As head of Sight and Sound Technology, the largest supplier and distributor of technology and devices designed for visually-impaired and blind individuals, Glenn Tookey wouldn’t be disappointed if he went out of business. But until there are cures for all eye diseases, he remains a strong advocate for his customers.

OIS Podcast host Rob Rothman, MD, kicked off a lively discussion with Tookey that covers the company’s beginnings four decades ago, how he evaluates new products, and how he plans to bring those products to more patients.

Tookey’s tech industry career includes stints in telecom, data processing, and even pinball machine repair. In 2008, he saw a mobile phone designed to help people with vision loss. Inspired by the design and the purpose, he later bought Sight and Sound.

As CEO, Tookey frequently evaluates new technology from emerging inventors and developers. He also readily advises on product design, market access, and other product launch elements for products that aren’t ready for prime time. Too often, he said, innovators fail to address pricing (too expensive), market access (no reimbursement), or usability (too obtrusive or complicated).

Moving forward, Tookey plans to stay on top of new technology and widen the company’s reach. Connecting patients to products is as much of a challenge in the UK and Ireland as it is in the United States, but he’s hoping to change that. Tookey wants to raise awareness with ophthalmologists, occupational therapists, opticians, and teachers to promote referrals and to bring greater independence to the blind and visually impaired.

Listen to this podcast to discover:

What Tookey sees as the most exciting solutions for creating independence for the visually impaired and the blind.
The potential for augmented reality and virtual reality in this space.
The reimbursement challenges for visual impairment hardware, software, and services in the UK, Ireland, and the US.
The biggest mistake inventors make when developing devices for the visually impaired or blind.

Click “play” to listen.

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