Sunday 5th of February saw the first round of the Optoversity Challenge take place. You may have read our previous posts about the challenge where we mentioned that students from all over the UK were coming together to compete; and what a great day was had by all! Taking place online, the students participated with their teams and showed great collaborative skills in achieving their spots on the leader board.
The next round of the challenge will take place at 100% Optical at the end of this month and IbisVision is delighted to be participating in this too – we’ll have more to update on this soon. But, for now, take a look at the results so far and well done to all who took part!
1. University of the West of England
4. Glasgow Caledonian University
5. University of Hertfordshire
If you’re attending 100% Optical don’t forget to catch up with Vision Care for Homeless People where you will get to see the second half of the challenge take place and find out more about the great work that they do.
Could we teach Ed Sheeran how to perform? Or Cristiano Ronaldo how to kick a ball? Probably not! But it does seem that in the US, the land of Silicon Valley, Apple and world-beating innovation, we’re showing them a thing or two about ophthalmic technology.
Our recent trip to the US was an amazing success. Our travels took us first to Miami and then onto New York where we made important connections and had conversations with big players in the optometry market in both states.
Throughout the visit Compiler VC, an investor in our business, led the way, introducing us to other investment companies as well as some key optical organisations. This allowed us the opportunity to discuss and gauge the response from the US market first hand. And, we were happy to have IbisVision’s technology and mission validated by those who would be looking to utilise our platform or even invest in its future. From our conversations we found that now is the perfect time for IbisVision to enter the US market with a tele-optometry solution that will transform the way eye care is provided.
IbisVision’s technology is ahead of the curve, and we know that we are primed and ready to disrupt the market. We spoke to several optical leaders, and they have confirmed and also welcomed further innovation in the market. In particular, our forthcoming introduction of remote refraction will be a game changer, allowing for an even broader range of optical tasks to be undertaken remotely.
There are also other organisations innovating in the optometry space and we were lucky enough to meet some of them at Vision Expo in New York. We saw the likes of Grand Vision who were recently acquired by EssilorLuxottica and are now “exploring new paths around digitization and innovation.” We also discussed the future of telemedicine and saw some of the team at Topcon Healthcare who are doing some amazing things in telehealth. Their telehealth solution ‘Harmony’ creates connectivity ensuring that eye care professionals can use their current software while adopting the latest technologies; a vital piece of the puzzle when introducing telemedicine solutions!
It’s safe to say we met and spoke to some big innovators in the industry. Keep an eye out on what’s next for IbisVision – we gained some exciting ideas from our time in the US as well as validating our current plan to revolutionise the optical sector; we’ll have more updates on this over the coming months! For now, we’re delighted to be offering our tele-optometry solution to the market and are looking forward to seeing IBIS-Connect in action in more and more optometry settings.
Why not take a look for yourself? Find out more about IBIS-Connect, here.
SBRI Healthcare announced today the nine winners of Competition 18, Stroke and Technology, including IbisVision. The pioneering MedTech innovators will share £800,000 in development funding for their solutions to help improve stroke pre-hospital diagnosis, rehabilitation and life after stroke.
The competition, developed in partnership with the Stroke Association, the AHSN Network and Accelerated Access Collaborative, focused on improving the quality of NHS services in the context of care provided to stroke patients, reducing the prevalence of independent lives lost to stroke by early identification of at-risk groups, and to ensure provision of support which will help patients manage their condition.
For a full list of the projects visit: https://sbrihealthcare.co.uk/news/sbri-healthcare-awards-800k-to-pioneering-innovations-in-the-stroke-and-technology-field/
IbisVision is working with Forth Valley NHS on innovation for the future of optometry
We are delighted to be working with NHS Forth Valley to develop new technology which enables healthcare staff to carry out remote eye tests on people at home or in schools.
IbisVision was one of two companies chosen to work on this project to develop remote eye tests so that vision problems can be more easily detected, monitored and managed. Since the beginning of 2020, there have been changing needs in accessing healthcare and a lot of this has come from the effects of Covid-19. The onset of the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns brought the need for eye care to be managed differently into focus. These new methods are hoped to allow for less people requiring in-person appointments in optician practices and hospitals.
New methods of eye testing aim to help manage eye conditions in the community while offering a personable service even though the testing is remote. IbisVision as well as other technology providers in the market, have created technology that allows this to happen and means that anyone can have their concerns addressed whether they are in the practice or not.
Virtual technology is an important step for the optical industry and IbisVision was chosen as part of this project to continue our work to make eye care accessible for all. Our telemedicine solution, IBIS-Connect, enables clinicians to seamlessly connect with their patients wherever they are whether that be at home or in a community facility. Our interactive platform means that patients can receive specialist medical advice via an online face-to-face consultation that might otherwise require an in-person appointment in hospital.
Telemedicine is a key component in the modernisation of health provision, and it enables initial assessment, triage and referral decisions to be made by a specialist clinician over video connection. A unique feature that IBIS-Connect brings to the table is our eye examination suite that can accurately determine the position of a patient and it allows for tests to be carried out no matter where the patient is; all they need is access to a computer or laptop and an internet connection.
IBIS-Connect has a unique offering and being part of this project has allowed us to further develop our platform, allowing us to continue to make eye care more accessible. This accessibility benefits those who require medical and optical advice while avoiding unnecessary hospital visits. We look forward to continuing our work that will aid in reducing pressure on clinicians as well as offering a convenient alternative for patients.
IbisVision provides innovative vision testing software to the optical industry. We combine multiple eye tests on a single platform that’s easily accessed online connecting optometrists with their patients. Find out more, here.
IbisVision and Birmingham Optical have come together to ensure that the UK optical industry has access to new and disruptive technology to help better serve patients in a Covid and post Covid world.
IbisVision’s comprehensive vision platform allows for multiple tests to be carried out on one device. It is also cloud-based so it can be accessed anywhere, at any time, on a desktop computer or laptop. Given the events of the past year and the new way in which most industries are operating, IbisVision has a solution that the optical industry needs. Birmingham Optical has recognised the impact of our technology and with over 60 years of experience, they are in a prime position to offer our product to the optical industry.
Together, we have been working to make sure that we offer our technology to as many optometrists and practices across the UK as possible so that eye-care is still able to be provided to patients, no matter the circumstances. In a Covid and post Covid world, our platform allows optometrists to offer a no-contact solution in the practice and there is the option to have remote pre-screening tests so patients can be tested in the comfort and safety of their own homes.
Birmingham Optical are a key supplier to the optical industry in the UK and provide equipment, services and expertise that are invaluable to their customers. We are delighted that they have chosen IbisVision to be one of those products that they know will be valuable to their customers and the wider market.
For more information, speak to us or the team at Birmingham Optical at:
info@ibisvision.co.uk
sales@birminghamoptical.co.uk
IbisVision, which offers breakthrough remote optometrist technology, is accelerating plans to roll out its platform to UK and US optometrists to help them in their battle to care for patients amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown.
The Glasgow, Scotland-based company is hiring new client-facing staff in both the UK and US, its initial main markets, to help optometrists and opticians learn more about the products and services that can allow for remote and non-contact eye-care assessments. The rollout is being funded by an injection of investment from Miami-based Compiler Venture Capital, which also facilitates IbisVision’s entry into the extensive US optical health market. Compiler has many years of experience within the optical sector, having owned, managed and sold For Eyes, a retail optician business with 150 locations across the US.
The Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown have placed extensive limitations on businesses and professionals, with some predicting ongoing restrictions in some form for months or even years ahead. IbisVision’s technology could be lifechanging for those who at present may be unable to visit their eyecare specialist. The platform facilitates optical professionals to remotely examine eyes, or do so in the same location but without close contact, using a variety of tests including 24–2, Amsler Grid, Ishihara Colour and Visual Acuity. This allows for appointments, assessments, prescriptions, all without any need for direct contact between the medical professional and patient.
The technology could be additive to recommendations from the College of Optometrists, which in its Covid-19 guidance is advising for strict policies to ensure the potentially deadly virus is not spread through patient-optometrist contact. One of the key recommendations is to ensure that an initial video or telephone consultation is undertaken to determine the eyecare that may be required, and whether the patient may be suffering from Covid symptoms. IbisVision’s technology allows this stage to encompass a far greater range of activities, and may ultimately negate the need for an in-person consultation. Going forward the technology allows for eyecare specialists to ensure they can treat a wider range of patients, who may at present be challenged in visiting their optometrist due to illness, mobility or location issues.
The platform, which has been trialled by industry-leading opticians, has also demonstrated increased functionality independent of its distance applications. For example, by using a single piece of equipment it dramatically reduces the space needed in a practice, freeing up room for lucrative retail activities.
IbisVision has also received funding in the form of two awards from Innovate UK, a government agency established to identify and accelerate innovative business ideas with the most potential. The combined funding, as well as supporting this rollout, will allow the business to target growth areas such as remote refraction and clinician-led remote examination and disease monitoring.
Commercial Director Melville Berwick commented:
“Whilst we could never have foreseen the circumstances that we all face now, the Covid-19 pandemic has added real urgency to our efforts at IbisVision and validated our remote optometrist technology focus.
“Put simply, our technology could be the factor in saving someone’s eyesight. By allowing optometrists the ability to undertake a comprehensive eye exam without having to meet up with the patient, we are playing our part in ensuring that we find our way through these difficult times.
“I’d encourage all eyecare specialist individuals and businesses to come and talk to us and see how we can help them continue to operate under these most trying conditions.”
For more information: Laura Hillhouse, Marketing Manager: 07414558542 lhillhouse@ibisvision.co.uk
David Clarke, press contact:
07887 600 234 david@davidgfclarke.com
About IbisVision:
IbisVision is a reliable comprehensive vision platform that combines clinical experience and disruptive technology to allow Optometrists to carry out multiple eye exams on one device, on a single cloud-based platform. Our platform disrupts the traditional one instrument, one exam model and provides a high standard of eye care that can be carried out anywhere at any time. It’s quick, easy to use and portable so whatever the needs, our platform helps to provide effective eye care as well as add resilience to the businesses we’re working with. More information is available at www.ibis.vision
You can find this article in:
The Herald
Ibis Vision
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