14:59 | 02.06.15 | Articles | exclusive 15020
Eye Care Plus Armenian app meant for testing and restoring eyesight, recently won Seedstars Yerevan startup contest.
The startup will take part in the Seedstars World in Switzerland in February 2016, where the winner will get USD500 thousand funding.
Itel.am had an exclusive interview with an Eye Care Plus representative.
Eye Care Plus is available on Google Play and has more than 200 downloads.
The startup is co-founded by Aram Mkhitaryan and Pavel Snkhchyan. Co-founder of PicsArt, businessman Hovhannes Avoyan assisted the team of 10 people.
Eye Care Plus Marketing Manager Armine Hakobyan told Itel.am that around 1.5 years ago, they were discussing ideas of setting up a new startup. They understood at that time that eyesight problems are urgent and a startup should be aimed at them.
The largest number of downloads of the app are from Russia, China and European countries.
''We also took into account the fact that computer technologies are becoming more and more available. Everyone spend at least a few hours in front of computers or use smartphones or other mobile devices. It affects eyesight. Our app first of all helps figure out the eyesight problems and through intensive restorative exercises, sight is improved'', Armine Hakobyan said.
The team behind the app is trying to disseminate the app especially in developing countries based on the fact that in developed countries, people with eye problems immediately see their doctors.
Eye Care Plus regularly contacts specialized doctors adn users can ask questions from them.
''We work with doctors from Armenia and abroad. We have a blog on eyesight and we update it regularly. Each user has an individual schedule which shows the exercises, the state of the eyesight etc. It develops a habit of training eyes. The practice shows that vision is enhanced after daily exercises done within a month'', noted Armine Hakobyan.
However, if the test shows that the illness can't be treated through online trainings the app offers to visit the nearest ophthalmologic hospital according to the severity of illness and the location of a person.
Eye Care Plus noted that once they get the funding they would start developing the iOS and Window Phone versions of the app which would allow engage more users.
Narine Daneghyan