I N D U S T R Y I N V E S T I G A T I O N
InnoScot Health’ s Innovation Manager, Frances Ramsay
before collaborating further to turn ideas into commercial reality, and importantly, improving patient outcomes.
“ It shows how just one individual’ s moment of inspiration can lead to a big impact when the knowledge and support of others is drawn upon to catalyse great ideas, echoing our own assistance for pressured ophthalmology through the encouragement of Scotland’ s next generation of clinical entrepreneurs.”
Professor Emanuele Trucco, Co-founder of Eye to the Future, said:“ Only 24 % of NHS eye units currently believe they have enough consultants to meet demand.
“ 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.”
Eye to the Future was named runner-up in the Converge Challenge category of the 2022 Converge Awards, which works in close partnership with universities to encourage academic entrepreneurs.
Through Converge, the company received funding – part of a broader package of support – to help accelerate, what
Professor Trucco called,“ academic research towards real commercial impact,” while benefitting from“ valuable insights into how our technology could make a meaningful difference to patients and clinicians”.
Ramsay continued:“ We wish Eye to the Future well as it prepares to launch its product this year, with a pilot currently underway at Glasgow Caledonian University’ s School of Optometry.
“ This is one of a few exciting new approaches. In tackling glaucoma worldwide, we are seeing an increasing focus on such advancements as genetic testing for risk assessment and novel drug delivery systems.
“ While some of these solutions are not available to us yet, we should be setting our sights on laying the groundwork for their eventual implementation now, creating a more resilient health service.”
NHS Scotland ophthalmologists and their patients are increasingly benefitting from innovative thinking and working practices, helping to embed better outcomes and greater efficiency.
In 2023, ophthalmologists based at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness moved into a new, purpose-built National Treatment Centre – Highland( NTC-H) which hosts the entire Eye Care Service for the region and creates additional operating capacity for Ophthalmology Services.
It has three operating theatres for ophthalmology, facilitating high volume cataract surgery and management of ocular conditions, with an emphasis on new imaging technology which allows for greater remote and virtual working.
Such technology can provide surgeons with real-time information through digital connectivity, enhancing precision, and enabling improved collaboration among surgical teams; whilst hybrid operating rooms which utilise CT, MR, or C-arm imaging to perform complex operations supplementary to conventional surgeries, represent a significant opportunity for the future.
Ramsay said:“ Nevertheless, as NHS Scotland becomes more technologically driven, the
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