Our Investment in Dual-Optic Presbyopia-Correcting Intraocular Lens Technology
- Delivering a premium solution to restore the full range of functional vision, with minimal visual disturbances, for cataract patients
By Brent MacDonald – Partner at Rising Tide
According to the World Health Organization, nearly 94 million people worldwide are visually impaired due to cataracts, which can lead to blindness if untreated. Even though distance correction is offered by the most widely used intraocular lenses (IOLs), patients who receive these lenses frequently need glasses for good near vision. An IOL that offers visual correction from far to close without the negative effects of halos, glare, or trouble seeing in low light conditions is therefore needed.
Atia Vision’s OmniVu Lens System is designed to restore full functional visual acuity, mimicking the eye’s natural ability predictably, consistently, and reproducibly at near, intermediate, and distance ranges without generating side effects such as halos, glares, or artifacts. In developing the lens, Atia Vision evaluated and leveraged the comprehensive body of research conducted in the accommodative lens arena to date. The Company is pleased to have early evidence demonstrating accommodation, and the ability of the eye to change its focus from distant to near objects (and vice versa). Based on these clinical findings, Atia Medical’s team has been able to quickly iterate and implement meaningful product improvements, such as the need for additional device sizes.
Further, Atia Vision is making significant strides toward manufacturing automation and is maintaining a strong momentum at important industry conferences by presenting multiple times on podiums. Atia Vision looks forward to continuing its clinical efforts, including additional clinical sites, expanding its production capabilities in the immediate future, and focusing on yield improvement for design verification builds and testing.
Atia Vision announced the close of a $42 milloin Series E financing in 2023. The funds will be used to expand the Company’s clinical program, scale its manufacturing capabilities, and expand the Atia Vision team. Find the funding press release here.
Why We Are Excited:
In the U.S., nearly 1 in 5 people aged 65 to 74 have cataracts that affect their vision. More than 50% of people over age 80 either have cataracts or had surgery to remove them (National Eye Institute, 2024). Patients undergoing standard intraocular lens (IOL) and multi-focal IOL treatment are forced to decide between sharp vision and focus.
Atia Vision is committed to improving patient outcomes through the development of a modular presbyopia-correcting accommodating intraocular lens. Its innovation addresses the unmet needs of cataract and presbyopia patients through a familiar conventional cataract procedure. The Atia Vision modular intraocular lens technology features an accommodating base responsive to the ciliary muscles, simulating the natural mechanism of the eye and fixed lens element that allows for subsequent refractive correction. All design verification builds, biocompatibility and physiochemical testing, the release of all quality system documents from R&D to clinical revisions, all test protocols for design verification testing, and the commencement of first-in-human (FIH) studies with encouraging outcomes have now been accomplished by Atia Vision. Rising Tide is enthusiastic about what this cutting-edge technology may be able to do for patients and eye care providers looking for a full range of vision-improving substitutes for cataract surgery.
Disclaimer: Rising Tide Fund Managers, LLC and its affiliates (“Rising Tide” or “We”) is a United States venture capital firm investing primarily in the information technology and healthcare/life sciences markets. Over the last 35 years, we have partnered with family funds, high-impact investors, and strategic partners to help launch and expand startups in a variety of industries across three continents. We are dedicated to cooperating with our entrepreneurs at all stages: from financing to leveraging our international networks to facilitating exits by design. The portfolio companies described herein do not represent all the portfolio companies purchased, sold, or recommended for portfolios advised by Rising Tide. The reader should not assume that an investment in the portfolio companies identified were or will be profitable. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Investors should be aware that a loss of investment is possible. For more information, visit www.rtf.vc