What is the Reveal VUE?

The patent-pending VUE is a high-tech, 3D vision aid for people suffering from debilitating vision loss caused by retinal diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy, and retinitis pigmentosa, as well as other vision disorders such as hemianopia, and glaucoma.  These diseases affect over 17 million people in the United States, and over ten times that amount worldwide. The VUE has the capability to give these people back some of their independence and improve their quality of life.  In addition, we are pursuing Medicare coverage to minimize the out-of-pocket costs for patients to purchase the VUE, but we have not been approved for this yet. 

                Conceptual drawings of Release 1 and Release 2

Prototype

We are currently testing our prototype, which utilizes the Occulus Rift, in ophthalmologists offices with amazing results. Users of our prototype were able to improve their visual acuity by 3 to 5 levels on an eye chart.  For example, one patient with 20/200 vision in one eye and worse than 20/400 with the other was able to read 20/80 using the VUE.  (NOTE: 20/20 is considered normal vision, and that 20/200 is considered legally blind.) 

     Prototype of the VUE - Clockwise from top; Oculus Rift display with dual HD cameras mounted on the front for 3D video input, prototype controller components in a camera bag, controller components (USB hub, micro-computer, Oculus Rift controller, and battery pack)

Reveal now asks for your help to take this product to the next stage, Release 1, which will be a limited production run.  Once we begin generating revenue, Reveal will begin working on Release 2, an upgraded model for volume production.  Details about the features of these two releases are further below.

You have the opportunity to help bring this product to market to help many people and you can even help some of these sufferers directly (see our test patient bios below).

Your Contribution

Funds raised from this campaign will be used toward bringing production Release 1 of the VUE to market.  The developments needed to move from the prototype to a product are:

• power sequencing for the controller components (allowing a single button to power everything)
• addition of switches to toggle between 3 configurable states 
• design and integration of a new miniature, 3D camera assembly 
• software updates (configurations for additional diseases) and improvements to the user interface
  
• field tests for effectiveness with additional diseases (other than AMD)
  

You also have the opportunity to directly help one or more of the wonderful patients who have helped us to test the VUE prototype. Each of the people below has experienced severe vision loss and has shown significant improvement when testing the Reveal VUE.  Your contribution can go directly toward providing them one of the first production units.  Merely select one or more of the following people from the perks.  The amount of contribution can be changed to any value you want.  We will provide updates on each person's progress toward getting their VUE during the campaign.

Bennet Moore suffers from AMD in both eyes.  He could not read any letters on a Snellen eye chart with either eye.  Mr. Moore is retired and would like to be able to read the newspaper again.  Using the VUE prototype, Mr. Moore was able to read down to the fifth line on the eye chart, which is 20/80.

Rosalia Vazquez suffers from Diabetic Retinopathy, which has similar symptoms to AMD.  She is unable to see any letters on an eye chart with her right eye, and is 20/200 with her left.  Ms. Vazquez is a licensed clinical social worker and psychotherapist.  She also volunteers her time to organizing events to aid the blind. Besides continuing her work, Ms. Vazquez's dream is to go to the theater and to be able to see the performers on the stage again.  Using the VUE prototype, she was able to see better than 20/80.

John Goodson suffers from AMD in both eyes and is unable to discern any letters on an eye chart with either eye.  Mr. Goodson is a highly sought after Project Manager, but is having trouble continuing to work.  He would also like to use the VUE for watching TV and reading.  With the VUE prototype, Mr. Goodson was able to read down to the fifth line on the eye chart, which is 20/80.

Shirley Thomas suffers from AMD in her left eye. Her right eye is her good eye, but even that is 20/200.  Ms. Thomas runs her own small business, but is finding it increasingly difficult to work.  She needs to have people read business documents to her. Ms. Thomas was able to see 20/80 using the VUE prototype. 

Perks

Shirt sizes will be collected at the end of the campaign

Shipping is included in the prices above.  Perks will be shipped as soon as possible after the close of the campaign, with the exception of the Reveal VUE and the launch party.  VUE fulfillment and party are dependent upon program schedule changes and whether or not reveal Optical receives sufficient funds to achieve production. See risks and disclaimers below.

New Perks!

Incurable Vision Disorders

Approximately 187 million people in the world have incurable vision disorders, and this is not isolated to third world countries. Nearly 10% of these people are from the United States alone.  

Vision Disorder	U.S.	WW
Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD)*	7.2M	25M
Diabetic Retinopathy	7.7M	93M
Glaucoma	2.7M	67M
Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP)	100k	1M - 3M
Total	17.7M	187M

Macular degeneration (also known as age-related macular degeneration - AMD) is a disorder of the retina where the cells in the central area of vision (the macula) begin to deteriorate.  This causes blurred or distorted central vision, and in extreme cases a blind spot (or macular hole). In the United States, AMD is the leading cause of severe vision loss in people over age 60, and there are approximately 200,000 new cases diagnosed every year.  There are two forms of AMD, wet and dry.  Today, there are treatments for wet AMD, which is caused by blood vessels leaking the retina.  However, if retinal cells have already been damaged the result is dry AMD, which is incurable. 

Diabetic retinopathy is a retinal disorder brought about by diabetes, where blood vessels in the retina either weaken or grow abnormally.  These blood vessels begin to leak into the retina causing spots of blurred or lost vision.  As the incidence of diabetes increases, these has been a corresponding increase in cases of diabetic retinopathy.

Glaucoma is typically caused by a build-up of fluid pressure in the eye due to a blocked duct.  The cause of blockage is unknown, but the condition appears to be hereditary.  As pressure builds in the eye, it causes damage to the optic nerve, creating irreversible  loss of vision.

Retinitis pigmentosa is a condition where the cells of the retina deteriorate, but unlike macular degeneration the deterioration usually begins at the outside edges of the retina.

When people reach advanced stages of these diseases, they lose their ability to perform common activities that most people take for granted, like reading or watching TV.  Vision loss can cause people to lose their independence, force them to quit working, and can even lead to depression and loss of self esteem.

While the medical community continues to work toward eventual cures for these diseases, Reveal has a much more immediate plan to give sight back to those who are already suffering. 

Current Vision Aids

The National Eye Institute (NEI) lists the following devices to help with vision loss.  Each of these has its limitations.

• Reading glasses with high-powered lenses - limited field of view, which is critical to a sufferer of AMD
• Handheld magnifiers - useful only for reading
• Video magnifiers - not portable
• Computers with large-print and speech-output systems - for computer use only
• Large-print reading materials - limited availability
• Talking watches, clocks, and calculators - only usable for very specific functions

None of the above are useful for seeing a sporting event or attending the theater.

Another treatment that is sometimes used for AMD and RP is a surgically implanted intra-ocular telescopic lens. The drawbacks of this solution are that it is invasive, not reversible or adjustable, and only provides magnification.

The chart below shows how the Reveal VUE compares to some common vision aid products, as well as to the surgical implant option:

Google Glass - Many people ask us about how our product compares to Google Glass, and whether or not Google Glass can be used as a vision aid.  While Google Glass can help blind people by telling them about things, it can't actually help them to see.

The Reveal VUE

The key to helping people with retinal diseases is taking advantage of as much of the viable retinal area as possible.  What is also needed is a product that allows freedom of movement and is useful for multiple daily activities.  The Reveal VUE addresses all of these problems.  It is a portable system that can be configured specifically for an individual user and can be set to aid the user in a multitude of activities.

How it works

The VUE takes stereo images captured by two cameras and using custom software from Reveal, manipulates the images to present them in the best way for the specific user.  These manipulations are not only custom for the wearer, but also for each eye.  The VUE then presents the images to the user through the Oculus Rift display with minimal latency.  In other words, users see the world in 3D, optimized for their vision, in real time.  Custom settings for each user will be configured at a doctor's office for a variety of daily activities. 

In field tests at Ophthalmologist offices, users of our prototype were able to improve their visual acuity by 3 to 5 levels on an eye chart.  For example, one patient with 20/200 vision in one eye and worse than 20/400 with the other was able to read 20/80 using the VUE.  Note that 20/20 is considered normal vision, and that 20/200 is considered legally blind

The current prototype

Our current prototype was created using off-the-shelf components and our own custom software.  We used the Oculus Rift Developer's kit as our display because if its large field of view and head tracking capability.  Two webcams provide 3D stereo video input.  The video controller, microcomputer with the software, and battery pack are contained within a camera bag.  The current system can run for more than 4 hours on a charge.

The Production Design - Releases 1 and 2

Production Release 1 of the VUE will continue to use the Oculus Rift and will have custom-designed cameras that will mount more seamlessly on the Rift.  The initial controller will still be contained in a camera bag, but will feature longer battery life, more streamlined cabling.  This release will also have three configuration buttons with custom-configured settings for reading, mid-range activities (like watching TV), and long-range (like outdoor activities).  Release 1 is currently estimated to start shipping in the fall of 2014.

With Release 2, the controller will be greatly reduced in size, enabling it to be clipped to a belt or a walker, or to be worn with a shoulder strap.  It will also feature improved resolution, a sleeker design, and voice control, allowing the user to easily switch between different daily activities.  Using state-of-the-art voice recognition software,  the user will simply speak commands (e.g., "VUE, I want to read.") to change to a different setting for a different activity (e.g., watching TV vs. reading a book).  The VUE will then acknowledge the command and set the image parameters to the new pre-configured setting, which is optimized for the new activity.  This could consist of a specific amount of magnification, brightness, contrast, edge enhancement, or even color change or inversion.  These settings will have been configured specifically for the user by his/her doctor.

Current Development Timeline

About Us

Reveal was founded by Jerry Aguren and John Marino, with the guidance of Dr. Warren Cross  who was the catalyst inspiring Jerry to come up with the idea of the VUE.

Jerry Aguren (CEO) has more than thirty-years experience leading and developing new technologies across a broad range of industries. Prior to starting Reveal, Jerry served as Chief Technology Officer for Hewlett-Packard’s Storage Network Division and Chief Technologist of Optics for Hewlett-Packard’s Enterprise business divisions. Prior to Hewlett-Packard, Jerry was also one of the Founders of ATL, a tape library manufacturer that went IPO and was eventually sold for $300M.    

John Marino (VP of Sales and Marketing) has over twenty years of engineering, program management, and business management experience in the development and lifecycle management of high volume electronics.  Before joining Reveal, John managed the Optics business for Hewlett Packard's Enterprise Storage Division.

Jerry and John have worked together for over 15 years, and have always wanted to find a way to apply their engineering talents toward helping society in a meaningful way. 

Warren Cross MD (Ophthalmologist and Medical Advisor) is a prominent Ophthalmologist in Houston, Texas.  He  founder of Warren Cross and Associates, The Laser Vision Center, and Cross Eye Centers. Dr. Cross started and serves on the Board of Directors of the Laser Eye Institute of Houston. He was also was also involved in the FDA study of the excimer laser for the surgical correction of myopia and hyperopia and of the holmium laser for glaucoma treatment.  Dr. Cross proactively involves himself in research for better eye care and treatment.

Franz Jaggar (CFO) has 25 years of financial experience in early/late stage financing, mergers and acquisitions, and the creation of financial infrastructures for technology companies. Mr. Jaggar is currently the treasurer of Treadstone Technologies Inc. and on the Boards of Directors for Treadstone and Vanguard Voice Systems, Inc.

Acknowledgements
Special thanks to Alex Penrose for producing a high quality video on a shoe-string budget and a ridiculously short schedule!

Also, thanks to general council, Sulee Stinson Clay for legal review and input to this campaign.

Risks and Disclaimers
https://app.box.com/s/arwpsgjglcuqw2uosd4g

Copyright 2014 - All information on this campaign is the property of Reveal Optical LLC.