The AmblyoPlay vision training solution has already helped thousands of children around the world solve vision problems such as lazy eye, squinting and insufficient convergence

Smart Optometry from Idrija, a finalist for Start: up of the Year in 2018, which develops digital eye care solutions, has received a new investment from the venture capital fund Fil Rouge Capital from Zagreb in the amount of € 300,000, which will be used to further expand in the markets of North America, Western Europe and Oceania, where the company generates more than 90% of all sales.

The company was founded in 2015 with the aim of offering advanced and innovative solutions in the eye industry, with which specialists can offer patients better service and faster care. Global trends show that by 2050, as many as half of the world's population will be short-sighted, so rapid diagnosis, prevention and treatment of eye problems is becoming one of the highest priorities of global health. With the first solution - the Smart Optometry app, used by more than 150,000 ophthalmologists worldwide - they address this very problem, while their main solution is vision training for children AmblyoPlay, which has already helped thousands of children solve their eye problems such as laziness eye, strabismus, and insufficient convergence. 

Although these problems sound like a rather niche problem, they affect up to 5% of the world's population. Fortunately, most of these problems can be solved with customized exercises offered by AmblyoPlay.

"As much as 80% of all knowledge is received through sight, through reading and observation. So you can imagine how poor eyesight affects a child's development and academic success, not to mention other aspects of life, " said Žan Menart, CEO of Smart Optometry.

AmblyoPlay vision training is done by children through playing therapeutic games and exercises that stimulate their visual function. 

Žan Menart, CEO of Smart Optometry

"Current methods of vision training are repetitive and boring, which is why children do not perform them regularly enough. It was extremely important to us that our solution was attractive and appealing, because only with regular and serious exercise can we achieve good results of therapy, " Menart added.

In recent years, the company has partnered with some healthcare giants such as Bayer and GE Healthcare, and has also participated in the Health Venture Lab program organized by the European EIT Health. In 2018, the company also won the gold award of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia as the most innovative young company in Slovenia. The third investor is joining the company with an investment from Fil Rouge Capital fund as Kolektor Ventures and Salus, one of the largest suppliers of medicines and medical devices in the region, have previously joined the company.

“We are very pleased that Fil Rouge Capital has joined our mission. We are convinced that with their support we will be able to help individuals around the world improve their vision even better and faster, and make their lives more beautiful and easier with our innovations, " Žan Menart concluded.