Eyetonomy’s SightMate is a portable, lightweight low vision aid system that optimizes residual peripheral vision. Worn like eyeglasses, it is the first portable video magnifier combining the functions of different low vision aids in a single device with a high resolution image.

12 million people in the US suffer from age-related macular degeneration or other eye diseases that result in the permanent loss of central vision. Common surgical or other medical treatments may halt, but not cure these conditions. In the past, many patients have used a range of optical and electronic magnifiers for different viewing purposes in order to better function in daily life, but there has never been an all-in-one system.

Eyetonomy’s SightMate vision tool can help approximately 40 to 60 percent of patients improve their visual acuity, and hence their quality of life. Tests have demonstrated that people with a 20/70 to 20/200 acuity in their better eye have been able to increase their reading and distance acuity to the range of 20/20 to 20/40 using their remaining peripheral vision while wearing the SightMate. SightMate improves the visual acuity of individuals with central vision loss by allowing them to magnify images or text and pan across it. The magnified images or text are viewed by vision that has not been lost to disease.

By a combination of edge detection, contrast enhancement and optical zoom, SightMate can also assist people with Diabetic Retinopathy or Glaucoma who have suffered a gradual loss over the entire vision field.