# Vision Loss Apps The Retina App Lets Users Experience the World of Blindness By Tiffany | Published 2014-02-12 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/retina-app References: [thesightexperience](http://www.thesightexperience.com/) & [pharmafile](http://www.pharmafile.com/news/181280/novartis-launches-facebook-retina-app) Our eyes are our most important sensory organ, Swiss based pharmaceutical company Novartis realizes this and has created the Retina App on [Facebook](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ray-ban-and-facebook) in order to raise [retinal disease awareness](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ai-optics). The app is part of its Set Your Sights campaign and is designed to illustrate a realistic approach to how eye disease can impact an individual’s life. The app is a personalized multimedia experience that helps you see inside the world of an individual who has suffered vision loss or sight impairments. The campaign was a response to the [World Health Organization’s](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/blood-orange) 2020 Vision Report which stated that approximately 80% of the global population who is currently suffering from vision impairment can be prevented. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.8/10 - Popularity: 72% | Activity: 95% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Health](https://www.trendhunter.com/health) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Virtual Reality Experiences:** Using virtual reality technology to simulate real-life experiences can provide a unique perspective on various conditions or disabilities. - **Health Awareness Campaigns:** Creating interactive campaigns and apps to raise awareness about health issues and their impact on individuals can be a powerful tool in promoting preventive measures. - **Personalized Multimedia Experiences:** Developing customized multimedia platforms that allow users to immerse themselves in a specific topic or experience can enhance empathy and understanding. ### Who This Affects Most - **Pharmaceuticals:** Pharmaceutical companies can leverage technology and social media platforms to create engaging campaigns and raise awareness about diseases and their impact. - **Virtual Reality:** The virtual reality industry can provide innovative solutions for simulating real-life experiences, such as vision impairment, to educate and empathize with users. - **Healthcare Technology:** The healthcare technology sector can develop personalized multimedia platforms and applications to enhance education and understanding of various health conditions. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Ocular Disease-Detecting Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/clearly-vision.md) - [Diabetes-Related Eye Disease Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/prevent-blindness.md) - [In-Store Visual Assistance Programs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/be-my-eyes-and-tesco.md) - [Digital Eye Health Preservation](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/blink-eye.md) - [Eye Care Metaverses](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lenscrafters-eye-odyssey.md) - [Gamified Eyecare Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/eye-odyssey.md) - [AR-Powered Eye Training Devices](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/eyes-amblyopia-trainer.md) - [Integrated Eye Health Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/eye-health.md) - [Visual Impairment-Friendly Packaging](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/haleon-and-microsoft.md)