As more people live longer, failing eyesight – leading to impaired vision and blindness – is also becoming more common around the world.
Entoptica, a Hong Kong start-up, intends to make it easier to spot a common cause of vision loss early on. This will promote healthier ageing, while easing the burden on healthcare systems.
Age-related damage to the macula – a small oval area at the back of the eye – is a major contributor to irreversible vision loss.
This thin layer of tissue plays an essential role in making out different colours as well as visual detail, including text and people’s faces.
However, early diagnosis of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which could delay or even prevent the onset of serious eye disease, is both difficult and expensive.
The team at Entoptica are working on an alternative: a cost-effective and easy-to-use screening device that promises to detect AMD at its earliest, most treatable stages.
The new diagnostic tool, called SLOPE, is designed for use on the frontline of patient care in GP clinics and elderly care homes, in addition to specialist clinics.
This creates an earlier screening tier, unserved by high-end diagnostics, that aligns with the broader trend of moving healthcare into the community, notes Taranjit Singh, Entoptica’s CTO.
“The future of eye care must be accessible, preventive and decentralised,” he asserts.
SLOPE is an acronym for Structured Light Observation, Perception and Evaluation. Structured light is a 3D scanning technology that uses patterns of light to create accurate digital copies. That can help pinpoint early-stage AMD.
The SLOPE system began life within the Centre for Eye Vision and Research (CEVR) – a research collaboration between The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and Canada’s University of Waterloo that is part of the Hong Kong SAR Government’s InnoHK initiative.
Entoptica spun out of CEVR last year with a mandate to commercialise new technologies that can identify degenerative eye diseases.
Mr Singh, a researcher within CEVR, co-founded Entoptica with his colleague Dr Mukhit Kulmaganbetov who became the company’s CEO.
Their priority is taking SLOPE – which currently operates as a functional prototype – to market.
The innovative device is already being used in clinics for data collection. Two units have also been sold to research facilities.
The next step is full-scale clinical trials to secure key regulatory approvals, hopefully by the end of 2026.
If all goes to plan, commercial launch and manufacturing scale-up should follow in 2027.
Support from HKTDC
Entoptica recently secured the Grand Award for start-ups at Hong Kong’s ICT Awards 2025.
The company’s potential was also recognised as one of this year’s winners for Start-up Express, a start-up development programme run by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC).
Start-up Express helps fast-track Entoptica’s development in two ways, Mr Singh highlights.
First, it provides critical access to investors and mentorship. These are vital to secure funding for clinical trials and increased manufacturing.
Furthermore, the programme helps connect the eye health specialist with a wider network of potential partners and customers through event sponsorships and high-profile exhibitions.
“This increased visibility is crucial for building brand recognition, attracting strategic investment and accelerating the adoption of our technology,” Mr Singh explains.
The team behind SLOPE have also been leveraging other HKTDC platforms to advance their commercial journey.
They have participated in the Asia Summit on Global Health for the past three years, taking a booth in the 2024 and 2025 editions to showcase SLOPE.
Visits to the Asian Financial Forum, Optical Fair and Medical and Healthcare Fair also directly informed product and business strategy, while providing excellent platforms for networking.
SLOPE is just the beginning for Entoptica, Mr Singh says.
In the long term, the company’s researchers and ophthalmologists aim to develop a series of practical and effective solutions that address significant challenges in eye care.
“Ultimately, our goal is for Entoptica to make a meaningful difference in the lives of patients and to help shape the future of eye health.”