VEMoS is the first system combining all-in-one diagnostic device with SW to provide personalised clinical decision support based on each patient’s eye measurements and neural network simulations of post-surgery outcomes. Key novelties are:
• All-in-one device: Single device for all measurements.
• Predictive Power: Advanced algorithms to predict post-operative visual acuity.
• Decreased likelihood of adverse effects: Standardised decision-making considering HOA and other factors responsible for most adverse effects.
• Personalised treatment: Laser parameters adjusted based on patient parameters.
The VEMoS project contributes to the following expected impacts:
• Economic: Based on the performance of the first prototype of VEMoS system, the implementation of our diagnostic solution will decrease the need for re-procedures by 90% – corresponding to reducing the total number of second operations in the EU to 2,372 per year. This means potential annual savings of €38.88m in the EU alone in direct costs.
• Industrial and technological: The unique modelling software will not only increase growth in the refractive surgery market, but it will also open the door of a new market focused on virtual modelling of patients’ eyes, with a first application in refractive surgery, but also with future applications in other eye-related diseases. VEMoS project will disrupt the market of refractive surgery offering personalised surgery solutions, in line with current health trends that seek personalised medicine (e.g. EC action plan on personalised medicine “ICPerMed”).
• Innovation capacity: The VEMoS project represents a unique opportunity for members of the consortium to develop their innovation capacity: 1) the first software for realistic and accurate virtual modelling of patients’ eyes will further the knowledge of our software engineers, and 2) the open field aberrometer and the all-in-one diagnostic device represent technology developments beyond the SoA for the most detailed characterisation of eye structure available at the market.
• Competitiveness and scale-up: The VEMoS project is key for the consortium growth and scale-up capacity. We have estimated a conservative financial forecast for the first 5 years post-project based on a 16% market share of the total refractive surgery market. According to this forecast, the consortium will obtain €145.3m in revenues and €58.2m in profits over the first 5 years. Moreover, our preliminary plan for scale-up includes the creation of 60 new job positions over this period.
• Social: Implementation of VEMoS technology in ophthalmic clinics and hospitals departments will bring substantial social impact for the patients affected by visual impairment and for the ophthalmic clinics staff: 1) it will decrease the need of preventable second operations and the appearance of avoidable side effects, increasing the overall quality of life of patients; 2) it will increase the number of patients treated by refractive surgery since we will gain their trust offering a technology that is reliable, accurate and safe while freeing resources otherwise required for re-procedures; and 3) it will promote the use of refractive surgery, potentiating the number of trained ophthalmologists and number of refractive surgery clinics, creating new jobs and opportunities and further help to ameliorate the challenge of visual impairment and its consequences, in alignment with the WHO initiatives “Universal Eye Health: A Global Action Plan 2014-2019” and “VISION 2020: The right to Sight”.
• Environmental: The reduction in the number of re-procedures will result in wider resources savings, such as water and energy for sterilisation of instruments. Further, one of the aims in the industrial maturation of the VEMoS hardware will be reducing the resource footprint of manufacture while ensuring that its components will be easily repurposed or recycled. The all-in-one diagnosis device will save in materials and electronics used for manufacturers, as well as in space and resources for hospitals.
