How Peeq’s at-home eyelid cleaning device revolutionizes eye health – Insights from Tom Chapman, CEO.

According to WebMD, nearly 60% of Americans use a digital device for at least 5 hours a day, and 70% use more than one device at a time. This extensive screen time is linked to increased dry eye symptoms. When using screens, people tend to blink less frequently, which reduces the spread of tears across the eye surface, leading to dryness. Furthermore, many people neglect to clean their eyelids, causing the dryness problem to worsen. This can cause irritation, eye fatigue, and blurry vision.

Peeq Pro, an eye care company, is trying to change how people approach eye care, particularly regarding eyelids. To better understand the technology driving their at-home cleaning device and its benefits, we spoke to Thomas Chapman, Peeq’s co-founder and CEO.

This interview is part of GreyB’s Scouted series. In this series, we spotlight innovative startups and speak to their founders about how their solutions can revolutionize the industry by solving problems. You can find all those interviews here in text and video format.

This interview is part of GreyB’s Scouted series. In this series, we spotlight innovative startups and speak to their founders about how their solutions can revolutionize the industry by solving problems. You can find all those interviews here in text and video format.

Author’s note: Regarding eye care and cleansing, here’s a report on four innovations in eye-drop dispenser decontamination.

We’re building a business to help solve the problem of people not doing a good job caring for their eyelids.

– Thomas Chapman, CEO at Peeq

Overview – How Peeq Enhances Eyelid Hygiene for Better Eye Health

Peeq is a startup focused on improving eye health through innovative eyelid cleaning devices and products. Their flagship product is a gentle, effective device designed to clean eyelids and promote better eye health. Peeq aims to raise awareness about the importance of eyelid hygiene and make it as routine as brushing teeth.

Check out the full conversation here.

Here are key highlights from the discussion to read at a glance.

Highlights from the conversation

What technology does Peeq provide for eye care?

Our main product is essentially a toothbrush for the eyelids. It’s a device designed to gently clean the eyelids and express the meibomian glands, which are crucial for eye health. Unlike existing products that use high-speed vibrations, our device is gentler and works well with makeup removal.

We’ve also developed complementary products like a tea tree oil cleanser and are working with other companies on hydrogel and hypochlorous acid solutions. Our goal is to provide a complete eyelid hygiene system that’s easy to use and effective.

How is Peeq addressing the challenge of raising awareness about eyelid hygiene?

We’re taking a multi-pronged approach. First, we’re working closely with optometrists and ophthalmologists to educate patients about the importance of eyelid hygiene. We provide doctors with our products and training materials to help them discuss this topic with patients.

We’re also exploring marketing to specific groups, like competitive dance and cheer clubs, where makeup use is common. This allows us to educate younger people about proper eye care. Additionally, we’re conducting some direct-to-consumer advertising to raise general awareness.

Are there plans to expand Peeq’s market beyond medical professionals?

Yes, we’re exploring a blended approach. While we’ve focused primarily on selling through optometrists and ophthalmologists, we’re also testing direct-to-consumer sales through online advertising. Our strategy is to build credibility through medical professionals and then expand into direct sales in areas where we have established a presence.

We’re particularly interested in targeting demographics most affected by dry eye, such as women aged 45-60. By combining professional recommendations with targeted advertising, we hope to reach more consumers effectively.

What would be a game-changing event for Peeq?

There are a few potential game-changers for us. On the business side, partnering with a large optometry group to implement our products across thousands of offices would significantly boost our reach and sales.

However, the most impactful change would be a widespread acknowledgment of the effects of screen use on eye health. If there’s a cultural shift where people recognize the need to care for their eyes the way they care for their teeth, that would be transformative for our business and eye health.

We’re positioned to benefit greatly when people start taking better care of their eyes, which we believe is inevitable given the increasing prevalence of eye discomfort due to screen use. While we can’t predict exactly when or how this shift will occur, we’re confident it will happen within the next 5-30 years.

What is Peeq’s stance on patents and intellectual property?

We do have a patent pending on our device. The innovation lies in creating a gentle, effective tool specifically designed for eyelid hygiene, which didn’t exist before. Our patent aims to be as broad as possible since we’re entering a new product category.

While we’re protective of our core technology, we’re also open to collaboration and research partnerships. We’re currently working with universities to conduct efficacy studies, and we see the potential for developing more advanced devices for in-office treatments in the future.

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Meet our Interviewer – Vikas Jha, AVP, Solutions at GreyB

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Authored By: Hemanth Shenoy, Market Research