Born from Nobel Prize-winning University of Rochester research that began in 2003, Clerio Vision develops medical-device platforms for non-invasive vision correction. Its LIRIC technology uses ultrashort laser pulses to write optical prescriptions directly into lens materials or corneal tissue without removing material, with applications spanning contact lenses, myopia control, implanted lenses and refractive correction. The Rochester company is development-stage and has completed first-in-human LIRIC trials while building a patent portfolio of more than 80 U.S. patents.
OVITZBorn from a founder’s own experience with post-LASIK higher-order aberrations, Rochester-based OVITZ develops wavefront-guided technology and customized contact lenses for complex vision problems. Its xwave system measures aberrations across the eye, uses proprietary algorithms to design the correction, and connects that data to production of OVITZ-Added scleral lenses such as the Ares lens. The company describes its team as a small group of scientists and engineers working to make advanced HOA correction more accessible through a network of authorized eye-care providers.ROCHESTER, NY
LENTECHS, LLCColumbus-based LENTECHS is a privately held, clinical-stage ophthalmic medical device company developing patented soft, suspended contact lenses for people with presbyopia. Its lens design sits behind the upper eyelid and allows the eye to move freely behind a centered lens, aiming to provide glasses-like vision across distances. The company’s core technology was licensed from The Ohio State Innovation Foundation, and its innovations have received 38 global patents in addition to multiple U.S. patents.COLUMBUS, OH
MyoptechsMyoptechs is developing patented optical technology in contact lenses and glasses to correct children’s vision while slowing the progression of myopia. Its Faceted Optical System™ is designed specifically for myopia control, and the company has proven manufacturability for both formats and clinically validated its contact lens in three studies. The devices are still in development and are not currently available for purchase or use in the United States.COLUMBUS, OH
Avisi Technologies, IncFounded through the University of Pennsylvania’s Y-Prize program in 2017, Avisi Technologies develops nanotechnology-enabled ophthalmic devices for glaucoma, including its investigational VisiPlate aqueous shunt. The Redwood City company combines materials science, ophthalmology and MEMS microfabrication to create ultrathin implants intended to lower eye pressure, while its VisiPlate technology advances through clinical research.PHILADELPHIA, PA