55. Siloton – tackling eye health with the NHS and European Space Agency

Founder: Dr Alasdair Price, Dr Euan Allen, and Dr Ben Hunt
Year founded: 2020
Website: siloton.com

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) affects nearly 1.5 million people in the UK and is the leading cause of sight loss in the country. Yet ophthalmology is also the busiest outpatient speciality in the NHS – accounting for one in 11 patients on waiting lists.

The founders of Siloton knew something had to change. They made it their mission to end preventable blindness by allowing physicians to regularly monitor their patients between visits through remote medical imaging, and appeared in the 2024 Startups 100 as a result. 

Siloton does this by using a compact optical coherence tomography (OCT) system that compresses typical OCT equipment into a small photonic chip. As a result, frequent remote monitoring is possible. Patients can scan their own eyes at home to detect disease progression, and receive treatments quickly without the need for constant hospital visits.

Silton achieved a major milestone last year with the launch of its Akepa chip, the first of its kind to be released commercially. The company has also established major partnerships with healthcare organisations including Moorfields Eye Hospital and multiple NHS trusts. 

The European Space Agency (ESA) is even a client, working with the organisation to tackle spaceflight-associated neuro-optic syndrome, which affects 70% of astronauts.

Before it goes into orbit, Siloton will go global. It’s setting its sights on the US market first, before expanding internationally to other countries including Canada, Australia and the UK.

Ultimately, its goal is to ensure that everyone around the world can access diagnosing and monitoring technologies, irrespective of distance from the nearest eye hospital.

Siloton’s dedication to remote ophthalmic monitoring technology and its core principles make it a well-deserved choice for our Startups 100. The company is setting a new standard in providing accessible, preventive eye care for everyone.