Opternative offered a progress report for its three-year old online eye exam business at Health 2.0 this week. Co-founder and CEO Aaron Dallek said its online eye exam, which is aimed at healthy people aged 18-40 is available in 32 states.
It offers online eye tests, but it also makes them available through eyeglass retailers and ophthalmologist practices so it considers its approach a b2b2c model. Ophthalmologists licensed in the home state of the person validate the results and email a prescription. So far 17,000 have had an online eye test since its official launch in late July.
In a brief interview, Dallek said its next step is to expand its test to the 41-65 year old market early next year.
When Investment Rhymes with Canada
Canada has a proud history of achievement in the areas of science and technology, and the field of biomanufacturing and life sciences is no exception.
So far it is registered with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. It hasn’t yet applied for 510(k) clearance.
But its approach has troubled the American Optometric Association, which contends that online eye tests fall short of an in-person exam and think it’s a little disingenuous for members of its group to sign off on these exams. It also seemed to single out Opternative’s approach:
“One such website says its online refraction test is only available to those between the ages of 18 and 40 who are in good health—meaning people with no history of conditions such as hypertension, cataracts, glaucoma or diabetes. But what if they don’t know they have these diseases?”
Opternative is just one of several digital health startups competing in the online eye exam space. Among some others are Eyenetra, Peek Vision, and Smart Vision Labs, which closed a $6.1 million Series A round in June.
The fact that Opternative is targeting an older age group means it is more likely that people could have existing conditions they are not yet aware of, underscoring the AOA’s justifiable concerns. Maybe there’s a good opportunity to align itself with another company to develop ways to screen for pre-diabetes?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uke_Eq1Y6As
