i3 | June 29, 2017

Faces of Innovation: Andrew Burns, CEO, Gobiquity Mobile Health

by 
Bronwyn Flores

The World Health Organization predicts that 360 million people may be visually impaired by 2020. Gobiquity, a connected health software platform created in 2013, is committed to overcoming this global challenge by using smartphones to detect, prevent and treat vision impairment.

Their app uses smartphones to increase access to and distribution of vision treatment. Their first product, GoCheck Kids, can identify risk factors for a condition called amblyopia just by taking a photo with a smartphone. The app turns the smartphone into a mobile photo refractometer which identifies if a child is nearsighted or farsighted, and if he or she has unequal eye developments.

GoCheck Kids uses the camera’s red eye detection function to measure the refractive area of the eye to determine whether a person has a vision disorder. In just over a year, GoCheck Kids has screened more than 200,000 children and expects to double that number by year end. Gobiquity is also expanding into consumer segments to better empower the ecosystem to have access to vision tools. Andrew Burns, CEO, Gobiquity Mobile Health recently talked with i3.

What regulatory challenges do you face?

When we started the company, our thorough quality and regulatory approval process provided structure in a way that allowed for scalability and compliance with the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) regulatory requirements. We provide a comprehensive vision suite that enables pediatricians to perform two vision screening tests on our existing application. The first is a mobile quote screening test which analyzes the eye in real time to determine if a child has risk factors. This test is predominantly used for children between six months and six years in age. We also have a visual acuity test for children ages five and above. The test

replaces the traditional wall eye chart with a gamified version. Both of these are FDA regulated applictions. Our photo screener uses an ophthalmic camera and is a class two 510(k) exempt medical device. The gamified eye chart is a class one medical device.

Where do you see the future of health tech?

It’s very exciting what’s happening right now. Smartphone adoption and the evolution of how smartphones can be utilized to support the connected health experience are paramount for us. We’re utilizing everything – whether it is the front screen or the back in terms of the camera lens and the flash – and we’re excited about the developments that continue to take place. The iPhone 7 Plus is one example of what our team can develop when a new smartphone is introduced. We’re going to have more opportunities for screening and monitoring thanks to broadly available mobile technology. We’re going to empower consumers not only in the form of patients, but we’re also going to empower caregivers and other stakeholders to be better connected across the healthcare ecosystem. This allows for proactive access to data and brings more objectivity to self- reported data. Additionally, this information will complement the delivery of care. We’re well-positioned for the natural progression of connected health care that will lead to mass adoption.

What’s next for Gobiquity?

There are two opportunities we’re focusing on in 2017. First, we are helping professionals access our solution. We can still enable greater access to vision screening, monitoring and early detection, and we can help collaborate with the treatment. We will announce it later this year. Second, we are entering the adult space. In particular, retinal disease that creates blindness is growing in our aging population. The biggest gap in that market is the lack of early detection. In the U.S. there are more than 2.3 million people with age-related macular degeneration that don’t know it. We have the ability to test for it on a smartphone so people can be treated. That improves quality of life and lowers individual healthcare costs over time.

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