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

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81–90 of 94 posts

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

#81
post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The rules around this vary state by state. In states like CA, it's unfortunately illegal to sell glasses/contacts to someone with an expired prescription. More info on buying glasses/contacts: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/buying-prescription-gl...

That's wild! I'm lucky enough to never having needed glasses, but the country of limited regulation being so captured by the eyewear industry of all things is crazy. My wife orders hers by dropshipping from possibly China and just enters her measurements from her latest prescription. Is that illegal? Contraband glasses.

I know right!!! Let’s just say “legit” and “contraband” glasses all come from the same handful of factories in Chinese cities such as Danyang and Shenzhen.

From a clinical standpoint, as long as a person has had the same prescription for years and is happy with their vision, things really ought to be that easy.

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

#82
post #78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I understand why these statements might seem extreme. A few points here: 1) I don't believe I've stated that dilated eye exams should never be done. One of the biggest reasons remote eyecare is relatively far behind compared to other specialties (remote dermatology, for example) is the need to visualize the retina up to the ora, where a lot of pathology (e.g. retinal holes) can hide. Currently, the only ways to visua…

I'm not an American, but I've had eye tests in both Canada and Israel. Just how expensive are these? In Canada they're free - covered by health care (Glaucoma). Regular eye tests in Canada cost ~$49 (clearly, Queen Street). In Israel they cost 22 NIS, about $6.

That is INCREDIBLE. When someone is paying for a full eye exam out of pocket in the US, it can cost anywhere from $69 to $150 USD.

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

#83
post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I hesitate to provide medical advice here. But if you are 30 and you have a glaucoma diagnosis, you should really be followed by a glaucoma specialist (vs a comprehensive ophthalmologist or an optometrist.)

Thanks for your kind advice. I'm very serious about my eyes and will do my best to protect it. However my docker is considered as a glaucoma specialist in one of the best hospital in our city..(though she's also treating other eye diseases)

Ok, I’m happy to hear it. This reminds me that another important caveat re: eyecare is this — even within a country, there’s a lot of variation in how ophthalmologists treat the same condition (eg one doctor might choose to do tube surgery on a glaucoma patient, whereas another might choose to do a laser procedure for the same patient.)

I imagine that internationally the differences are even more dramatic! But this doesn’t mean that one country is more “correct” than the other; in fact, I’d hypothesize that for population specific disease variants, geography factors into the trajectory of one’s disease outcome. For example, ophthalmologists in Asia are likely much better at treating normal tension glaucoma (NTG,) which has a higher prevalence in Asian patients. So perhaps these patients tend to do better, but this is only a crude guess.

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

#84
post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks for your kind advice. I'm very serious about my eyes and will do my best to protect it. However my docker is considered as a glaucoma specialist in one of the best hospital in our city..(though she's also treating other eye diseases)

Ok, I’m happy to hear it. This reminds me that another important caveat re: eyecare is this — even within a country, there’s a lot of variation in how ophthalmologists treat the same condition (eg one doctor might choose to do tube surgery on a glaucoma patient, whereas another might choose to do a laser procedure for the same patient.) I imagine that internationally the differences are even more dramatic! But this d…

Aha, it's interesting that your example 100% fit my case, Asian and NTG.

BTW, What you guys are doing is very impressive. It could be very useful for whom not able to go to the doctor's office.

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

#85
post #78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I understand why these statements might seem extreme. A few points here: 1) I don't believe I've stated that dilated eye exams should never be done. One of the biggest reasons remote eyecare is relatively far behind compared to other specialties (remote dermatology, for example) is the need to visualize the retina up to the ora, where a lot of pathology (e.g. retinal holes) can hide. Currently, the only ways to visua…

I'm not an American, but I've had eye tests in both Canada and Israel. Just how expensive are these? In Canada they're free - covered by health care (Glaucoma). Regular eye tests in Canada cost ~$49 (clearly, Queen Street). In Israel they cost 22 NIS, about $6.

For some more comparisons, the UK has free eye-tests for certain groups (children and at-risk) [1], but it costs around £20-25 (~$28-$35 at current exchange rate).

[1] https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/opticians/free-nhs-eye-tests...

[2] https://www.specsavers.co.uk/help-and-faqs/how-much-is-an-ey...

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

#86
post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ok, I’m happy to hear it. This reminds me that another important caveat re: eyecare is this — even within a country, there’s a lot of variation in how ophthalmologists treat the same condition (eg one doctor might choose to do tube surgery on a glaucoma patient, whereas another might choose to do a laser procedure for the same patient.) I imagine that internationally the differences are even more dramatic! But this d…

Aha, it's interesting that your example 100% fit my case, Asian and NTG. BTW, What you guys are doing is very impressive. It could be very useful for whom not able to go to the doctor's office.

Glad that my training and knowledge base is on point, hehe.

Thank you so much for the kind words. My biggest wish is for my team to use our combined skills and expertise to bring high-impact, scalable solutions to those who can't access an eye doctor (or don't want to go into the office.)

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

#87
post #78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not an American, but I've had eye tests in both Canada and Israel. Just how expensive are these? In Canada they're free - covered by health care (Glaucoma). Regular eye tests in Canada cost ~$49 (clearly, Queen Street). In Israel they cost 22 NIS, about $6.

For some more comparisons, the UK has free eye-tests for certain groups (children and at-risk) [1], but it costs around £20-25 (~$28-$35 at current exchange rate). [1] https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/opticians/free-nhs-eye-tests... [2] https://www.specsavers.co.uk/help-and-faqs/how-much-is-an-ey...

Wow, this is super helpful in that it gives me extra context outside of what I'm used to. Also just good to know what else is out there :) Thank you so much!!!

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

#88

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What were your symptoms? or was this only noticed during an exam and you had not realized anything was going before the exam? > and I also have to agree to not make a claim on my insurance to reimburse me, so its all out of pocket. Its pretty shady, but they are what my ophthalmologist wants me to use, and I don't want to mess around with blindness. I'm not too familiar with the all the inner workings of insurances b…

I did have some eye discomfort, dryness, etc. I chalked this up to allergies. I wasn't immediately diagnosed, but she said it was suspect. About a year later the visual field test showed that it had worsened, so the diagnosis became official. As far as the drops go, its a a brand-name drug. My doc suggested that there was a generic option available but it was also clear that it wasn't her preference. The signup proce…

Hi! I'm an optometrist. There are usually no symptoms for glaucoma, which is why it's known as a "silent thief of sight." Dryness and irritation are not symptoms of glaucoma. It is usually suspected when your doctor looks inside your eye at the optic nerve and sees that the cup in the middle of the optic nerve looks larger than they think it should be and your eye pressure (measured with either the air puff test or little probe that quickly touches your eye) seems a higher than normal. There's also a machine called the OCT which can help to see if you might be suspect for glaucoma. The visual field test checks your side vision to see if there is functional damage from the glaucoma. Your doctor may monitor it and make it an official diagnosis if they see progression on any of these things (optic nerve, OCT, visual field).

There is one kind of high eye pressure (acute angle closure) that can lead to glaucoma that may be accompanied with redness and eye pain, but this is more rare and happens more quickly. Otherwise, most forms of glaucoma (normal tension and open angle glaucoma) are extremely slowly progressing and don't have any symptoms until it's too late, when lose your side vision and are left with tunnel vision.

Quadrant Eye uses some tests which can help to screen for glaucoma even when you have no symptoms. Thank you Quadrant Eye for making a higher quality online screening! I can't wait for the entire comprehensive eye exam to be available at home and reach more people who otherwise may not have easy or convenient access to a doctor's office on a regular basis.

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

#89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I did have some eye discomfort, dryness, etc. I chalked this up to allergies. I wasn't immediately diagnosed, but she said it was suspect. About a year later the visual field test showed that it had worsened, so the diagnosis became official. As far as the drops go, its a a brand-name drug. My doc suggested that there was a generic option available but it was also clear that it wasn't her preference. The signup proce…

Hi! I'm an optometrist. There are usually no symptoms for glaucoma, which is why it's known as a "silent thief of sight." Dryness and irritation are not symptoms of glaucoma. It is usually suspected when your doctor looks inside your eye at the optic nerve and sees that the cup in the middle of the optic nerve looks larger than they think it should be and your eye pressure (measured with either the air puff test or l…

Wow, thanks for the detailed note of support. I agree with all of the above.

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

#90
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?

We'll be using a blend of computer vision techniques and portable hardware devices in the future. What is in our online exam right now is just a quick proof of concept that we rolled out to assess market fit. The more novel bits of tech are either in development or in the early stages of clinical trials. Excited to share more on that soon!
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