Written by: Dr. Amit Mishra
Start-up Technology tackling blindness
The human eye is the most vital and sensitive sense organ. It requires the utmost care as it enables us to view the real colorful world around us. Blindness is exactly defined as the condition of absolute loss of vision in the two eyes. In recent years, the culmination of Start-ups has proved its mark in almost every domain of life including healthcare and has developed competitive-environment in business world driving, passionate and innovative young entrepreneurs from all over the world. With the rise of middle class and digitalization of almost every system, there has been an increase in the dependency of the Internet and Mobile gadgets, well-received for quality and affordable eye healthcare in India. By this article, I have tried to present an overview of different scopes of start-ups in eye care to improve vision and cure cataract, glaucoma, myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, presbyopia, blindness and promote awareness among people for eye donation.
Healthcare market in India is fixed to grow from 10000 crores INR in 2016 to 28000 crores INR in 2020, creating a huge opportunity for Eye healthcare and Eye health tech companies and start-ups. World Health Organization (WHO) and International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) has prepared VISION 2020 with an aim of “right to sight” to improve the lives of people suffering from blindness and vision impairment and other eye disorders. It is the world level action for avoiding blindness and other eye disorderliness.
Key Facts related to Blindness
- In India, there are around 12 million people suffering from blindness issues
- World statistics estimates approximately 1.3 billion people live suffering from some form of vision impairment
- With regards to distance vision, around 188.5 million people have a mild vision impairment, about 217 million have moderate to severe vision impairment, and around 39 million people are blind
- With regards to near vision, around 826 million people suffer from near vision impairment (Presbyopia)
- At the global level, the leading causes of vision impairment are uncorrected refractive errors and cataracts
- Around 80% of all vision impairment globally is considered avoidable or curable
- The major section of people with vision impairment belong to above 50 years age
Young Entrepreneurs may plan for Start-ups business with the Ideas for Eyecare discussed below:
- Establishment of Eye Care Diagnostic AI(Artificial Intelligence) Start-up
- Restoration of vision to blind using Advanced Nanotechnology
- Development of Active implantable medical devices (AIMD) like Pacemaker for heart
- Gene therapy Start-up to restore vision in patients. Recently different Biotech companies have targeted different mutations e.g. RPE65 gene responsible for blindness in children and adults
- Facilitate Home visual acuity tests. It is the test used to find the reading ability on a standardized chart (Snellen chart) or a card held 20 feet (6 meters) away. The test is very useful for students
- Develop Bioengineered cornea with the help of synthetic polymers. It is the best alternative to donor corneas for high‐risk patients of rejection
- Establish facilities for Corneal cross-linking (CXL). It is a minimally invasive outpatient method designed to treat progressive keratoconus
- Develop treatments for Fibrotic diseases of the eye. It is very useful in cases of mechanical wound or metabolic abnormalities in eye
- Develop novel therapies for mitochondrial and neurodegenerative diseases of the eye and central nervous system
- Develop fully functioning electronic retinal prosthesis, in order to give back to blind persons a part of their lost sight
- Detection of diabetic retinopathy
- Genetics related dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and associated rare genetic diseases
- Unique non-invasive soft contact lens-based solution, with the aim of revolutionizing glaucoma
- Develop bionic eye devices. Very useful for retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration
- Develop an eye pressure measurement system consisting of an implantable microsensor, responsible for pressure sensing
- Develop treatments of ocular surface diseases (related to cornea, conjunctiva and the limbus tissues) using Mobile technologies and self-diagnostics
- Utilizing a CO2 laser technology to substantially minimize pressure, by restoring the natural fluid percolation without pervading into the eye
Conclusion
With an aim to increase the awareness towards the blind people, the Indian Government is organising the Prevention of Blindness Week campaign from 1st to 7th April. Let us take up the cudgels and find out innovative ideas to resolve this major issue of Blindness and help in giving sight to the people and show them the real wonderful world.
