A PROJECT initially devised in a university bedroom which is now helping to protect eyes across the world has officially been endorsed by The King.
Ocushield, which tackles the damaging effects harmful blue light emitted from everyday technology has on our eyesight, has been awarded the prestigious King’s Award for Enterprise.
Specifically, having sold products in 147 countries – from Andorra to Zambia – the London-based organisation has been recognised for its growth and commercial success in international trade.
It is one of 148 organisations nationally to be recognised in the King’s first enterprise awards.
The King’s Awards for Enterprise was previously known as The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise, and the new name reflects His Majesty The King’s desire to continue the legacy of HM Queen Elizabeth II’s by recognising outstanding UK businesses. The Award programme, now in its 57th year, is the most prestigious business award in the country, with successful businesses able to use the esteemed King’s Awards Emblem for the next five years.
Ocushield, which produces and sells the world’s first medically rated screen protectors to fit everyday devices, helping to cut harmful blue light, is one of only 5,000 businesses to be awarded the international trade honour since its introduction in 1966.
Smartphones, tablets and computer screens emit blue light, causing headaches, blurred vision, fatigue and dry eyes. Blue light can also negatively affect your sleep hormones. Ocushield’s technology – from screen protectors to bedside lamps, and even glasses – blocks up to 90% of blue light wavelengths.
Dhruvin Patel, a qualified optometrist, founder and CEO at Ocushield, said: “I am extremely honoured and proud that Ocushield has been recognised in this way. To know His Majesty The King personally approves each recipient is mind blowing.
We’ve come a long way since I started researching blue light whilst at university in 2013. Ten years on, we’ve helped to protect more than 300,000 eyes across the world. And with screen time increasing, especially among young people at earlier ages than ever before, we have a lot more work to do to help prevent a poor eyesight epidemic.”
Ocushield launched in 2015 after receiving a Start Up Loan through Virgin StartUp. Andy Fishburn, Managing Director at Virgin StartUp, comments: “It’s no surprise that Ocushield has received one of the most prestigious start-up awards in the country. When we first met Dhruvin we knew he would go on to do amazing things. His drive to want to make a difference in the world by using his knowledge in optometry to fill a gap in the market was a winning combination and we are so pleased to see Ocushield go from strength-to-strength and be rewarded for all the business has achieved.”
As well as producing screen protectors, Ocushield has innovated even further with the production of glasses, lamps and masks to help reduce the effects of blue light. And a year after walking away from Dragons’ Den investment, the company attracted £1m of private investment to take the business to the next level.
Its latest innovation is the development of a seven-minute online eye test to help spot potential issues earlier. Leading employers AON, Charles Tyrwhitt and Perkbox are among the first businesses to sign up to the scheme to help protect their employees’ eyesight.
The award will be officially presented to Ocushield by the Lord Lieutenant for Greater London and Dhruvin will be invited to a royal reception with His Majesty The King at Buckingham Palace later this year.
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