700555Optician in a boxClosedGRD Proof of MarketInnovate UKApproximately 200 million people who live on less than $2.50 per day require spectacles or have eye conditions which make them dependant on their families. Enabling them to be independent and see is the goal of this invention. “Optician-in-a-Box” provides a solution to this Global societal challenge with significant social and economic impact for adults as well as children. Our concept will provide spectacles, lenses including astigmatism, low-vison aids and correct fitting to all anthropomorphic facial dimensions within difficult, hard-to-access operating environments. This has been a challenge in the past as African/Asian noses are often low and flat and traditional frames cause discomfort, poor optical performance and are often rejected by people. As are donated spectacles; a practice now stopped by W.H.O. Our design allows people to select colours and other aspects to personalise their spectacles - especially important for children. The modular nature of our spectacle frame allows for small child/adult and large faces to be properly fitted to British Standards. The principle advantage of our system is that lenses are pre-cut, removing the need for heavy, difficult-to-transport glazing equipment and hence can be delivered to any remote location in a small case. If successful, this will transform spectacle availability in difficult environments and open up massive high-volume markets for our technology whilst contributing a low-cost solution to a desperate, global societal need for better vision. We’d like to explore the market potential for ‘Optician-in-a-Box’ via exploratory market testing in demanding applications where instant, low-cost, corrective vision is required. Such applications include local and international humanitarian needs such as corrective vision for the homeless worldwide and/or desperately poor in rural economies in Developing Countries - working with NGO’s, Charities and expert centres such as Moorfield’s Eye Hospital.