
Improving sight with a smartphone – Andrew Bastawrous on ending preventable blindness
From Planet Hope by The Times
October 23, 2025 · 42 min · Season 3 · Episode 7
About this episode
Andrew Bastawrous discusses his smartphone app aimed at ending preventable blindness and improving eyecare access.
Over a billion people live with preventable vision loss. Eye surgeon and Rolex Awards Laureate Andrew Bastawrous has created a smartphone app that is transforming eyecare, facilitating sight restoration for millions and changing lives. He tells Tom Whipple, how glasses – a 700-year-old invention – have transformed his own life, and why he’s determined no one should lose their sight for lack of access. Planet Hope is brought to you in paid partnership with Rolex and its Perpetual Planet Initiative. Guest: Andrew Bastawrous, eye surgeon and founder of Peek Vision Host: Tom Whipple, science writer, The Times Series Producer: Priyanka Deladia Sound Designer: David Crackles This podcast is advertiser funded. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
People in this episode
Host: Tom Whipple
Guest: Andrew Bastawrous
Topics covered
- preventable blindness
- eyecare
- smartphone technology
- vision restoration
- healthcare access
Keywords
- preventable vision loss
- eyecare app
- sight restoration
- healthcare
- access to vision care
Sponsors
Rolex
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Peek Vision, The Times, Planet Hope
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