RevitalVision has officially entered the U.S. market with a portfolio of non-invasive technology designed to neurologically enhance eyesight.
The company is partnering with Launchpad Vision to introduce its vision tech across seven key regions in the United States (including almost 20 pilot practices).
Start with this company.
Founded in 2019 and headquartered in Isarel—with operations in the United States and Canada—RevitalVision is a software-as-a-service (SaaS)-based digital health startup.
Its purpose: Providing digital training therapy technology to improve vision across a wide range of ocular conditions, including:
- Adult amblyopia
- Keratoconus
- Nystagmus
- Early presbyopia
*Note: This is not a comprehensive list of conditions targeted.
Real quick: Talk about the company’s US expansion.
To support this advancement, RevitalVision has named Charles Morris—an entrepreneurial marketing executive with 20+ years of experience—as general manager of its North American division
About Morris: He was most recently with CooperVision, serving as global brand director for its specialty eyecare portfolio; prior to that, he was with Paragon Vision Sciences as director of marketing.
Alrighty, now back to this technology. Explain the science behind it.
The RevitalVision technology is a non-invasive, patent-specific, perceptual-learning program based on visual stimulation.
What this involves: The company takes a “comprehensive approach” to vision impairment by targeting the brain and eyes with a computerized visual training technique using Gabor patches to improve contrast sensitivity and visual acuity.
- Note: Gabor patches are visual stimuli often used in vision research to study visual perception.
And the intended impact?
The tech improves vision quality by “enhancing neural processing in the primary visual cortex,” simulating specific neurons, and generating new connections between them.
- See here for a deeper dive into this.
Explain how this program works.
Marketed as “clinically proven” and “risk-free,” the program is designed with a “simple, structured approach to improve vision with easy, user-friendly vision training sessions” that patients can follow at their own pace.
The setup: The customizable, at-home vision programs require 30 minutes, 3 times a week for 2 to 3 months (click here for details on how to get started).
- Patients must sit in a quiet and dark room, 5 feet from a computer screen.
- Tablets can also be used if connected to a larger external monitor (15 to 27 inches) with a standard computer mouse.
- After logging in, users are presented with a series of images, containing different shapes, sizes and contrasts, to click either left or right on.
- Each session is adjusted to a patient’s progress.
On the clinical side: Each program is also remotely monitored by an eyecare professional (ECP).
And in all: For optimal results, patients must complete 30 to 40 training sessions, each customized to their specific needs, over the course of several months.
So there’s more than one program?
There is. A total of seven vision programs are available for qualifying patients:
- Amblyopia*
- Presbyopia
- Post-cataract surgery
- Low myopia
- Sports vision training
- Post-LASIK surgery
- Eye diseases / Low vision
The purpose behind each program: Each session trains the brain to process visual information more efficiently, according to the company.
*FDA cleared in the United States and CE marked in the European Union.
Zero in on that amblyopia program.
RevitalVision reports this “lazy eye” program to be the only FDA-cleared product for adult amblyopia (ages 9+) that is “proven to improve vision in adult amblyopia” and other visual functions.
- It works as a standalone therapy when occlusion is no longer effective.
How: The program promotes visual processing through targeted and repetitive tasks, resulting in stimulation of specific neurons within the visual cortex.
Let’s talk outcomes.
The company noted that results will vary based on the program and patients’ individual needs.
- However: The average improvement is generally more than 2 lines on the visual acuity (VA) test chart and 100% in contrast sensitivity.
What this means: If a patient was able to read something from 10 meters away prior to the program, that distance would extend to 17 meters following the program.
And how long do these visual improvements last?
There’s no set timeframe for visual improvements.
And while RevitalVision did note that “the improved neural-vision skills is long lasting,” it also emphasized that the program has “no effect on the progression of [a patient’s] eye disease.”
Gotcha. How can patients determine their eligibility for these programs?
Each of the six programs (hyperlinked above) have eligibility tests to check if patients qualify.
And this is clinically-backed, right?
Yes! In fact, the company has a plethora of patient and physician testimonials from each program (see here) featured on its website as well as a collection of supporting clinical research extending back 20+ years.
Most recently: Research presented during last year’s Association for Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) evaluated the use of RevitalVision’s amblyopia program for improving best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and contrast sensitivity function (CSF) among keratoconus eyes and post-cataract patients with multifocal intraocular lens (IOL) implants.
- The crux of those findings: The amblyopia program improved both BCVA and CSF after 20 and 40 training sessions.
Sounds promising. So how much does this cost?
Costs vary by program. RevitalVision noted that specific pricing details will be available on each program page prior to starting the checkout process.
As for refunds: A 14-day money-back guarantee policy is in place for all new customers.
And where can the programs be purchased?
Take note: The amblyopia and low vision programs can only be purchased through clinical practices while the post-surgery and wellness programs are available for direct purchase from the RevitalVision website by patients.
- For ECPs interested in becoming a RevitalVision provider, click here.
- Also click here to learn more about individual programs.
As a bonus: RevitalVision is debuting its technology at Vision Expo East in Orlando, Florida, this week (Feb. 19 - 22). If you’re attending, stop by booth L4 (adjacent to the main stage) in the Exhibit Hall.
What attendees can expect: live demonstrations, meeting with company experts, clinical trial discussions, and learning more about the technology behind the therapy.