Kenyan startups join continental push to end avoidable blindness

Eye Care.

The Africa Eye Health Accelerator initiative has been launched by international development organisation The Fred Hollows Foundation, in partnership with Nairobi-based Villgro Africa. It aims to support new technologies and business models to expand access to eye care across the continent.

The programme targets innovations that can address major bottlenecks in the sector, particularly workforce shortages and gaps in service delivery.

Organisers say the accelerator is seeking solutions such as artificial intelligence-assisted screening tools, low-cost portable diagnostic services and community-based screening technologies that bring eye care closer to where people live.

More than 300 applications were reviewed before eight companies were selected for the first cohort.

The startups are Zuri Health, Dot Glasses and Mamy Eyewear from Kenya; Techsight from Liberia; Wazi Vision and Sante Initiative from Uganda; ZimSmart Villages from Zimbabwe; and New Online Optics from Ethiopia.

The selected companies represent a range of approaches aimed at making eye care more accessible and affordable. Some are developing portable diagnostic kits and mobile screening services, while others are using digital platforms, artificial intelligence and local manufacturing to deliver low-cost eyeglasses and vision testing.

According to The Fred Hollows Foundation, the need for new solutions is urgent.

In sub-Saharan Africa, at least 111 million people are living with a vision impairment that could have been prevented or treated. Without urgent intervention, the number could more than double to 266 million.

The Foundation’s chief executive officer, Ross Piper, said innovative initiatives such as the accelerator are needed to reshape the future of eye care on the continent.

“To end avoidable blindness, we need more than a business-as-usual approach. We need urgent action to unlock new investment from the private sector,” Piper said.

“Investing in the Accelerator will help us co-create the future of eye health across Africa and ensure more children can stay in school and more working-age adults can work.”

Research by The Fred Hollows Foundation, the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness and the Seva Foundation shows that eye health interventions deliver significant economic returns.

The Value of Vision report found that every dollar invested in eye health generates a return of about $28.

“We know that investing in eye health unlocks more opportunities in education, drives job creation and economic development and allows people to live longer and be valued in their communities,” Piper said.

Ending avoidable blindness also results in fewer road accidents, fewer people living with depression and relieves people from unpaid caregiving duties.

“It’s clear evidence that investing in eye health can transform lives,” he said.

“We know what’s needed to make an impact on a global scale – the solutions are in reach, but we can’t tackle the avoidable blindness crisis alone.

“By accelerating innovative solutions in eye health, we will be at the forefront of potentially transformative technologies to increase access, efficiency and quality of eye health care.”