Progressive Vision proud to have been shortlisted in this year’s annual Future Health Summit 2025 for the ‘Innovation Award’.
Progressive Vision is proud to have been shortlisted for the Innovation Award at this year’s Future Health Summit 2025—an annual celebration of healthcare pioneers who harness technology to improve patient care. Now in its twelfth year, the award recognises transformative ideas making a real-world difference.
At the heart of our nomination is a simple but powerful shift: moving cataract surgery out of hospitals and into the community.
“We’re honoured to be recognised for Office-Based Surgery, an innovation that allows cataract surgery in Ireland to be re-imagined,” said Aideen Curtin, co-founder and CEO of Progressive Vision.
With Ireland’s ageing population growing rapidly, demand for cataract removal—the most common surgery in the country—is higher than ever. Traditionally, it’s only been available in hospitals or ambulatory surgical centres. But these settings come with challenges: long waitlists, unfamiliar environments, and unnecessary stress for patients.
“Access continues to remain a challenge for both public and private patients,” Aideen explained. “Office-Based Surgery is a better, more accessible model of care.”
That model is now a reality at Progressive Vision’s Swords clinic, home to Ireland’s first dedicated Office-Based Cataract Surgery centre, featuring a fully accredited iOR® surgical suite.
This new approach transforms the patient experience:
No fasting.
No IV needles.
Just gentle oral sedation in a calm, modern clinic with the same trusted team from start to finish.
“This is cataract surgery—reimagined,” said Mr Mark Cahill, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon and Clinical Director at Progressive Vision. “It’s community-based, yet performed in a hospital-standard operating room. Patients stay with the same expert team from consultation to clearer vision.”
The surgical suite is CHKS-accredited and purpose-built not only for cataract procedures but also for oculoplastic, retinal, and glaucoma surgery—all delivered safely, efficiently, and close to home.
“When the time comes to have cataracts removed,” added Aideen, “patients don’t need to go elsewhere. Their own eye care team can take care of them, right here.”
In partnership with iOR®, the largest provider of OBS in the US, Progressive Vision has drawn on safety data from over 100,000 procedures to design Ireland’s first OBS facility. The result is a more personal, streamlined, and stress-free experience for patients—and a scalable solution for a healthcare system under pressure.
“As the population ages, there’s a growing wave of patients needing accessible eye surgery,” said Mark. “We’re going to need smart, patient-centred solutions like this to meet that need.”
“At Progressive Vision, we believe innovation should serve people,” Aideen concluded. “Office-Based Surgery does just that—making cataract surgery clearer, kinder, and more accessible.”
We’re proud to be leading this change—and honoured to be recognised by the Future Health Summit for our commitment to innovation in patient care.