Dry eye management platform CSI Dry Eye Software has named executive leadership veteran Ken Barbet as its new CEO.
First, refresh me on CSI.
Operating since 2019, CSI was designed and developed by dry eye specialist Ahmed Al-Ghoul, MD, MBA, FRCSC, DipABO, as the “first machine-learning, cloud-based software of its kind” for enabling eyecare professionals (ECPs) to “see the whole picture behind dry eyes.”
What it offers: This artificial intelligence (AI)-powered dry eye software company works with ECPs to provide better diagnostics via machine learning, AI, and data science.
- Check out the key opinion leaders (KOLs) involved in the foundation of CSI’s technology.
And how is it doing this?
By identifying patterns of abnormalities to guide ECPs toward identifying the root cause of dry eye disease (DED) and developing a tailored treatment plan for patients.
Specifically: The software system is trained to analyze various tests and questionnaires from ECPs and their patients, and then identify potential causes and treatments based on those results.
- The goal: To diagnose and manage DED more quickly and efficiently.
Before we get any further into the software, talk about this new leader.
Out of his three decades of executive leadership experience, Barbet has spent 15 years within Canada’s eye care industry.
Most recently: He founded and served as president and CEO (since 2017) of the Calgary, Alberta-based Vision Alliance Partnership, which partners with optometrists to maximize their independent practice profitability and advance patient care.
- Prior to that: His eye care executive leadership extended to serving as CEO of Eye Recommend, a cooperative network of 550+ independent optometry clinics and 1,300+ optometrists across Canada.
And what does CSI have to say?
The company emphasized Barbet’s experience in “driving growth and transformation across multiple sectors” via strategic decision-making and data-driven insights.
- “His professional knowledge of the eye care landscape, paired with his business expertise, makes him equipped to lead CSI Dry Eye Software through its next chapter of innovation and expansion,” CSI stated.
Moving forward: With Barbet at the helm, the company is preparing to kick off a “new era of strategic growth” geared toward advancing ECP support and establishing “a new standard in dry eye management.”
Sounds exciting! Now circle back to how this dry eye software works.
To start, CSI noted that its cloud-based software-as-a-service (SaaS) “works best when accompanied by the most comprehensive and accurate data possible,” including such info like osmolarity, invasive tear breakup time (TBUT), and corneal sensation.
- Notably: Data from each patient visit is recorded and stored within their respective (and secured) patient file to compare and analyze over time.
The three-step process entails:
- Step 1: Patient intake
- Step 2: Doctor assessment
- Step 3: CSI data analysis and suggestions
See here for details on each.
Wasn’t there an update to it recently?
Relatively recently … as in April 2024.
See our coverage on that upgrade (including the new features accompanying it).