NHS eyecare waiting times could be slashed thanks to an AI breakthrough made by researchers at the universities of Edinburgh and Dundee.
Eye to the Future has created clinical software support tools that help optometrists optimise referrals to hospital eye services, at a time when NHS ophthalmology waiting lists have grown by 138% since 2012.
The company, which has been born from 20 years of collaborative research, has created technology that analyses images from routine eye examinations to help identify early signs of conditions like glaucoma.
“Only 24% of NHS eye units currently believe they have enough consultants to meet demand,” said Professor Emanuele Trucco, co-founder of Eye to the Future, pictured below.
“By using sophisticated analytics tools to help optometrists make more accurate referral decisions, we can ensure the right patients get specialist care at the right time, while reducing unnecessary hospital appointments. This is crucial as every delay risks worsening eye conditions and ultimately irreversible sight loss.”
Recent research indicates that prevalence of major eye conditions is expected to grow by nearly 25% over the next decade – around seven times faster than overall population growth. This growing demand is compounded by significant regional variation in care, with some areas referring patients to hospital eye services three times more frequently than others, and a 26-fold difference between regions in rates of people registered as blind or partially sighted.
Eye to the Future was runner-up in the Converge Challenge category of the 2022 Converge awards, which works in close partnership with Scotland’s universities to empower academic entrepreneurs. Through Converge, the company received funding that helped, as part of a broader package of support, to transform the academic research into commercial technology.
“The Converge experience helped us move from academic research towards real commercial impact,” said Professor Trucco. “Their guidance and support gave us valuable insights into how our technology could make a meaningful difference to patients and clinicians.”
Eye to the Future now has 9 team members, including six in its technology team. With a pilot underway at Glasgow Caledonian University’s School of Optometry, which ranks among the UK’s top three optometry schools, the company is planning to launch its product in 2025.
“Eye to the Future demonstrates how experience within Scotland’s healthcare sector can lead to solutions with worldwide potential,” said Adam Kosterka, executive director of Converge. “As we launch our 2025 programme, we’re looking for the next generation of academic entrepreneurs who can transform their expertise into successful, sustainable businesses.”
