanced retina scanners are complicated to spoof and are employed in high-risk or top-level safety applications for quick recognition and identification. They analyse blood vessel patterns by casting infrared or natural light on them. As these scanners are unique and get stable with time, it’s difficult to deceive these verification systems. 

Retina scanners have many uses in nuclear reactors, government surveillance, and high-security locations as they are quite accurate. It’s really hard for fraudsters to replicate or dodge this method, the reason it’s trusted among users globally. Retina scans are employed in different industries, such as matchmaking, healthcare, government surveillance, and gambling, and they provide highly accurate results that weren’t even possible before. 

The US government has employed biometric retina scan technology in high-risk agencies such as:

• National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) 
• Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
• Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI)

Retina Scan VS Iris Recognition: Which One is Better?

Retina scans outperform advanced biometric authentication solutions due to their reliability and 99.9% accuracy rate. However, iris recognition is more advanced than retina scans. Both can easily differentiate identical twins and provide foolproof safety to firms. The primary difference between them is that iris biometrics are non-intrusive, whilst retina scans are intrusive. 

Retina scans use a light beam to capture the person’s retina, which is appropriate for in-person recognition procedures. Conversely, iris technology is non-intrusive that just captures the pupil image. This method is typically used in KYC applications and user registration. It’s essential to understand their differences and similarities in-depth: 

Similarities

• Minimal chances of false positives, almost 0%
• Quickly verify the person’s identity
• Highly Accurate, as two people don’t have the same retinal patterns

Differences

• Iris verification is just like typical images and can be executed from a distance, however, retinal scans require the user to bring the eye closer to the biometric device.
• Retina scanners are invasive, but the iris is widely recognised as a commercial modality. 
• The accuracy of retinal scans can be changed in any disease whilst the iris remains stable. 

Both are accurate and unique, providing legitimate results to businesses. Therefore, they both are highly recommended but in different scenarios to restrict scammers. 

Secure Healthcare and Banking Industry with Retina Scan 

The advanced biometric devices are more prevailing in today’s digital world. Moreover, they have diverse applications that range from security to healthcare. Following are the best five industries that use advanced biometric devices to recognise clients, enhance safety, confirm users, and do multiple things: 

Banking

In banks, the security of financial transactions and the quality of customer services are improved due to these biometric devices. For example, retina scan technology is being used by financial firms to verify the client’s identity. These AI-powered systems minimize the risk of fraud, money laundering, and identity theft. Additionally, retina scanners are being used in the user authentication procedure of financial transactions such as account transfers. 

Banks have also commenced to employ retina scan technology as additional security against customers engaging in theft. Indian banks have implemented retina scan security as a sophisticated method of identity verification that makes financial transactions secure. Therefore, these digital devices support firms and individuals in accessing their accounts without entering or memorising a pin and password. 

Healthcare

Nurses and doctors have exercised retina scans for the past several years to recognise patients and be aware of their medical problems. Biometric verification utilised by doctors to congregate biometric information of patients through retina scans. Thereby, doctors can easily access patient history and find out if they are getting the right treatment by quickly retrieving their information from the database. 

Due to their contactless nature, retina scanners became popular in the healthcare industry during COVID-19. According to Meticulous research, the healthcare industry is anticipated to flourish at an agile CAGR from 2022 to 2029 in the biometric world. Hence, the growing healthcare identity theft and data breaches are the reasons behind the growth of retina scan technology.

Fast-Track Customer Onboarding with Facia

Facia’s retina scan technology significantly impacts different industries and businesses due to its contactless nature and 99% accuracy rate. Their retina scanners are more secure than other biometric methods such as fingerprint, iris, palm, and vein. That’s why they are gaining acceptance in different industries, including retail, healthcare, and government. Furthermore, retina scans enable clients to confirm their identities easily, reduce time to create new accounts, and restrict spoofing activities. 

Do you want to enhance security and streamline the user experience? Avail our free trial to learn more about Facia retina scan technology.