As the global population ages, life-impacting chronic disease continues to escalate with significant social, economic, and healthcare consequences.

When we age, we are at increased risk of developing conditions such as diabetic retinopathy (for diabetics), glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). In 2020, these diseases collectively caused over 19 million cases of moderate or worse vision impairment in adults aged 50 and over, with a global financial burden estimated at US$ 411 billion annually. The impact on quality of life is profound. Vision impairment can affect a person's social interactions, independence, education, emotional well-being, mobility, safety, access to information and ability to work. Individuals with vision impairment face a 30.2% relative reduction in employment.

One of the most common chronic conditions linked with ageing is CVD. As we age, our risk of heart-related conditions like coronary artery disease, heart failure, and hypertension increases, leading to an elevated risk of heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular events. People with vision impairment also exhibit an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. For example, in adults with eye diseases, there is a 39% prevalence of heart disease. In 2015, CVD affected an estimated 422.7 million people and caused 17.9 million deaths worldwide, accounting for 31% of global deaths.

Optain envisions a future where everyone can access early detection of chronic disease. That vision fuels pioneering work in AI-powered oculomics and has produced a fast, non-invasive retinal screening platform that can spot glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, and cardiovascular disease. By delivering precise results at the point of care, Optain helps clinicians act sooner, safeguard patient quality of life, and run their practices more efficiently.

Optain is a global medical device and software company rooted in the Australian-founded company Eyetelligence, launched in 2019. The AI retinal screening technology is based on over a decade of research by Professor Mingguang He, a leading researcher at the University of Melbourne and Centre for Eye Research in Australia.