Vision Screening Protocol: Low-cost, easy-to-use mobile refractometer to expand visual screening of children
The challenge
Myopia is a silent epidemic and a ticking bomb for society. Now recognised as the 4th leading cause of blindness globally [1], the increasing prevalence of myopia has become a major public health challenge worldwide. Based on prevalent trends, myopia and high myopia are increasing at a rapid rate, projected to affect respectively 50% and 10% of the worldwide population by 2050. High myopia, the most severe form of the disease, is associated with a high risk of blindness and serious vision impairments, for example retinal damage, cataracts, glaucoma and blindness in later stages.
In Asia, where prevalence of myopia can reach up to 85% in adults in large urban cities [2][3], governmental intervention has increased to combat and limit the impact of myopia. In Europe and the US, however, although the WHO has recognised myopia as a disease since 2019, awareness of the urgent action to slow down its prevalence has only recently become more prolific.
Unfortunately, Europe’s healthcare specialists are stretched. By offering mass screening eye care tools at the primary care level (at GP’s, community optometrists/opticians, pharmacists), this project aims to mitigate the costs associated with myopia and provides a system to protect the eyesight of the European population.
The solution
Leveraging the expertise of a multidisciplinary consortium, our collaborative project is designed to develop an innovative protocol that will enable easy vision screening by primary caregivers.
This innovation reflects our commitment to advancing professional practice while adhering to the highest regulatory standards and safety requirements.
Expected impact
The project aims at reducing inequalities by addressing part of the WHO social equation of accessibility, affordability, and quality issues.
By enabling new screening protocols, this project aims to empower primary care professionals to support eyecare screening.
By improving care pathways, this project has the potential to reduce the long-term risk of myopia-related pathologies and high myopia.
At a broader level, the project aims to reduce the socio-economic burden associated with myopia-related complications.
External Partners
- Hôpital Fondation Adolphe de Rothschild – French Institute of Myopia
References
[1] Bourne et al., Causes of vision loss worldwide, 1990 -2010: a systematic analysis, Lancet Glob Health, 2013 Dec;1(6):e339 -49. doi: 10.1016/S2214- 109X(13)70113-X
[2] Lin at ,Prevalence of myopia in Taiwanese schoolchildren: 1983 to 2000, Ann Acad Med Singap. 2004 Jan;33(1):27-33, PMID: 15008558.
[3] Matsumura, , Ching-Yu, C., Saw, SM. (2020). Global Epidemiology of Myopia. In: Ang, M., Wong, T. (eds) Updates on Myopia. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978 -981-13-8491- 2_2
Members
CLC/InnoStars: France
Partner classification: Business
Essilor is the world leader for corrective lenses, From design to manufacture, to correct and protect eyesight. Its mission is to "improve lives by improving sight". The group is present in more than 100 countries, strategy is driven by innovation.
ESSILOR International
ESSILOR International, 147 rue de Paris, 94220 Charenton-Le-Pont, France
Key Activities in Corporate Innovation
Med Tech, ICT, Consumer products
Key Activities in Business Creation
Incubation
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Entrepreneurship training, Healthcare professional education/training
CLC/InnoStars: InnoStars
Partner classification: Tech Transfer, Clusters, Other NGOs
The Instituto Pedro Nunes (IPN) is a non-profit private organization, which promotes innovation and the transfer of technology, establishing the interface between the scientific and technological environment and the production sector. Created in 1991 through an initiative of the University of Coimbra, IPN has currently a team of almost 100 permanent staff to support start-ups and researchers in these activities. With a self-sustained business model that gives the flexibility and capacity to accompany business sector needs, IPN operates in three complementary areas: Highly specialized training, Research and technological development, and Incubation and acceleration of technology-based enterprises. In terms of applied research and technological development, IPN’s technological infrastructure includes a set of six laboratories in diversified technological areas which, along with its established connections with higher education institutions, R&TD organizations and both national and international companies, place IPN in a privileged position for jointly conducting R&TD activities with enterprises. As for the incubation and acceleration of technology-based enterprises, IPN assists start-ups with technical guidance in the establishment and early stages of business development, tutorial follow-up for developing business plans, support for attracting investment and securing funding, intellectual property and legal assistance (e.g. technology transfer contracts and the registration of patents or brands), access to and contact with various national and international research centres, knowledge institutions and sources of funding.
Instituto Pedro Nunes (IPN)
Instituto Pedro Nunes (IPN), R. Pedro Nunes, 3030-199 Coimbra, Portugal
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Med Tech, ICT, Imaging
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Incubation, Technology Transfer, Business coaching, Testing & Validation
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Entrepreneurship training
CLC/InnoStars: Spain
Partner classification: Business, Education
IESE Business School is dedicated to training professional managers, with international educational programmes, including those with a particular focus on innovation management in the Health sector. IESE Centre for Research in Healthcare Innovation Management (CRHIM), created in 2012, builds on over 30 years of expertise in the sector. It enables public and private R&I projects to become a reference centre for health innovation management. Specialist areas include: Health management, health economics, business development, executive education, capacity-building activities.
IESE Business School (CHRIM)
IESE Business School (CHRIM), Av. de Pearson, 21, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
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Finance & Investment, Business coaching
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Business Schools, Entrepreneurship training, Technical faculties, Healthcare professional education/training
CLC/InnoStars: Scandinavia
Partner classification: Research, Municipality / City, Hospital / University Hospital
Partner type: Associate Partner
Region Uppsala delivers health care services, both primary and highly specialised, to the wider healthcare region. Our university hospital, through leading medical research across a number fields, both delivers and develops excellence in care provision. We also head-up and coordinate broader regional development, across the eight municipalities of the county and in close cooperation with the Uppsala’s two universities and regional business.
Key Activities in Social Innovation
Healthcare provision, Payers
CLC/InnoStars: InnoStars
Partner classification: Hospital / University Hospital
The Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra (CHUC) is the biggest Portuguese hospital having a comprehensive research, teaching and patient-centred care approach. Our mission is to deliver high-quality clinical care in a context of pre and postgraduate training with a strong focus on research, scientific knowledge and innovation. The hospital offers comprehensive care across all the leading medical and surgical specialties. CHUC´s excellence centres ensure high standard healthcare services. (e.g. between 1992 and 2014 CHUC performed 1,114 liver transplants). It is the medical institution in Portugal with more accredited reference centres. Key healthcare figures : 1,848 acute beds 7,289 professionals 896,239 medical consultations 41,533 surgical patients 61,816 inpatients 282,919 emergency cases 146 ongoing clinical trials 1,408 scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals (SCI) (2012-2014)
Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, EPE
Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, EPE (CHU Coimbra), R. Dr. Mota Pinto, 3220 Miranda do Corvo, Portugal
Key Activities in Corporate Innovation
Diagnostics, Imaging
Key Activities in Social Innovation
Healthcare provision
Key Activities in Business Creation
Testing & Validation
Key Activities in Education
Medical faculties, Healthcare professional education/training