-Increased accuracy of eye diseasediagnosis with unmanned complex examination system and AI technology

-ELI Solution advances into developedcountries with strategic investment from Green Cross MS

The progression of the damage of the optic nerve can be prevented if eye diseases are detected early. But 80% of those who lost eyesight had not had an early diagnosis. Losing eyesight due to eye disease occurs not only in developing countries with insufficient infrastructure, but also in developed countries with low access to ophthalmology medical care.  ELI Solution reduces the risk of progression of diseases by diagnosing eye diseases accurately. Guk Gyeong-min, the CEO of Rootee Solution, said, "The eye is the only organ in which the blood vessels can be imaged, and you can find out about the information about systemic diseases. The eyes can present a roadmap to a healthy life."

Founded in April 2017, Rootee Health has been contributing tothe prevention of eye diseases in developing and developed countries by usingan unmanned eye disease complex screening system and AI as conducting KOICA'sCTS (Creative Technology Solution) project. The experience in developingcountries played a big role in enhancing the completeness of the eye diseasetest solution, and based on this experience, Rootee Health received a strategicinvestment from Green Cross MS in last January and entered the developedcountries as well. Guk explained, “By the second half of 2021, more advanced eye disease testing solutions will be introducedto the market, and after launch, we will secure a number of AI technologies to create a new type of eye disease care model.”

Rootee Health provides a test solution for patients who areexpected to develop eye disease complications due to chronic diseases to bediagnosed early. On this, Guk emphasized, “If you miss the treatment timebecause you have not detected eye disease early, the optic nerve will bedamaged to the point of becoming blind with the three major blindness diseases.People with chronic diseases are highly exposed to eye disease complications andblindness, so you should get checked regularly. The early complicationdetection service should be performed in the medical clinics(non-ophthalmological medical environment) that current patients of chronicdisease are visiting.”

However, non-ophthalmological medical clinics may feel burdenedto hire a separate optometrist, and it is not easy to read eye diseases withspecialized knowledge. Also, it is difficult to establish an examinationenvironment (such as darkrooms) like an ophthalmological clinic in anon-ophthalmological medical environment. To solve these problems, RooteeHealth is conducting non-face-to-face early diagnoses of eye diseases andcontinuous management solutions and membership services as its main business.

ELI Solution provided by Rootee Health is an eye disease testsolution that can be easily used by the general public. The feature of thisproduct lies in the “eye examination automation technology” that automates theprocess of obtaining good images with AI technology while being portable. “Ifyou just place your face like a VR, the eye exam is done within 10 seconds, andyou can finish the eye exam for both eyes within 30 seconds. It is the firstportable automatic photographic eye exam device. Because it is portable, it hasa big advantage over conventional fixed fundus camera,” Guk said.

ELI Solution can also be used in conjunction with an AI-baseddiagnostic assistance system to instantly identify diseases in the field.Expensive fixed cameras are gradually developing into complex medical devicessuch as OCT, but this product can be positioned as the optimized product forfundus imaging.

ELI Solution has already been well received in the market. Guk thinks it should be introduced to the market through rapid medical device approval as quickly as possible. When the product is released, he is planning to focus on the Asian market like India. It is planning to provide the service with partnership through the government organizations with diabetes management centers, internal medicine clinics, ophthalmological clinics, and pharmacy chains. After completing a $1.5M pre-order contract with a US telemedicine company, Rootee Health succeeded in attracting strategic investments for Green Cross MS in the field of early diagnosis of on-site chronic diseases in January, and is currently focusing on entering developed countries.

“We are expected to face a lot of difficulties due to theprolonged COVID-19 and the uncertain global economic crisis, but the nature ofeye diseases which people in the low-income bracket are more prone to eyediseases that can lead to blindness makes us work harder to distribute oursolution to the Asian market. We are going to expand the business with the helpfrom KOICA and Green Cross,” said Guk. He ended the interview by commenting onPangyo as the base of his business, saying that Pangyo is very advantageous insecuring excellent manpower in software development. There are manyorganizations in Pangyo that support startups like us to settle down well,which makes this place the best place to grow their businesses.