Independence for millions of eye-drop users: how Oculoo aims to ease pressure on healthcare systems worldwide

As more people worldwide rely on eye drops, poor vision, tremors or limited hand strength make self-administration difficult or impossible for millions. The task takes seconds, but needing help with every dose creates daily dependence. Across millions of users worldwide, that dependence consumes professional care hours and adds costs to stretched healthcare systems.

Dutch MedTech startup Oculoo has developed eye-drop glasses combining positioning, stability and controlled squeezing to help users administer drops independently.

From positioning to controlled dosing

The bottle sits in a frame-mounted holder, keeping it stable above the eye. The user puts on the glasses, looks up and presses the built-in squeezing aid, releasing exactly one drop. A second model accommodates single-use pipettes.

The patented design addresses positioning, stability and pressure together. The idea grew out of what the team saw in practice: difficulties with those same actions can leave people dependent on others for every dose.

“We did not want to solve one isolated part of the problem,” says Oculoo CEO and co-founder Simon Terhürne. “Our goal was to make the entire action manageable, so people can regain control over a routine that is essential to their treatment.”

How self-administration can free up care capacity

Some patients need drops for weeks after cataract surgery; others use them daily for chronic conditions such as glaucoma or dry eye. A 2025 University of Michigan study of 1.45 million records across six US health systems found potential barriers to self-administration in 43% of glaucoma patients and 49% of dry-eye patients. In the Netherlands, health insurer Zilveren Kruis estimates that an eye-drop aid can save ten hours of community nursing during recovery from cataract surgery.

Every dose a patient can administer without help is one less routine task for a relative or care professional. With widespread adoption, this could save millions of hours worldwide and help patients regain independence in their daily treatment.

The growing challenge of correct eye-drop use

A global review projects a worldwide increase in open-angle glaucoma among people aged 40 and older over the coming decades. For healthcare systems, the challenge is practical: more patients may need to manage eye-drop treatment long term, increasing the importance of correct and independent use.

Ease of use matters beyond impaired vision or dexterity. Even experienced users can miss the eye, dispense extra drops or touch the bottle tip to the eye or surrounding area.

Oculoo fixes the bottle’s position and controls the squeeze, simplifying aiming and dosing.

From Dutch rollout to international scale

Oculoo is currently scaling up its rollout across the Netherlands. Alongside this domestic expansion, it is laying the groundwork for international distribution and healthcare partnerships.

As one of seven finalists for MedTech Startup of the Year at the inaugural MedTech World Asia Awards, Oculoo brings to Hong Kong a practical response to a challenge already visible in everyday care: helping people administer essential eye drops independently.

Join MedTech World Asia 2026 | Hong Kong

Discover the latest innovations in medical technology at MedTech World Asia 2026 | Hong Kong, taking place from 26–28 August. Explore new solutions, connect with MedTech leaders and see what’s driving innovation across healthcare. Learn more and book your place today.