What kind of business model will “Healthcare from the Eye” be?

This is a business model that aims to detect systemic diseases at an early stage based on information from the eye. It does so by integrating hardware devices equipped with our proprietary full-auto alignment technology and services centered on the referral platform “Harmony” with AI technology. Our targets include primary care physicians, optical shops, ophthalmologists, hospitals, and specialized outpatient clinics. Furthermore, by utilizing these technologies and products owned by our company, we also offer solutions – previously dependent on specialized technicians – through methods such as Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS). It is said that there are approximately 130,000 primary care physicians in the United States. Up to now, we have approached individual primary care physicians, but going forward, we plan to broaden our reach to large primary care groups. In addition, the screening program itself has evolved significantly. While it used to take several days for images to be interpreted manually at reading centers, AI-based screening now enables a response in a short period of time. As a result, we anticipate that adoption will grow at a considerable pace in the future.

• Where do you think there is room for technological upgrades in hardware, such as OCT and fundus cameras?

  Opportunity exist not only for OCT devices but especially ultra-widefield fundus cameras, where Topcon has not yet entered certain markets. We see room for technological advancements in those areas. Additionally, there is potential for further growth in OCT through software-related functionality. Looking ahead, we expect a two-pronged trend: one for high-end (high-functionality) products and another for products with a high affinity for AI, focusing on efficiency improvements.