MY SON’S EYESIGHT
hand, was a backwater which was using devices that had been developed 50 or even 100 years before. “What was needed was a device that could image the entire eye in a very patient-friendly way and could be used by a non-expert practitioner.” Douglas started working on his ambitious plan back in 1992 after securing investment – £20million over the past 20 years – and unveiled his first devices back in 2000. “It took another 10 years to go from the first machines we had in the marketplace to the level of refinement we have today. We are now on the third generation of machines,” he says. “Obviously my background in making medical products was useful but it has been a big challenge and was – and still is – very much a team effort.” In 2007 Optos received a Queen’s Award For Enterprise and the following year Douglas was named European Inventor Of The Year. Last year an Optos display was installed in the National Museum Of Scotland.
The device was instrumental in saving Leif’s second eye when he had another retinal detachment aged 20. Douglas rushed him to hospital during a weekend only to find there were no consultants available.
“Fortunately there was an Optos machine but there were no clinical operators.
“So Leif and I convinced the staff to let us image his eye and he was scheduled for urgent and immediate attention the next day,” says Douglas, who also has a daughter Orea, 35.
“Leif’s eye was saved but without the immediate diagnosis it was at risk.
“The machine played a big role with that.”
Leif is now 31 and his right eye is in good health although he does require continuous monitoring.
“He has sight that is capable of reading and driving a car so his vision is very good.
“I’m amazed we’ve managed to get so far. We make the product today that I hoped for 25 years ago. It means there are many parents out there who won’t have to go through what we did all those years ago.” For more information visit optos.com