Binocular glare sensitivity test - Market Assessment

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Glare is a visual experience, defined as difficulty or discomfort seeing in the presence of either bright or reflected natural (i.e. sunlight) or artificial (i.e. oncoming car headlights) light. Glare is a very common, but uncomfortable experience and can significantly impair one's ability to see, causing a temporary, and sometimes severe and functionally debilitating reduction of vision. Problems with glare are greater in older individuals, in individuals with a variety of ocular diseases, including cataracts, and after acquired brain injury. Glare is an important consideration when making decisions about medical or surgical management of ocular diseases, such as when to refer for cataract surgery. Eye-care practitioners and Canadians alike would benefit if glare could be measured clinically, as this measurement can improve clinical decision making and facilitate a greater individualised approach to care. Glare is not often measured clinically, because a simple, easy to use glare test does not exist and the current commercially available glare tests have limitations. Waterloo's Binocular Glare Sensitivity Test is a novel, simple and low-cost method, and system for measuring glare in a quick and efficient way that can be used by eye-care practitioners involved in direct patient care in areas of age-related vision loss and ocular disease, low vision, or concussion and stroke management. Waterloo's test addresses the limitations of existing technology because it can be used with both eyes open, is hands free, allows for measurements to be made while individuals wear their own glasses, and is suitable for individuals with normal and low vision. As part of this Market Assessment grant, the selected consultant (Adventus) will perform a thorough market analysis to identify the most suitable market opportunities along with technical, marketing and financial challenges associated with the application of the technology in a particular market segment. A favourable market assessment result will 1) formulate the commercialisation strategy and help attract early stage investments 2) form the basis for submitting a follow-on NSERC I2I Phase 1 project proposal.