Optometry team wins £40k eyeVisor grant

City University's Optometry Department has secured a grant of £40,000 from the Emerald proof of concept fund to develop eyeVisor, an instrument for detecting eye diseases.

A team from the department won the commercial award from the Emerald funding body, after pitching to a Dragon's Den-style panel of expert judges, which included entrepreneurs, technical experts and investors.

Researchers claim that eyeVisor, a portable, inexpensive, head-mounted instrument, could play an important role in the screening and home monitoring of chronic eye conditions such as glaucoma and macular degeneration.

Dr David Crabb, who led the Optometry Department's presentation, said: 'We have demonstrated that we can successfully pitch a research idea which has true potential in translating to clinical and practical use. The funding is significant because it allows us to develop a prototype and examine other designs.'