Bart Foster

DULUTH, Ga.—A new company, SoloHealth, is positioning itself to capitalize on the growing consumer preference for “self-directed” healthcare services. SoloHealth’s first product is EyeSite, an interactive self-service vision test kiosk designed to provide consumers with a free assessment of their vision and information about common eye health condition—and then, if necessary, recommend an eye exam and refer them to local eyecare practitioners.

EyeSite, still in a test pilot phase now, via kiosks in a variety of high-traffic settings, uses sophisticated, interactive optical software to accurately assess a person’s near and distance vision, featuring an interactive video to provide consumers with a free and customized assessment of their vision.

The company is testing and analyzing the research for the award-winning kiosks with independent practitioners and inside several retailers (including Wal-Mart, Costco, and Walgreens) to assess results and reach a wide range of consumers.

Launched in late 2007, SoloHealth is a spinout of CIBA Vision, the eyecare unit of Novartis AG.

Noted Bart Foster, a former CIBA executive who is the CEO and founder of SoloHealth, “The EyeSite kiosk is not a replacement for an eye exam. On the contrary, it educates people on the importance of eye health and encourages them get an eye exam.”

EyeSite, still in a test pilot phase now, will be available via kiosks in a variety of high-traffic settings and independent practices.

He continued, “Many people don’t realize they could benefit from vision correction and the importance of regular exams. In fact, eyesight usually deteriorates very slowly and can easily go unnoticed. Also, many vision loss problems are preventable if detected early.

“The EyeSite self-service vision test kiosk encourages people to check their vision more often, resulting in more regular eye doctor visits, leading to better overall vision health and, ultimately, more sales of vision care products,” Foster said.

Consumers visiting the EyeSite kiosk answer questions on a touch screen and are presented a series of visual images that measure their near and distance vision. The vision test takes less than three minutes. Their results are tabulated and printed and they can choose an eyecare provider and request a follow-up exam. The kiosk—which provides information about serious conditions such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, dry eye—also offers information opportunities for eyecare product manufacturers. To date, according to Foster, the following manufacturers are sponsoring EyeSite market tests: Alcon, CIBA Vision, Transitions Optical, VSP Vision, and Eyemaginations.

In five weeks of testing, ending September, the EyeSite kiosks tested more than 15,000 people. Roughly 25 percent of those said they never had an eye exam roughly half did not pass the near-vision test, while some 80 percent were directed to/referred to an eyecare professional.

The company’s commercial and professional advisory boards include, among others, Mike Eckert, former CEO of The Weather Channel; Tom Lamb, former CEO of Lexmark; Rick Voight, head of Retail Photo at Hewlett Packard; Mike Daley, former president of Essilor Lenses; Ed Greene, CEO, Vision Council; and Rick Weisbarth, OD, vice president, global head professional development and partnerships for CIBA Vision and the current president of the American Academy of Optometry. Further info on the business is available at www.solo-health.com.  ■
—Marge Axelrad