EyeConnect- Bridging the Vision Gap

EyeConnect's mission to combat needless blindness in underserved communities, specifically focusing on the Riverine Areas of Makoko Communities in Nigeria, reflects a comprehensive approach to addressing critical eye health challenges. In Makoko, where poverty is endemic and access to healthcare is limited, the prevalence of blindness among 40% of the population, predominantly affecting women, underscores the urgency of intervention. 

The region's unique geographic characteristics pose significant barriers to accessing healthcare facilities, exacerbating the already dire situation. Transportation to these facilities is arduous and expensive, compounding the challenge of poor eye care utilization. Additionally, a scarcity of eye care practitioners further amplifies the issue, leaving many residents without access to essential eye health services.

Moreover, the lack of awareness and education about the importance of routine eye exams and available eye health treatments among Makoko's residents contributes to delays in seeking treatment and exacerbates avoidable visual impairment. This highlights the need for innovative solutions that not only bridge the gap in healthcare accessibility but also address systemic issues such as education and awareness.

The scale of the problem extends far beyond Makoko, encompassing millions of individuals globally affected by vision impairment or blindness. With an estimated 2.2 billion people worldwide affected by these conditions, the need for accessible and affordable eye care is immense. Factors such as aging populations and increasing screen time contribute to the rising prevalence of eye health concerns, further underscoring the significance of solutions like EyeConnect.

In response to these challenges, EyeConnect aims not only to improve access to eye health services but also to raise awareness and educate communities about the importance of eye care. By providing a platform that addresses the specific challenges faced by underserved communities like Makoko, EyeConnect seeks to reduce the effects of inadequate eye care and prevent needless blindness. Ultimately, EyeConnect's impact extends beyond individual patients to encompass entire communities, promoting better eye health outcomes and enhancing overall well-being.

EyeConnect represents a groundbreaking solution in the field of eye healthcare, revolutionizing how individuals access and receive eye care services. At its core, EyeConnect serves as a bridge between community members and qualified primary eye health practitioners, offering a seamless and convenient platform for virtual consultations.

Our solution comprises user-friendly applications, a personalized website, and an SMS service, enabling individuals to easily seek consultations from the comfort of their homes. Through these channels, users can connect with experienced eye health professionals, discuss their concerns, and receive expert advice in real time.

However, EyeConnect is more than just a consultation platform; it fosters a sense of community among doctors, facilitating case discussions and collaboration. Additionally, it provides doctors with a platform to advertise their clinics and services, increasing their visibility and patient reach through subscription-based plans. This not only benefits practitioners but also ensures that users have access to a diverse pool of qualified professionals.

For patients, EyeConnect offers subscription-based access to consultations and a comprehensive directory of local clinics with listed services. This empowers individuals to take charge of their eye health, seek timely advice, and schedule follow-up appointments as needed.

Our solution integrates digital accessibility, real-time interactivity, appointment scheduling, and educational resources to streamline access to primary eye health care. By leveraging technology, we aim to enhance early detection and prevention of eye-related issues, ultimately improving eye health outcomes within communities.

EyeConnect's impact extends beyond simply connecting patients with practitioners; it represents a paradigm shift in how eye care is delivered and accessed. By removing barriers to access, promoting collaboration among professionals, and empowering individuals to prioritize their eye health, we aim to make a tangible difference in the lives of millions.

In essence, EyeConnect is not just a platform; it is a catalyst for positive change in the field of eye healthcare. Through innovation, collaboration, and a commitment to improving accessibility and outcomes, we are reshaping the landscape of eye care delivery for the better.

EyeConnect serves a diverse range of individuals worldwide who require access to primary eye health care. With an estimated 2.2 billion people experiencing vision impairment or blindness globally, the need for accessible and affordable eye care is immense. EyeConnect aims to directly and meaningfully improve the lives of these individuals by addressing critical ocular health concerns and promoting social and economic growth within communities.

The target population includes individuals of all ages and demographics who may face barriers to accessing traditional eye care services. These barriers may include geographic isolation, limited transportation options, financial constraints, and a lack of awareness about the importance of routine eye exams. Additionally, marginalized communities, including those in rural or underserved areas, often experience disproportionately high rates of vision impairment and blindness due to limited access to healthcare resources.

Currently, these populations are underserved and face significant challenges in accessing essential eye health services. Many individuals lack access to qualified eye health practitioners, leading to delays in the diagnosis and treatment of eye conditions. This can result in avoidable vision loss and impaired quality of life.

EyeConnect addresses these needs by providing a telemedicine platform that connects users with qualified primary eye health practitioners. Through user-friendly applications, personalized websites, and SMS services, EyeConnect makes it easy for individuals to seek consultations from the comfort of their homes. This not only improves accessibility but also promotes early detection and timely intervention for eye health issues.

Furthermore, EyeConnect fosters community collaborations and marketing initiatives that benefit nearby optometrists and healthcare providers. By boosting local economies and creating job opportunities, EyeConnect contributes to social and economic growth within communities.

Moreover, EyeConnect promotes innovation in the healthcare sector by incorporating cutting-edge technologies like AI-driven diagnostics. This ensures that even underprivileged and remote communities have access to basic eye care treatments, ultimately enhancing their quality of life and preventing needless blindness.

Overall, EyeConnect serves as a catalyst for positive change by addressing pressing healthcare needs, promoting economic growth, and enhancing societal well-being. By improving access to eye care services and leveraging technology to overcome barriers, EyeConnect empowers individuals to take control of their eye health and live healthier, more productive lives.

My journey towards founding EyeConnect and spearheading its mission to improve eye health access has been deeply influenced by personal experiences, community engagement, and a commitment to social impact. As a health entrepreneur, I am intimately connected to the communities we serve, drawing upon firsthand experiences and insights to design and deliver a solution that meets their unique needs.

Growing up in my community, surrounded by individuals from diverse backgrounds, I witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by many in accessing essential healthcare services, including eye care. My mother's work as a nurse in the community clinic instilled in me a passion for helping others and nurturing their health. This early exposure to healthcare disparities ignited a desire to make a difference in the lives of those around me.

My journey into optometry further deepened my understanding of the importance of eye health and the devastating impact of preventable blindness. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I volunteered at an eye clinic in my community, where I encountered numerous cases of avoidable blindness that left a lasting impression on me. These experiences fueled my determination to take action and address the root causes of visual impairment in my community.

Through personal projects and advocacy efforts, I organized free visual screenings for school children and raised awareness about the importance of eye health. These initiatives allowed me to directly engage with community members, understand their needs, and tailor solutions to address them effectively. By collaborating with local clinics and community leaders, I gained valuable insights into the challenges faced by underserved populations and developed meaningful partnerships to address them.

The design and implementation of EyeConnect have been guided by extensive community input, ideas, and agendas. Our team comprises individuals with diverse backgrounds and expertise, including optometrists, healthcare advocates, and community leaders. Each member brings unique insights and experiences to the table, ensuring that our solution is informed by a deep understanding of the communities we serve.

Furthermore, our close ties to the community have enabled us to gain the trust and support of local leaders, clinics, and schools. The approval and endorsement of our project by these stakeholders have amplified its impact and outreach, allowing us to reach more people and make a meaningful difference in their lives.

In conclusion, my team and I are well-positioned to deliver the EyeConnect solution to the target population because of our deep-rooted connections to the communities we serve, our firsthand experiences with healthcare disparities, and our commitment to social impact. By leveraging our collective expertise and insights, we are poised to address the pressing challenges of eye health access and make a lasting difference in the lives of underserved populations

EyeConnect is currently at the prototype stage, focusing on app fine-tuning, feedback from prospective clients and doctors, and trials within the eye practitioners community. Key accomplishments include identifying customers, developing the EyeConnect geographic location sensor, and testing its accuracy. 

Limited customers have been served during this phase, but valuable feedback has been gathered to shape future development. Overall, EyeConnect is committed to refining its solution to improve access to eye health services globally.

I am applying to Solve because I believe it offers a unique opportunity to accelerate the growth and impact of EyeConnect. As an initiative of MIT, Solve provides a platform for innovators from diverse backgrounds to address pressing global challenges. The values of optimism, partnership, open innovation, human-centered solutions, and inclusive technology resonate with the core mission of EyeConnect, making it an ideal fit for this program.

One of the key barriers that EyeConnect faces is the need for financial support to scale its operations and reach a wider audience. As a health entrepreneur, securing funding is essential for driving the development and implementation of our solution. Solve's network of partners and supporters can provide valuable monetary support to help overcome this barrier. By connecting with investors and potential funders through Solve, we can access the resources needed to expand our reach and make a greater impact in communities around the world.

In addition to financial barriers, EyeConnect also faces technical and market challenges that require expertise and guidance to navigate effectively. Solve offers access to mentoring and support from seasoned professionals, providing invaluable insights into business development, market strategy, and technical implementation. By leveraging Solve's resources and mentorship opportunities, we can refine our business concept, validate our approach, and enhance the scalability and sustainability of EyeConnect.

Furthermore, Solve's emphasis on partnership and collaboration aligns with our strategy for growth and expansion. Through Solve, we have the opportunity to establish strategic alliances and partnerships with like-minded organizations and stakeholders. These partnerships can provide access to new markets, resources, and expertise, enabling us to accelerate our impact and reach more individuals in need of eye health services.

Overall, my participation in Solve is driven by a shared commitment to creating positive social impact through innovative solutions. By tapping into Solve's network and resources, EyeConnect can overcome financial, technical, legal, cultural, and market barriers to achieve its mission of improving access to eye health care for individuals worldwide. Harnessing the power of technology and entrepreneurship to create a more sustainable and equitable future for all.

EyeConnect stands as a trailblazer in the eye care domain by innovatively bridging the accessibility gap in eye health services through the use of cutting-edge technology. Our approach significantly deviates from traditional methods by employing a dual strategy that combines a state-of-the-art telemedicine platform with the strategic use of SMS technology, ensuring our services reach even the most technologically disadvantaged areas. This unique amalgamation facilitates universal access to eye care services, particularly benefiting those in remote or underserved regions.

What sets EyeConnect apart is its unwavering commitment to real-time interactivity. This feature allows users to engage in live virtual consultations with qualified primary eye health practitioners, making professional advice more accessible and fostering a sense of personalized care. Users can actively contribute to the service quality by providing feedback, which in turn helps to continuously refine and enhance the user experience.

Additionally, EyeConnect extends its innovation to the realm of medical equipment procurement for rural communities, thereby addressing a critical gap in the supply of essential eye care materials. This not only supports the immediate needs of individuals but also encourages broader participation from vendors and stakeholders, fostering a more interconnected and responsive eye care ecosystem.

By facilitating direct and efficient access to eye care specialists and resources, EyeConnect is poised to revolutionize how eye health services are delivered. It challenges the status quo by eliminating geographical and logistical barriers, thus democratizing access to essential healthcare. This innovative approach not only has the potential to significantly improve eye health outcomes but also catalyzes change, inspiring other players in the healthcare space to explore and adopt similar models of service delivery. As such, EyeConnect is not just changing the landscape of eye care in Nigeria but is also setting a new standard for accessible, user-centric healthcare solutions globally.

EyeConnect is set to change how people access eye care, especially where it's hard to find. Using a mix of technology, like a telemedicine platform and text messages, makes talking to eye doctors easy for everyone, no matter where they live. This means people in far-off places can now get the eye care they need without traveling far.

The big idea is to let people chat with eye doctors right away, which helps catch eye problems early. This is important because finding and treating eye issues early can stop them from getting worse. EyeConnect doesn't just stop at making consultations easy; it also encourages people to keep an eye on their health by setting up follow-up visits and learning more about keeping their eyes healthy.

The goal is pretty clear: to help more people see better, avoid eye problems before they start, and make everyone more aware of how important eye care is. This approach is expected to lower the number of eye issues that could have been avoided, improve people's lives, and even make the whole healthcare system better because it’s dealing with fewer emergencies.

Studies and feedback from users back up how good an idea EyeConnect is. They show that getting to eye care easily and learning more about eye health does make a difference.

In short, EyeConnect is making eye care easier to get, helping catch problems early, and teaching people how to look after their eyes better. It's a big step toward making sure good eye health is something everyone can enjoy, no matter where they are.

EyeConnect's ambition is to significantly improve access to eye care, particularly in regions where services are currently insufficient. To achieve this, we've set specific, measurable impact goals to guide our efforts and gauge our progress.

Our first goal is to establish a strong foundation for EyeConnect by launching our software application, developing a user-friendly website, and partnering with telecommunication services to reach those in technologically disadvantaged areas. A key indicator of success here will be the onboarding of over 100 qualified medical practitioners within the first three months, ensuring a wide range of expertise available to users.

Simultaneously, we aim to engage over 5000 users during this initial period. This level of user engagement will be a clear sign of the platform's value and its potential to make eye care more accessible. To measure our progress toward this goal, we will track the number of active users, the frequency of consultations, and user feedback on the services provided.

Looking further ahead, within three years, we intend to be the leading ocular telemedicine platform in Africa. Success will be measured by the expansion of our network of doctors to 1000 and a significant increase in user engagements, aiming to serve millions across the continent. The launch of a virtual platform for refractive assessments, utilizing AI-driven diagnostics, will mark a significant advancement in our service offering.

In all our endeavors, we are committed to not only enhancing eye health but also stimulating social and economic growth. By creating job opportunities, supporting local optometrists, and improving healthcare delivery, EyeConnect aspires to have a transformative impact. Our progress will be assessed through employment rates among partnered doctors, economic benefits to local healthcare providers, and the overall improvement in community eye health.

Ultimately, EyeConnect's goals center around transforming the landscape of eye care in Africa, improving accessibility, and fostering economic and social development. Our progress indicators—ranging from user engagement and network expansion to economic impact—will ensure we remain aligned with our mission to make comprehensive eye care accessible for all.

At the heart of EyeConnect is a fusion of modern telecommunication technologies and cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) to revolutionize eye care access and delivery. Our solution primarily leverages a user-friendly software application and SMS technology, ensuring that even individuals in the most remote and technologically underserved regions can connect with eye health professionals. This dual approach ensures inclusivity, catering to both smartphone users and those reliant on basic mobile phones.

The AI component of EyeConnect is pivotal, utilized both for preliminary diagnostics and to enhance the efficiency of patient-practitioner interactions. By analyzing symptoms and medical history inputted by users, the AI can suggest potential eye conditions, prioritize cases based on urgency, and recommend the next steps. This AI-driven preliminary assessment allows eye care professionals to focus on critical cases and provide personalized care more efficiently.

Moreover, we're exploring the integration of AI with a virtual platform for refractive assessments, allowing users to check their vision and get recommendations for corrective measures remotely. This innovative approach not only democratizes access to essential eye care but also aligns with sustainable practices by reducing the need for physical travel, hence contributing positively to the environment.

EyeConnect's core technology is thus a blend of accessibility, precision, and sustainability, designed to bring eye care into the digital age while ensuring it serves humanity and the planet.

2 Co-founders

A full-time Software Developer

2 Part-time Software Developer

2 Contract Product Designer

A Part-time Machine-learning Engineer

I have started working on this solution since January 2024

My Team is open to everyone irrespective of gender, race, or sexual orientation. Full-time members of my team comprise men and women from marginalized communities such as myself.

My team is based on skill set and experience, giving opportunity to anyone and open to diversity as this is necessary to gain experience from various perspectives of life