NEW YORK – Waldo, and eyecare startup firm focused on direct-to-consumer contact lens sales, has acquired Placid0 and unveiled details on Easy, a mobile app for vision assessment.
The acquisition was an all-stock deal. Other details of the transaction were not disclosed.
“We are thrilled to have acquired Placid0,” said Ashleigh Hinde, founder and CEO of Waldo. “The technology developed by Placid0 is a truly unique mobile platform for assessing ocular conditions unlike others on the market. WALDO was created to be a trusted eye care brand for both wearers and optometrists and this app allows us to improve connectivity and communication between the two. Through this platform, we aim to drive change, inspire and spread a positive vision for all.”
Waldo stated in a press release:
This app-based connectivity strengthens Waldo’s role within the eye care system by working closely with optometrists, eye doctors and opticians in stores. Now, in addition to contact lenses, blue light glasses and moisturizing drops and the partnership program with doctors, Waldo offers a product that will objectively measure the cornea through a mobile device, without relying on the patient or use of heavy and expensive equipment. Instead, Easy offers the potential to quickly assess comfort, measure parameters for dry eye and thyroid eye disease, discover any deformations due to contact use, enable patient monitoring in the office and at home, and much more. even more. While this technology will initially be exclusive to eye care professionals, the app will eventually be available for Waldo subscribers and consumers in general to play an active role in eye health.
Placido created Easy led by Dr. Darius Moshfeghi, head of the retina division at Stanford University School of Medicine, and Dr. Zach Bodnar, a Stanford-trained retina specialist. Moshfeghi will also join Waldo as Chief Medical Advisor, along with Dr. Mark Blumenkranz, professor of ophthalmology at Stanford University.
“WALDO is a champion of positive vision, of seeing and creating a better future for the eye care industry,” said Moshfeghi. “With their established distribution and network, we are thrilled to unveil our mobile technology and connect consumers and eye care professionals without friction. While ophthalmologists can identify and treat eye diseases earlier and more effectively than ever, these advances are meaningless if the problems are not diagnosed.”
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