LONDON—U.K. charity Vision for a Nation, which runs an innovative national eyecare program in Rwanda, announced that it has provided Peek Vision, a London based start-up, with accelerator funding of £50,000. Peek (Portable Eye Examination Kit) enables health workers to examine and diagnose eye diseases using a smartphone.

Peek Vision aims to employ technologies developed within a collaboration between the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, the University of Strathclyde and NHS Glasgow Centre for Ophthalmic Research. In turn, it is developing a number of innovative applications and tools that allows for visual acuity, lens imaging and retinal images to be taken with a smartphone and then sent with a GPS reference to the patient’s nearest health facility. This will enable low-cost, professional eye exams to be conducted in areas around the world where there is no or limited access to eyecare services.

Vision for a Nation has awarded the grant as part of its mission to deliver affordable eyecare to underserved populations around the world. The funding will be used by Peek Vision to develop and test several important new technologies and to establish an independent non-profit organization.

“The grant aligns with Vision for a Nation’s ethos of embracing and testing pioneering solutions to providing eyecare,” said Tom Rosewall, Vision for a Nation’s CEO. “Supporting new start-ups like Peek Vision could transform the way eyecare is delivered to millions of people globally and aid Vision for a Nation’s future work.”

Andrew Bastawrous, ophthalmologist, clinical lecturer and Peek Vision co-founder, commented, “Technology and connectivity have made it possible to reach populations who have previously been underserved and most at risk of being visually impaired or blind. However, technology does not solve blindness, people do. A well trained and supported eyecare work force is absolutely necessary for effective and comprehensive eyecare. The work of Vision for a Nation has been inspiring. We hope to be able to extend their reach even further. We both share a vision of more people worldwide living with good eye health.”