California teen developed an eye condition at 5. At 14, he built an AI Device that could potentially help millions in need

At five years old, Aaryan Balani hit his head on the corner of a bathroom sink. The accident would eventually leave him living with intermittent strabismus, a condition in which the eyes can drift out of alignment. Nine years later, instead of simply adapting, the California teenager decided to build something that could potentially help others facing the same problem. Now 14, the Cerritos eighth-grader has developed EYEVA, an AI-powered wearable designed to recognise eye drift in real time and alert its wearer.

A personal problem became his inspiration

Balani told ABC7, as reported by People, that others would sometimes notice his eye and tell him, “You have a broken eye.” He can consciously bring the eye back into alignment when he realises it has wandered but recognising when that happens can be difficult. That became the idea behind EYEVA. The visor-like prototype combines miniature cameras with artificial intelligence to track eye movement. When the system detects that an eye has begun drifting, it beeps, prompting the wearer to notice the misalignment and correct it.

Five prototypes and months of work led him to make a device

This wasn't a device Balani created overnight. According to People, he used a 3D printer, cameras and AI while spending four months refining the design through five different prototypes. His persistence has already earned recognition. EYEVA received top honours at the Orange County Science & Engineering Fair in March. The Orange County Department of Education described the project as turning a “personal challenge into a creative invention” that could help people better manage the condition.

Why strabismus matters?

Strabismus is more than a cosmetic difference. Research published in Science Advances estimates that the condition affects roughly 4% of children and can affect both vision and psychosocial well-being. Treatment depends on the type and severity of the condition. American Academy of Ophthalmology guidance notes that some patients may be monitored, while treatments can include exercises in certain cases and surgery when clinically appropriate. The Academy also stresses the importance of timely childhood vision screening so problems can be detected before they contribute to permanent vision loss or developmental delays.

His invention still has a long road ahead

EYEVA should not yet be viewed as a proven replacement for established medical treatment. Balani hopes to move towards clinical trials and eventually seek approval from the US Food and Drug Administration. For now, its most striking achievement may be the story behind it. A childhood accident gave Balani a problem he never asked for. At 14, he has turned that experience into an invention and a possibility that one day, the same technology could make life easier for others.