The statistics say it all – 39 million people in the world are blind with a further 256 million suffering from visual impairments. The World Health Organisation estimates that a staggering 80% of these cases could be prevented or treated if those affected had adequate access to visual care. And this is exactly what UK-based technologists Peek Vision are hoping to achieve with an ambitious crowd-funding project which makes the most of existing Smartphone cameras.

Called “Peek Retina”, the technology has been developed by an award-winning team of experts in eyecare, engineering and technology, and connects easily to an existing smartphone to provide an affordable eye examination device for doctors on the move. In tandem with a smartphone camera, Peek Retina provides high-quality retinal images which can be saved to monitor treatment or seek a second opinion. Glaucoma and cataracts are just two of the conditions the device will identify, allowing patients to receive treatment to either slow or reverse the condition.

A prototype has been put through its paces in a number of remote locations including Mali, Botswana and Kenya over the last two years, and the results have been encouraging. Having now raised 50% more than the £70,000 required to develop the technology, Peek Vision are in a position to develop production of Peek Retina on a larger scale, and are aiming to start distribution of the device in October 2015. At a predicted price of less than £60 per unit, Peek Vision offers a truly low-cost route to a massive health benefit for millions of people throughout the world.

Sources:

1. The Daily Record & Sunday Mail:
   Smartphone eye examination device could help tackle blindness around the world, according to scientists.
2. Iflscience:
   New Device Performs Eye Exams with smartphone.