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Launch HN: Quadrant Eye (YC W21) – Tackling online eye exams and at-home eyecare

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Re: Launch HN: Quadrant Eye (YC W21) – Tackling online eye exams and at-home eyecare

#41

Post by Killakwinn »

BrianB wrote: post #33

Would you work with endmyopia.org to progressively reduce prescription strength?

I am not familiar with this organization and will look into it. Thanks for bringing them to my attn!

Re: working with orgs, we're interested in partnering with those committed to advancing quality eyecare for all population segments. We're currently working with nonprofits like LightHouse for the Blind to bring eyecare to those with low vision. I've personally referred many patients to LightHouse and think that they provide a valuable resource to an otherwise overlooked portion of eye patient population!

One last point here. Re: slowing down myopia progression, I personally think atropine is the most promising intervention!

Re: Launch HN: Quadrant Eye (YC W21) – Tackling online eye exams and at-home eyecare

#43

Post by Killakwinn »

ingend88 wrote: post #36

Would $30 be covered by the insurance as well ?

Good question. Right now everything is out of pocket. The ideal scenario is for this service to be covered by employers as well as payers; don't worry, we'll make this happen in the future!

Re: Launch HN: Quadrant Eye (YC W21) – Tackling online eye exams and at-home eyecare

#44

Post by jackson1442 »

karaterobot wrote: post #25
KingMachiavelli wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In the US at least, you can order glasses online as long as you know the prescription. It's contacts that require a 'valid' prescription which only lasts a year and they will only let you buy a 'years' worth of contacts at a time.

I'm in WA, and I have to upload a photo of my prescription to buy glasses from a popular online eyeglass vendor whose name rhymes with Warby Parker. My impression is that it's a state-by-state thing. In my opinion it's pretty silly require this for eyeglasses (contacts are a different matter).

Same here in TX. Got a nice bold expiration date on my prescription too, but can't remember if it's one year after I uploaded the picture or one year after the scrip was issued.

Re: Launch HN: Quadrant Eye (YC W21) – Tackling online eye exams and at-home eyecare

#45

Post by Killakwinn »

karaterobot wrote: post #25
KingMachiavelli wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In the US at least, you can order glasses online as long as you know the prescription. It's contacts that require a 'valid' prescription which only lasts a year and they will only let you buy a 'years' worth of contacts at a time.

I'm in WA, and I have to upload a photo of my prescription to buy glasses from a popular online eyeglass vendor whose name rhymes with Warby Parker. My impression is that it's a state-by-state thing. In my opinion it's pretty silly require this for eyeglasses (contacts are a different matter).

I think that there are many scenarios in which there shouldn't be a 1 year expiration date for glasses or contacts. For example, if someone has a very straightforward glasses/contact lens prescription (<2D, no astigmatism) that has not changed in years and if that person has also never had an abnormal eye exam, then there is an argument to be made about having a more open-ended expiration date.

Re: Launch HN: Quadrant Eye (YC W21) – Tackling online eye exams and at-home eyecare

#46

Post by Killakwinn »

shkkmo wrote: post #20
Killakwinn wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There really is a lot that we can do to improve how people get eyecare and eyewear. I did want to point out that there's an entire other side of the eyecare industry -- eye health -- that gets overshadowed by the eyewear/optical aspect of eyecare. Obviously all sides of the eyecare industry need fixing, but I do I think part of the puzzle is bringing the eye health portion more front and center. (But ultimately there…

This is true amd something that I had not strongly considered. While my prescription still seems fine, it us probably worth scheduling an exam to check my eye health now that I am in my 30s.

I support this! :D

Re: Launch HN: Quadrant Eye (YC W21) – Tackling online eye exams and at-home eyecare

#48

Post by 542458 »

entee wrote: post #2

Just got a postcard from my optometrist the other day saying it’s time for my annual prescription check. My eyes are no different, but my glasses are scratched, so I need to spend an hour or two to get this fixed instead of just reordering glasses online. Can’t wait to use a service like this instead, much faster and easier, good luck!!

There are two parts to this. One, yeah the optometrist wants your money, sure. You probably don’t need your script checked annually unless you’re old or there’s something serious already known to be wrong with your eyes.

But... Not perceiving a change in your vision doesn’t mean your eyes are healthy - there are all sorts of diseases that a decent optometrist is screening for during an eye exam. Most notably glaucoma, which is irreversible and often presents no symptoms. Your eyes are really really good at working around flaws in your vision, which means that you can feel like you are seeing fine when really your vision is failing. This is what a lot of “check your vision at home” things miss - they can hand you an eyeglass prescription (so long as your vision isn’t too far outside the norm) but they almost never screen for disease, and catching those diseases early can be the difference between seeing and legally blind.

Re: Launch HN: Quadrant Eye (YC W21) – Tackling online eye exams and at-home eyecare

#49

Post by 542458 »

codegeek wrote: post #23

"unnecessary pupillary dilations and air puff tests (which by the way are wildly inaccurate,) " How true is this ? I am not refuting this as I have no credentials in this space but as someone who is very near sighted, I depend on these exams to make me feel safe and I do them once every year as the doctors have suggested over the years. It is scary to know that they are wildly inaccurate.

I strongly object to these statements.

Dialation may not be necessary every single time for a healthy adult, but it’s good to do occasionally as there are serious diseases that can only realistically be checked by getting a good look at the back of the eye.

Puff test can be vision-saving. It takes almost no effort, and is an excellent screen for glaucoma. Glaucoma is irreversible, and catching it early is essential to saving your vision. It’s not as accurate as other measures, but it’s fast (they’re usually doing other tests simultaneously) and easy so why not do it? But if you want the extra accuracy you can ask for the applanation - any decent optometrist will do it for you if you want. Some people prefer it.

Re: Launch HN: Quadrant Eye (YC W21) – Tackling online eye exams and at-home eyecare

#50

Post by Killakwinn »

bobawu wrote: post #47

Congrats on the launch! So what technology or design are you using that allows you to have the same kind of accuracy as an in person office visit?

I’ll leave the tech stack specifics to Kristine.

From clinical standpoint, the algorithms (re: vision testing and beyond) we design and implement will need to be tested against the gold standard (eg whatever method is used in person.) Fortunately this is fully in my wheelhouse, hehe.

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