The estimated people living in England with sight loss is 1.7mn. Asian and Black ethnic groups are at greater risk of eye diseases, such as glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy compared to other ethnic groups and are more likely to become blind. They are also at three times higher risk of diabetic eye disease. According to Vision UK, 1 in 10 people from a BAME background over the age of 65 will experience serious sight loss. However, evidence by the study also suggests that Asian and Black communities in the UK are less likely to attend for primary eye care appointments despite the increased risk of sight loss.
To combat full or partial loss of vision, leading eye health clinicians, early adopters, and technology innovators are coming together on Thursday 28th February for the global launch of OxSight, an assistive technology company which has developed a range of smart glasses for the blind and visually impaired people. The key topic for discussion at the launch will be how to expand the awareness and availability of the latest breakthroughs in vision technology.
Speaking to Asian Voice, Rakesh Roshan, CEO of OxSight said, “Globally, it is estimated that around 1.3 billion people live with some form of visual impairment. According to the World Health Organisation 188.5 million have mild visual impairment, 217 million have moderate to severe visual impairment and 36 million people are blind.
“Loneliness and social isolation are often cited as consequences of visual impairment. However, recent research suggests that these are not inevitable consequences of sight loss but occur as a result of a number of factors, including difficulties with everyday functional activities. Products such as those developed at OxSight have the potential to change lives for the better and it is that knowledge that continues to fuel our passion for continuing to develop innovative and life enhancing products.”
Smart glasses
OxSight was founded in 2016 by a team whose research into how the brain manages visual information began at Oxford University. The first OxSight device, the OxSight Prism smart glasses, was launched in 2018, and in the process of developing clinical partnerships with a number of opticians across the UK and Europe. At present OxSight is already providing trials, fitting, and clinical support at their clinics in London, Oxford and Greater Manchester Area through several clinical partners.
OxSight even partnered with Epson to develop their smart glasses to help people with peripheral vision loss, also known as ‘tunnel vision’. The smart glasses use augmented reality and image interpretation technology to enhance users’ remaining vision. They are controlled via a hand-held console and fitted with a camera which streams a live-feed into two high-resolution video displays. These screens are placed directly in front of the wearer’s eyes and the images produced are manipulated to fit into the user’s area of useable vision.
The OxSight smart glasses have seven modes, with features including, increased image contrast, super colour mode, text mode, edge enhancement, inverted colour, and a digital zoom to allow users to magnify objects and obstacles. These features have been shown to enhance the remaining vision of people with peripheral vision loss. Peripheral vision loss is commonly caused by degenerative sight loss conditions such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and retinitis pigmentosa.
Panel discussion
The panel at the launch on 28th February, will include technology journalist Rob Waugh, and guest speaker Professor Xinghuai Sun, a leading clinician and world authority on Ophthalmology & Vision Science, and will discuss the major challenges facing low vision patients around the world, and the ways that technology can help to meet those challenges. Professor Monica Chaudhary, a world-renowned low vision expert from the Ansal University Gurgaon in India, would be highlighting the clinical community’s lack of understanding of low vision, and the low awareness of new technologies amongst patients with low vision.
During the event guests will be able to try out OxSight’s smart glasses devices for themselves, as well as speak to existing OxSight users. OxSight user David Quigley, one of the first people in the UK to have the device, has had serious eye issue for more than 20 years, and he currently only has about 5% function in his retina. After he got his OxSight glasses he was able to see more than he had done in years: “One of my best moments was sitting in the church and being able to see my niece’s face on her wedding day, which I never would have been able to do without my OxSight glasses.”
