During a congress in Natal, RN, Brazil, in 2018, ophthalmologist Hélio Roberto de Melo Lima met the proposal for an innovative equipment for retina exams: Phelcom Eyer.

The handheld fundus camera works attached to a smartphone with a high-resolution camera. Therefore, it captures excellent-quality fundus images. Integrated to an online platform, the Eyer Cloud, it automatically sends data to a specialist’s report.

By that time, the device was still under development by the startup Phelcom Technologies, but it already counted on support and investment from renowned institutions, such as Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP), Samsumg Creative Economy Promotion Program and the incubators Supera Parque and Eretz.bio – the latter from Israeli Hospital Albert Einstein.

First Customer

Lima followed the technology evolution until its release to market, in April 2019. Moreover, he was the first customer to acquire the product. “I decided to invest in the acquisition due to its ease of use and good price”, reminds Lima.

Since then, he already carried out more than 600 exams in his office. He currently uses the equipment twice a week, on average. Retinography is the most frequent of the exams.

The ophthalmologist also emphasizes other key strengths of the product: high-quality images, and high efficiency and operability of Eyer Cloud – a cloud platform that stores all the exams and reports – as well as the price. “Cost-effectiveness is excellent. There is no other equipment on the same level. Unbeatable”, he states.

Slit Lamp

Phelcom slit lamp support

Recently, Lima has also acquired a slit lamp support for Phelcom Eyer. “It was a good acquisition, since it is very efficient and helps imaging”, he explains.

The support enables attaching Eyer to a surface, thus providing the experience of tabletop fundus cameras. More than that, it helps to keep social distancing in service, since the professional does not need to touch the patient’s forehead, as in traditional exams.

Phelcom Technologies

Phelcom Technologies is a startup that brings technology and healthcare together, headquartered in São Carlos, SP, Brazil. It manufactures connected wearable handheld devices, aiming to democratize access to healthcare, offering better services, with a compact equipment, to more people.

“It is an excellent and promising company. It does a great job in the whole sales service support for equipment use. I recommend”, he states.