Page 10 - envision01-2021

Cover Story

R E SE AR CH

DESIGNED FOR SIGHT – AND LIFE

When he was a child, Conrad Lewis faster processing, improved auto-focus,
dreamed of helping his two legally blind and twice the maximum brightness to
“ The winner of many sisters to see. As an adult, his company deliver greater visual acuity. Because it
—Toronto-based eSight Corp—created provides the brain with greatly improved
a wearable medical device that has greatly visual information, says Chief Commercial
international awards,
thousands of people worldwide.
improves vision.
eSight was recently enhanced the visual experience of Officer Brian McCollum, it instantly
named a 2020 Lewis, an electrical engineer whose sisters eSight 4 also helps users to maintain their
Top Wearable Tech have Stargardt’s disease, launched Toronto- mobility by incorporating their natural
based eSight Corp. in 2006. Seven years peripheral vision and offering patented
Company “ later, the company released its first eSight Bioptic Tilt technology, with three positions
eyewear prototype. The device is designed (up, midway and down).
for people living with over 20 serious eye
conditions including macular degeneration, Lightweight and wireless, eSight 4 has
diabetic retinopathy and Stargardt’s easy-swap, rechargeable batteries, which
disease, that leave them with visual acuity can be changed without having to remove
from 20/60 to 20/800 (and in some cases up the device. Each battery allows up to three
to 20/1400). It allows them to see and live hours of continuous use. And the device
independently. fits comfortably over prescription glasses.

The company recently introduced the With the companion mobile app, wearers
fourth generation of the device: eSight 4. can save photos and videos taken with
Featuring a Star Trek-like wearable eSight to their phone for sharing, mirror
headset, it simulates natural their mobile phones, or watch videos
eyesight by capturing real-time streaming on their mobile phones directly
images with a high-speed, on their eSight. The device is cloud-based,
high-definition camera. eSight providing users with real-time access to
4 uses advanced, clinically innovative features like Shared Accounts,
validated algorithms to optimize and which allow them to securely invite others
/ eSight 4 / enhance the footage, and presents it to to see what they see and help optimize their
two near-to-eye screens in real time. The eSight experience.
built-in trackpad lets the user refine the
image, with easy-to-use zoom, contrast and The ability of a new user to adapt to eSight
focus controls. 4 depends on how tech-savvy they are,
says McCollum. Most people with central
eSight 4 has more powerful software vision loss are older so there may be a
capabilities than its predecessors, including learning curve. Fortunately, eSight offers

10 / JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2021 / www.ENVISIONMAGAZINE.ca /