Associate Professor Simon Skalicky is the man behind Eyeonic, a medtech startup that promises to make glaucoma testing easier and more accessible the world over.
An opthalmologist by trade, he explained to SmartCompany how glaucoma begins by affecting the peripheral vision, but over time causes central vision loss. There are 80 million people in the world with glaucoma, and in the developing world, 90% of cases go undetected. In Australia, 50% of glaucoma is undetected.
“That’s a huge missed opportunity to save sight,” he said. “Our mission is to improve the method of detecting glaucoma, by online testing.”
Currently, glaucoma is diagnosed and monitored with visual field testing, which is basically a way of testing one’s peripheral vision. But it currently involves bulky, expensive machines, which are also uncomfortable to use for patients.
Eyeonic uses AI to perform visual field testing on any computer screen, allowing users to carry out tests at home, detect loss of peripheral vision, and gather results that can be easily interpreted by optometrists or ophthalmologists online and reported back to the patient.
Skalicky said Eyeonic presents a strong market opportunity, too. Many practitioners around the world who could be getting paid to do visual field testing don’t have the funds to buy the current machines. Eyeonic makes testing cheaper and has knock-on benefits such as saving floor space in eye testing facilities.
Furthermore, it has application in “public health institutions around the world that are struggling to cope with the costs and the demands of managing chronic illnesses like glaucoma and are looking for telehealth solutions, and are looking to add remote monitoring to their mix,” Skalicky explained.
Skalicky is busy creating the app, refining its usability, ensuring it works on every computer or tablet, and collaborating with tech experts the world over so it’s deployed professionally is scientifically validated and proven by research. He’s also in the process of pitching to VCs and explaining the science at a number of health conferences.
Eyeonic is one of five shortlisted startups that will compete to win big at the Pitch, SmartCompany‘s early-stage startup competition, on the evening of Thursday, November 30 in Melbourne.
Skalicky runs a busy practice, sees glaucoma patients regularly, and is involved in various organisations in eye health and glaucoma, so he’s certainly the right person to be tackling this problem.
Eyeconic’s momentum is building. Skalicky is already in talks with a number of health ministers and governments around the world about implementing the technology in the field.
He’s enjoying the founder journey so far and is particularly inspired by the community. “I have so much to learn from so many people, and I have done that, and I really see it as a journey of personal growth.
“I’m so grateful for all those people, who have unique skills, and lend their skills… the people that are a few years ahead, that have already made successes, they want to help.”
The lessons he’s learned so far about pitching? “Be humble.”
“Everyone’s got something to teach you, you just have to listen. Persistence and perseverance, these are really important skills.”
On top of that, “Friendship is really important.” “Working with other people, sharing a common vision and collaborations.”
“Creating a culture where people want to get involved and people have the opportunity to get involved and are valued for their unique contributions, is an important part of the Eyeonic success so far.”
On the evening of Thursday November 30, Skalicky will pitch Eyeonic to members of the Melbourne startup community as well as guest judges Rachel Yang of Giant Leap, Claire Bristow of Skalata Ventures, Rahul Kesavan of AWS, and Mitch Hancock of BlueRock.
Will the Eyeonic success story get a boost with a big win at the Pitch next week? Find out for yourself! Register to attend the Pitch here.
Ben Ice is special features editor of SmartCompany.
