INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
A lot of startups have answered the call for more personal protective equipment (PPE) and other essentials to support healthcare workers in
their efforts to curb the spread and impact of COVID-19
One of those is direct-to-consumer 3D-printed eyewear brand Fitz, which is employing its custom-fit glasses technology to build protective,
newer iPhones and all iPad Pro models
The app allows virtual try-on, and provides millimeter-level accurate measurements for a custom fit
Protect is a version of the glasses that still supports a wide range of prescriptions, but that also extends further like safety glasses to
provide more coverage and guard against errant entry of any fluids through the eyes.Health care professionals are doing what they can to
ensure their face, mouth, nose and eyes are protected from any coughs, sneezes or other droplet-spreading activity from COVID-19 patients
that could pass on the infection
These measures have more broadly focused on face shields that feature a single transparent plastic sheet, and N95 masks (and alternatives
when not available) to protect the mouth and nose.Fitz CEO Gabriel Schlumberger explained via email that the design for Fitz Protect came
from working frontline doctors in nurses from New York, LA and Texas who were all looking for something to source prescription protective
traditional prescription eyesore
Their glasses typically retail for just $95 including frames, lenses and shipping, and are also offered in a $185 per year unlimited frame
For doctors, nurses and hospital staff, the entire cost of Fitz Protect is being waived, and the company is seeking donations to help offset
its own manufacturing costs, which currently stand at around $100 per set, though process improvements should bring that down according to
Schlumberger as they expand availability.Already, he said that nearly 3,000 healthcare professionals have signed up to receive a pair in
