The Story The Story presents: Planet Hope - Improving sight with a smartphone
Oct 24, 2025
In this enlightening discussion, Andrew Bastawrous, an eye surgeon and founder of Peek Vision, shares how his personal journey shaped his mission to combat preventable vision loss. He highlights the innovative use of smartphones for eye testing, enabling easier access to care in underserved areas. Andrew recounts impactful stories, including a woman's life transformed by cataract surgery, while emphasizing the importance of vision as a development issue. With a goal of reaching a million people a week by 2028, his optimism and groundbreaking work are truly inspiring.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Life-Changing First Pair Of Glasses
- Andrew Bastawrous describes getting glasses at 12 and seeing individual leaves for the first time.
- That moment transformed his school performance and changed his life trajectory.
Shock In An Egyptian Slum
- A visit to El Zebelin slum in Egypt made Andrew confront stark inequality firsthand.
- Seeing a child his own age living in waste sparked his determination to help others access eye care.
Phone As Portable Eye Clinic
- A smartphone can replicate basic eye tests and remove the need for a trained clinician at screening.
- Technology can turn an entry-point test into an automated triage that tells you who needs referral.