Biel Glasses: Smart glasses for the visually impaired

By 2050, 474 million people will have moderate or severe vision impairment worldwide.[1] As vision impairment increases, patient-centric solutions to low vision and other vision impairments are becoming more vital than ever.

A patient-centric approach in healthcare

Patients and citizens are uniquely placed to develop solutions to conditions they or their loved ones have faced. So, it is key that they are given the opportunity to be involved in the innovation process. Our Patient Innovation Bootcamp supports the development and launch of innovative solutions created by people directly affected by health conditions.

Meet the family who invented low-vision glasses

This short film, produced for EIT Health by BBC StoryWorks Commercial Productions, tells the story of Biel Glasses and the family behind this promising Spanish start-up. Jaume Puig and his wife, Dr Constanza Lucero, were inspired to innovate by a desire to help their son, Biel, who has low vision. His condition, commonly known as tunnel vision, means that he finds it hard to navigate the world safely, without help.

Unable to easily see obstacles in his path, Biel struggles to move around independently. His parents were keen to help him find the right support. But they discovered that there was no healthcare solution on the market to improve his mobility and personal autonomy. So, they decided to take matters into their own hands.

EIT Health helped Biel Glasses realise their idea

Jaume and Constanza had an idea for smart glasses which would be specially designed to meet the unmet health needs of people with low vision. With specialised support and mentoring through our Patient Innovation Bootcamp, they were able to make this idea a reality.

The smart glasses Biel Glasses went on to develop, with our help, use 3D vision and artificial intelligence algorithms. They detect obstacles and, through mixed reality, show them to the user in a way they can perceive with their low vision. This innovative solution enables people with low vision to navigate the world more independently, transforming their lives.

In February 2022, Jaume Puig was awarded the HIMSS Global Patient Innovator Award, in recognition of his efforts to improve the lives of patients experiencing low vision. Watch our short film at the top of this page to learn how EIT Health empowers patient innovators like Jaume and Constanza.

Discover our Patient Innovation Bootcamp.