Three out of ten patients that ophthalmologist Juliana Barbi consults in her clinic in Belo Horizonte (MG) come from Instagram. Some of them live in other Brazilian states or even abroad.
“These patients form bonds with me even before the first consultation, because of the content I produce in my profile. They come to the office only to get to know me in person, because they already decided to begin treatment with me. So, the power of identification of Instagram is very strong”, states Barbi.
Doctor Barbi has been investing in producing social media content since 2018. She makes all the content, (script, recording, editing and posting) by herself.
And no, you do not need to dance performances to lure the right public (but you can, if you want). Barbi talks about medical procedures, shows patients’ “before and after” and shares about her professional – and sometimes personal – routine with her more than 10 thousand followers.
Ophthalmologist Juliana Barbi’s Instagram. The doctor has been investing in the social network for 5 years.
Doctor Barbi produces content on a daily basis. Usually, “Stories” videos that, many times, have space in her feed as Reels. “I look for dividing one single subject in various short videos to draw the follower’s attention and not to get boring. For example, I can divide a subject as “eyelid surgery” into post-surgery care, stitches, scar, etc.”, she explains..
When this article was written (October 5, 2023), she posted a Reel in her feed, showing a patient and demonstrating how a superior and inferior blepharoplasty ends. She shared her part in an interview on her story, a personal reel about wrinkles while smiling, and the recording of the next episode of her videocast “ENTRE(vistas)”, that goes live every other week on her Instagram.
In the videocast, the ophthalmologist invites professionals of healthcare and even other areas related to her work. For example, a tennis teacher highlighted the importance of knowing the dominant eye to make contact with the ball during a game. And a makeup artist taught tricks to improve the appearance of the eyes. “The idea is to diversify the subjects commonly addressed on my social profile with different topics related to vision in some way”, she explains.
TikTok and website
Recently, Barbi also signed in to TikTok, a social network to share short videos. A very successful platform, mainly among young people. “They may be my future patients”, she reflects.
In addition to social media, the doctor has a website where she presents her specialties, services and courses (including tips on content creation).
Barbi considers it fundamental to invest in communication technologies to reach good results with medical marketing. A professional profile on Instagram may be the first step. The second one is a website and a TikTok account. “Using websites to target an older audience, instagram to target middle aged patients and even tiktok to reach the youngest audience”, she says. However, she also emphasizes: “People who do not do it, end up falling behind”.
You do not need to be so extroverted as the ophthalmologist to go “viral” in social networks, as some fellow professionals believe, you only need to be yourself. “For the profile to be good, it is essential to be authentic. I do not show anything that I am not. I talk before the camera exactly as I work with my patient in the consultation office”, she states.
New rules for medical marketing
Recently, the Federal Council of Medicine (CFM) updated the rules for medical marketing. The new text, more aligned to the current needs of communication, including the medical class, affirms that the doctor may share their work on social networks, advertise equipment available in their workplace and, for educational purposes, to use images of patients or photo databases.
The proposal, according to the CFM is to assure the doctor has a right to show people the range of his/her services, respecting the market rules, but preserving medicine as a support activity. The new resolution authorizes advertising consultation prices and making of marketing campaigns.
“Before, I showed only a small part of the procedure and treatment results. Now I can share the ‘before and after’, of course, respecting the patients who authorized sharing their images. It is important for the patient to know better each step of a blepharoplasty, for example”, she explains.
Patient Journey
Medical marketing is one of the steps of the patient journey. In order to consolidate all investments being made to bring a patient to the office, it is fundamental to offer a great experience.
For example, Barbi searched to improve patient care by acquiring an Eyer handheld fundus camera. The equipment works coupled with a smartphone and carries out high-quality retina exams in a few minutes. Seconds after capturing the image, the device-embedded artificial intelligence, EyerMaps, identifies possible retinal alterations.
Barbi has used the Eyer handheld fundus camera since 2019.
“I explain what the optical nerve and macula are and, if it is the case, any alteration that may suggest pathologies, such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, among other diagnoses primarily reachable through fundoscopy. They think it is great, get impressed with this technology and feel welcome”, she tells.
Eyer is non-mydriatic, offers the patient more comfort and speeds up the clinic service flow. “Nowadays, Eyer is my fundus examination. I do not even use a slit lamp anymore. I carry out the retinography and promptly store the patient’s image in EyerCloud for future follow-up”, she says. EyerCloud is a cloud system synchronized with the Eyer camera to manage patients’ data and exams.
Barbi examines all her patients using Eyer, except for the ones who already have a report. Using Eyer, there have been over one thousand exams since 2019.. “I already identified choroidal nevus from a routine exam in a preoperative of a preventive consultation. I sent it to a retinal specialist for evaluation. He found an extreme-peripheral retinal tear that was properly treated by laser before the surgery. Eyer was able to detect it and I felt safe to send the result to the retinal specialist before proceeding the surgery”, she recalls.
In terms of technology cost-effectiveness, Barbi believes it is worthwhile. “For doctors who serve patients with medical insurance, retinography costs may be sent to the insurance”, she ends.
About Eyer
Barbi holding Eyer handheld fundus camera.
Portability, connectivity and integration with intelligent functions, as EyerMaps, along with a more accessible value, allow Eyer to contribute to increase the access to retina exams.
The equipment supports the diagnosis of more than 50 diseases, such as glaucoma, cataract, diabetic retinopathy, DMRI, retinoblastoma, hypertensive retinopathy and ocular toxoplasmosis. Currently, more than 10 million exams have been already carried out in Brazil, The United States, Chile, Colombia and Japan.
Eyer has recently been approved in the Arab Emirates and is going through the regulatory process for marketing in Mexico, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
About Phelcom
Phelcom Technologies is a Brazilian medtech company headquartered in São Carlos, inland São Paulo. The company’s history began in 2016, when three young researchers – a physicist, an electric engineer and a computing engineer (PHysics, ELectronics, COMputing) – created a handheld fundus camera integrated with an integrated smartphone.
The project of the first prototype was born from the interest of company partner Diego Lencione on visual health, since his brother has a condition that severely compromises his retina and vision and has since childhood.
In 2019, Phelcom launched its first product in the Brazilian market: Eyer handheld fundus camera. Now, the technology has already reached more than two million people all over Brazil and the countries where it’s available.
In four years, the company has already taken part in more than 100 social actions and has recently been elected one of the 10 most innovative companies in Brazil by Forbes.
By 2030, over half a billion people are expected to be diagnosed with diabetes. Currently, Brazil ranks as the sixth country worldwide with the highest population of diabetics.
Currently, there is no national diabetic retinopathy screening strategy by the Unified Health System (SUS). Thus, social initiatives for diagnosing the disease in communities with inadequate healthcare infrastructure are crucial.
For instance, we have the “Mutirão do Diabetes” in Itabuna, Bahia, and “Iluminar” in the countryside of Sergipe, supported by the NGO Retina Global. This American institution focuses on developing sustainable solutions for managing retinal diseases in underserved areas around the world.
From September 2021 to March 2022, “Iluminar” used the portable retinal camera, Eyer for diabetic retinopathy screening in Itabi, Graccho Cardoso, Canindé de São Francisco, and Poço Redondo.
The device is connected to a smartphone and performs retinal exams within minutes, producing high-quality images, and uploads the images to the EyerCloud online platform, facilitating remote assessments.
The results of the pilot project were presented at ARVO 2023, one of the most renowned international ophthalmology conferences held in the United States in April.
The Study
One of the leaders of the “Iluminar” project, ophthalmologist Fernando Malerbi, explains that the aim of the retrospective observational clinical study was to evaluate the grading capacity of retina images obtained using a low-cost, non-mydriatic portable retinal camera — in this case, the Eyer — along with the use of artificial intelligence and telemedicine for diabetic retinopathy screening.
In total, 968 individuals with diabetes were evaluated:
65.9% were female;
Average age of 60.3 ± 14.2 years;
Duration of diabetes: 8.0 ± 7.2 years;
64.2% had systemic hypertension;
17.7% were using insulin;
28.5% had previously undergone fundus exams;
20.6% were illiterate;
50.6% had only completed primary education;
3.4% had health insurance.
A trained technician captured images without pupil dilation and then assessed image quality. Diabetic retinopathy requiring referral, defined as severe non-proliferative or proliferative retinopathy or the presence of diabetic maculopathy, was automatically detected by an embedded artificial intelligence system (EyerMaps). The AI was provided for clinical validation.
In a matter of seconds, EyerMaps indicated the possibility of retinopathy with a high sensitivity rate. Subsequently, all exams were evaluated by ophthalmologists.
Patients with inadequate images underwent pupil dilation and then a new assessment. Those with non-gradable images even after mydriasis, along with cases of referable diabetic retinopathy, were referred for ophthalmological evaluation.
Corneal opacities that hindered retinopathy classification were the exclusion criteria. The primary outcome measure was image gradability.
The Results
Grading was possible for 858 individuals (88.6%), with 85 of these (9.9%) showing referable diabetic retinopathy. Non-grading was associated with older age and longer diabetes duration.
Among patients with gradable images, 81% did not require pupil dilation. The need for mydriasis was associated with older age, longer diabetes duration, higher hypertension rates, and more severe retinopathy.
The strategy of utilizing a low-cost portable camera with embedded AI system and mydriasis when necessary achieved suitable images in 90% of cases within a resource-limited real-world environment. Malerbi emphasizes, “Avoiding unnecessary pupil dilation contributes to higher adherence to diabetic retinopathy screening programs.”
Enhanced Portability Facilitated Screening
This novel screening was conducted in primary care clinics located near patients’ homes to encourage participation.
Malerbi highlights that the portability of Eyer was a facilitator, along with connectivity. “We had remote experts evaluating images, sometimes in real time,” he explains. All of the exams taken were uploaded to EyerCloud.
Lastly, Malerbi emphasizes the availability of EyerMaps for use in social initiatives. “Partner ophthalmologists were instantly notified whenever EyerMaps identified a high likelihood of retinopathy. Thus, we could prioritize patients for confirmatory exams and, if necessary, treatment,” he shares.
The AI accurately detects any suspicions of retinal abnormalities. Within seconds of capturing the fundus image, if an abnormality is detected, the system generates a new image with an attention map (heatmap) highlighting potential retinal anomalies.
Synchronized with EyerCloud, it categorizes images and exams captured based on the likelihood of abnormalities using color markers:
Green: Image or exam with low likelihood of an abnormality (up to 30%);
Yellow: Image or exam with moderate likelihood of an abnormality (31 to 70%);
Red: Image or exam with high likelihood of an abnormality (71 to 100%).
All patients diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy were referred for free laser treatment.
As the popular saying goes, the eyes are said to be the windows to the soul. When we apply this to the realm of healthcare, we might adapt it to say, “the eyes are the windows to the body.” This is because various diseases that affect our body manifest in the eyes.
Ophthalmologic exams can identify signs of abnormalities within our body, aiding in patient diagnosis. For instance, retinography and fundoscopy can detect infectious, chronic, vascular, hematologic, rheumatic, neurological disorders in addition to eye-related conditions.
In neurology, headaches, cerebral aneurysms, multiple sclerosis, and intracranial hypertension — the latter of which can be related to brain tumors can all impact the structure of the orbit and eyeball.
Since last year, neurologist Marcos Christiano Lange has been using Eyer, the portable retinal camera, to map a patient’s retina from the initial consultation. The device uses a built-in smartphone to conduct high-quality retinal exams within minutes, without the need for pupil dilation.
“Eyer is a significant help in screening. Besides being more convenient, when the attention map indicates potential abnormalities outside my field, I advise the patient to consult their ophthalmologist or refer the exam to a partnering ophthalmologist,” he explains.
Neurologist Marcos Christiano Lange
This was how one of Lange’s patients was diagnosed with Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD). “She reported worsening vision, attributing it to possible cataracts. Upon examination, I observed protein accumulation in the macula and referred her to an ophthalmologist, who diagnosed AMD and initiated treatment. If I had performed a traditional eye fundus examination as a neurologist, focusing solely on the optic nerve, I wouldn’t have detected these findings,” he recalls.
Heatmap
Recently, Phelcom introduced a new feature: EyerMaps, an innovative Artificial Intelligence (AI) system that accurately detects any suspected retinal abnormalities.
Within seconds of capturing a photo of the eye’s fundus, if a suspicion of an abnormality is detected, the AI generates a new image with an attention map (heatmap) highlighting potential retinal abnormalities.
Synchronized with EyerCloud, Phelcom’s cloud-based system for patient data and exam management, the tool visually categorizes images and exams based on the probability of alteration, using color markers in the images and exams:
Green: Image or exam with low probability of abnormality (up to 30%);
Yellow: Image or exam with moderate probability of abnormality (31 to 70%);
Red: Image or exam with high probability of abnormality (71 to 100%).
The AI aids in diagnosing over 50 diseases, including diabetic retinopathy, hypertensive retinopathy, papilledema, and headaches. “I like to keep up with new technologies and am already familiar with Eyer. During a headache course I conducted, Phelcom provided the equipment for us to perform fundus assessments. After using it in practice, I decided to invest in acquiring the device,” he recalls.
Since then, the neurologist has conducted over 400 exams with Eyer, all stored in EyerCloud for reports and tracking. “As soon as I capture the image, I upload it to the platform and open it on the computer to show the patient and explain the details in case of suspected pathology,” he says.
Eyer for Neurologists
For Lange, investing in a portable retinal camera like Eyer is important for neurologists to have an expanded view of the retina. “Even though retinal diseases aren’t our specialty, we can still assist the patient. And that’s priceless,” he emphasizes.
Another advantage is following up with patients who exhibit papilledema and degenerative diseases, such as diabetic retinopathy and hypertensive retinopathy.
Eyer
Eyer is a portable retinal camera that performs high-quality retinal exams in a few minutes, without the need for pupil dilation.
The technology is currently available in Brazil, the United States, Japan, Chile, Colombia, and will become available soon in other countries.
Portability, connectivity, and integration of intelligent functions like EyerMaps, along with the more accessible price, contribute to increased access to retinal exams.
About Phelcom
Phelcom Technologies is a Brazilian medtech company based in São Carlos, São Paulo. The company’s story begins in 2016, when three young researchers – a physicist, an electronic engineer, and a computer engineer (PHysics, ELectronics, COMputing) – created a portable retinal camera integrated with a smartphone.
The idea for the first prototype arose from co-founder Diego Lencione’s interest in visual health, as his brother had a condition that severely compromised his retina and vision since childhood.
In 2019, Phelcom launched its first product on the Brazilian market: the portable retinal camera, Eyer. More than 2 million people in Brazil and around the world have been examined by it so far.
In four years, the company has participated in over 100 social initiatives and was recently ranked among Brazil’s top 10 most innovative companies by Forbes Brazil.
Premature Retinopathy (ROP) is an ocular condition that affects premature infants. According to retina disease and premature retinopathy specialist Samuel Montenegro, ROP is one of the primary causes of preventable childhood blindness. In Brazil, an estimated 13,500 cases occur annually, and among these cases, 1,000 infants may need treatment.
Therefore, identifying newborns in need of treatment early is crucial to reduce ROP-related blindness. Premature babies weighing up to 1.5 kilograms and/or born before 32 weeks’ gestation are a high risk group for ROP.
This period might extend to 35 weeks if the child experiences sepsis, intraventricular hemorrhage, respiratory distress syndrome, requires blood transfusions, or if the mother had a multiple pregnancy, even if the baby’s weight is above 1.5 kilograms.
This is because premature birth can disrupt the development of the baby’s retinal blood vessels. In these cases, vascularization might expand, twist, or even rupture. In advanced stages, this can lead to the formation of retinal scars or even retinal detachment, resulting in permanent vision loss.
The International Classification of ROP (ICROP) defines the disease by severity (stages 1-5), location (zones I-III), and extension in analog hours (1-12 h), with or without additional disease (arteriolar dilation and venous tortuosity), and the presence of which would indicate disease activity (4-5).
Check the table below:
Premature Retinopathy Classification
Stage 1
White line separating vascular from avascular retina
Stage 2
Elevated ridge
Stage 3
Fibrovascular proliferation from ridge
Stage 4
Proliferation leading to subtotal retinal detachment (4a, extrafoveal; 4b, total detachment, including fovea)
Stage 5
Total retinal detachment (open or closed funnel)
Threshold disease (defined by CRYO-ROP) (untreated cases show poor anatomical outcomes in 50% of cases)
Stage 3 retinopathy, zone I or II, with at least five contiguous hours or eight cumulative hours of extension, with an additional disease disease (arteriolar dilation and venodilation).
Type 1 pre-threshold disease (defined by ET-ROP)
Any ROP in zone I with an additional disease (aggressive posterior disease) Stage 3, zone I, without plus disease Stage 2 or 3 in zone II, with additional disease(s).
Type 2 pre-threshold disease (defined by ET-ROP)
Stage 1 or 2, zone I, without additional disease(s) Stage 3, zone 2, without additional disease(s).
Image caption: Samuel Montenegro examining a newborn with the Eyer. Photo: personal archive.
ROP bears two dangerous characteristics: it’s silent, showing no visible symptoms, and it progresses rapidly. Therefore, adhering to international and national protocols for early diagnosis and treatment is crucial.
Montenegro explains that routine eye examinations for premature babies should be conducted four weeks after birth. “The child isn’t born with the disease, so it’s essential to assess during this period.”
The examination should be performed by an ophthalmologist experienced in evaluating preemies and knowledgeable about the disease to identify location and sequential retinal changes.
Image caption: Image taken with the Eyer. Photo: Samuel Montenegro.
Subsequent examination scheduling will be determined by findings from the initial examination.
After identifying ROP, Montenegro tracks and documents patients using a portable retinal camera, Eyer. This equipment, highly recommended for infant and child examinations due to its portability and high image quality, attaches to a smartphone and conducts retinal exams within minutes. It also makes images available on the online platform, EyerCloud, facilitating study and case progression monitoring for physicians.
Image caption: Image taken with the Eyer. Photo: Samuel Montenegro.
“The device has been a game-changer as it greatly assists me in capturing the patient’s retina at that exact moment, in a practical, quick, and high-quality manner,” he states. Previously, the specialist used a retina mapping lens with smartphone assistance for videos. “Then I’d freeze the image, take a screenshot, and store it on the computer. It was quite labor-intensive,” he recalls.
Premature Retinopathy Treatment
Montenegro explains that treatment is most effective when ROP is identified early. “The secret to managing this disease lies in early diagnosis and immediate treatment when necessary.”
Currently, retinal ablation with a laser is the gold-standard treatment. Depending on the stage, there are alternatives, such as anti-VEGF injections and cryotherapy. “In this disease, we’re fighting blindness. Therefore, we apply laser therapy to prevent blindness in cases where it’s the best indication. However, this may permanently restrict the field of vision,” he points out.
Children with ROP receive follow-up care from a multidisciplinary team: pediatric ophthalmologist, retina specialist, occupational therapist, and physiotherapist. This follow-up extends beyond retinal ablation, aiming to achieve early visual stimulation.
“Newborns diagnosed with ROP are at a higher risk of developing ophthalmological issues in the future, such as strabismus, amblyopia, and refractive errors. Therefore, ophthalmological follow-up after discharge is recommended,” he emphasizes.
Image caption: Samuel Montenegro examining a newborn with the Eyer. Photo: personal archive.
ROP Brazil
Montenegro is part of a project called ROP Brazil, which aims to share knowledge and further study premature retinopathy.
Various surveys indicate that the proportion of blindness caused by ROP is greatly influenced by the level of neonatal care (availability of human resources, equipment, access, and quality of care), as well as the presence of effective screening and treatment programs. Consequently, there’s significant variability in disease occurrence between developed and developing countries.
“That’s why, understanding more about the disease is essential to decrease cases of preventable childhood blindness in the country,” he states.
The company solidified its presence in the country by participating in significant events such as Vision Expo East, held from March 16 to 19 in New York, ARVO, from April 23 to 27 in New Orleans, and ASCRS, from May 5 to 8 in San Diego.
“These events bring forth many innovations, products, services, research, and advancements that not only keep us updated but also allow us to introduce Eyer to doctors, healthcare professionals, scientists, researchers, pharmaceutical companies, distributors, and potential partners in a relevant and swift manner,” emphasizes Phelcom’s International Manager, Mário Costa.
Phelcom showcased the portable retinal camera Eyer at the ARVO congress in 2023.
FDA Approves Eyer as 510(k)/FDA Cleared
Recently, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) granted approval for Phelcom’s portable retinal camera, Eyer, as 510(k). Previously considered an exempt device, the technology was limited to patient photo documentation.
“Now, as we are FDA Cleared, Eyer can be used for diagnostic and telemedicine purposes. This new classification, the highest in our category, opens up more opportunities for our American clients to use our equipment both inside and outside the office,” Costa highlights.
Upcoming International Events
Phelcom will take part in several international trade shows and congresses in the second half of the year. Check out the schedule:
Phelcom Eyer is a portable retinal camera that attaches to a smartphone and conducts high-quality retinal exams within minutes without the need for pupil dilation.
This technology aids in diagnosing over 50 diseases, including glaucoma, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, AMD, retinoblastoma, hypertensive retinopathy, and ocular toxoplasmosis. It is available in Brazil, the United States, Japan, Chile, Colombia, and will soon become available in other countries.
Portability, connectivity, and integration with intelligent functions like EyerMaps, combined with the technology’s accessible price point, contribute to increased access to retinal exams.
About Phelcom
Phelcom Technologies is a Brazilian medtech company headquartered in São Carlos, São Paulo. The company’s story began in 2016 when three young researchers – a physicist, an electronic engineer, and a computer engineer (PHysics, ELectronics, COMputing) – created a portable retinal camera integrated with a smartphone.
The idea for the first prototype arose from the interest of partner Diego Lencione in visual health, driven by his brother’s condition, which severely affected his retina and vision since childhood.
In 2019, Phelcom introduced its first product to the Brazilian market: the portable retinal camera Eyer. More than 2 million people in Brazil and around the world have been examined using Eyer so far.
In four years, the company has participated in more than 100 social initiatives and was recently named among the 10 most innovative companies in Brazil by Forbes.
Recently, Phelcom visited the MENA region to train Allm MEA on using and presenting the Eyer retinal camera. This non-mydriatic device attaches to a smartphone and performs high-quality retinal examinations in just a few minutes.
The training took place at the Allm MEA office in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. “We conducted onboarding with our distributors, who are already highly qualified to demonstrate the advantages of Eyer to customers in the region,” emphasizes Phelcom’s International Business Manager, Mário Costa.
In addition, the Phelcom team visited significant hospitals in the United Arab Emirates, such as the Al Maerid Health Center MOH in Ras Al Khaimah and the Al Qassimi Hospital in Sharjah. At the latter, Eyer was introduced to the entire ophthalmology team.
Phelcom provided training on the use and commercial presentation of the portable retinal camera, Eyer, to their local partner and distributor, Allm MEA.
Pilot Project in Egypt
Phelcom has also conducted training on the use of Eyer at Ain Shams University Virtual Hospital (AVH) in Cairo, Egypt. “We are participating in a pilot project focused on teleophthalmology at AVH, which is responsible for one of the largest telemedicine programs in the country,” Costa explains.
The hospital develops technology-enabled healthcare systems in Egypt, the Middle East, and Africa. The project involves international collaborators and beneficiaries specializing in telemedicine, e-health research, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and innovative healthcare models.
Phelcom’s team during training on the use of Eyer at Ain Shams University Virtual Hospital.
Eyer is currently present in 6 countries.
Eyer was approved in the United Arab Emirates in the second quarter of this year. As a result, Phelcom now operates in six countries: Brazil, the United States, Japan, Chile, Colombia, and the United Arab Emirates.
Furthermore, the company is in the regulatory process for marketing Eyer in other locations such as Mexico, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia.
For Phelcom CEO, José Augusto Stuchi, being a Brazilian company operating in important global markets is a source of pride and great responsibility. “Internationalization undoubtedly expands our potential reach. However, it also increases our commitment to providing excellent quality products that truly benefit professionals,” he affirms.
Eyer
Retina examination conducted with Eyer.
Eyer is a portable retinal camera that attaches to a smartphone and performs high-quality retinal examinations in minutes, without the need for pupil dilation.
The technology aids in the diagnosis of over 50 diseases, including glaucoma, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, AMD, retinoblastoma, hypertensive retinopathy, and ocular toxoplasmosis. To date, more than 10 million examinations have been conducted in Brazil, the United States, Chile, and Colombia.
The portability and affordable price of the technology democratizes access to retinal examinations, costing approximately ten times less than a conventional tabletop retinal camera that still requires integration with a computer.
About Phelcom
Phelcom Technologies is a Brazilian medtech company based in São Carlos, São Paulo. The company’s story began in 2016 when three young researchers – a physicist, an electronic engineer, and a computer engineer (PHysics, ELectronics, COMputing) – created a portable retinal camera integrated with a smartphone.
The idea for the first prototype emerged from the interest of co-founder Diego Lencione in visual health, as his brother has a condition that severely affects the retina and vision that he’s had since childhood.
In 2019, Phelcom launched its first product, the portable retinal camera Eyer, to the Brazilian market. Today, the technology has reached over two million people throughout Brazil and other countries it is present in..
In four years, the company has participated in over 100 social initiatives and was recently named one of the top 10 most innovative companies in Brazil by Forbes.
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