The Global Innovation Center and MATTER Launch First Vision Innovation Challenge

VSP Vision’s Global Innovation Center and MATTER, the premier healthcare incubator and innovation hub, are teaming up to co-host the first VSP Vision Innovation Challenge, a global competition to source and support solutions enhancing the eye care patient experience. 

Up to five startups will be selected to advance their solutions with key industry stakeholders and pitch their innovations for the chance to win up to $10,000.

While 8 in 10 people (84 percent) rate vision as the most important sense — and nearly everyone (97 percent) agrees that having healthy eyes is important — only half schedule an annual eye exam. 

Chronic vision conditions are also on the rise. In 2022, more than eight million Americans reported a vision disability, a 28 percent increase since 2010. And experts anticipate that common eye diseases, like glaucoma, will be twice as high in 2050 compared to 2010.

As the inevitable need for vision care accelerates, so too does the demand from patients for improved technology, interactions, and experiences within the healthcare system. 

“The eye is a window into overall health and wellness, providing patients with data points beyond a prescription,” said Ruth Yomtoubian, head of the Global Innovation Center. “Our role is to encourage innovators to direct their talents and technologies towards vision care, a critical touchpoint in the healthcare continuum.”

Toward this goal, the Global Innovation Center and MATTER are calling on innovators to submit their solutions that address one or more tracks for enhancing patients’ eye care experience: 

• Empowering Patients: Does your solution enable patients to proactively manage their eye health? (E.g. Find-a-provider apps, symptom checkers, digital therapeutics, patient education)
• Scaling Access: Does your solution increase patient and provider access to novel eye care solutions and experiences? (E.g. NEMT-for-optometry, portable and handheld devices, smart eyewear or wearables, care navigation)
• Elevating Care: Does your solution aid optometrists in providing elevated patient experience? (E.g., Dr. co-pilots, ambient medical scribes, AI-enabled disease detection, audiology integration)

Up to five finalists will be selected to receive expert mentorship and exclusive resources to build their solutions and refine their value propositions, as well as pitch their solutions at a final showcase in August 2024 for the chance to win up to $10,000.

“The integration of new technologies can help further improve the quality of vision care which will be especially needed as the population of patients who need care grows,” said Steven Collens, CEO of MATTER. “We’ve partnered with VSP Vision to accelerate the development of the leading startups who can help the eye care industry further empower patients, support providers and enhance accessibility.”

For more information and to apply, please visit the VSP Vision Innovation Challenge website.

For more vision innovation news and updates, check out the Global Innovation Center's LinkedIn page.