Clerio Vision

About Clerio Vision

Clerio Vision is an ophthalmic medical device company, founded in 2014 and headquartered in Rochester, New York, that is positioned to alter the vision correction market. The company was established based on foundational research from the University of Rochester, leveraging intellectual property developed through a prior decade-long collaboration between the university and Bausch + Lomb. The founding team includes serial entrepreneurs Mikael Totterman and Alex Zapesochny, who previously co-founded iCardiac Technologies, a successful medical technology firm they exited in 2017. Totterman, with a background in engineering from Stanford, venture capital, and consulting, serves as Chairman and Chief Innovation Officer, while Zapesochny is the CEO. Their previous success in the medical startup space provided the credibility and experience to launch Clerio Vision.

The company's core technological platform is the Laser-Induced Refractive Index Change (LIRIC), a non-invasive method that uses low-energy femtosecond lasers to precisely modify the refractive index of materials without cutting or ablating tissue. This technique, based on Nobel Prize-winning research, allows for the creation of complex optical patterns within the cornea, contact lenses, or intraocular lenses (IOLs). Unlike LASIK, which reshapes the cornea by removing tissue, LIRIC changes the eye's focusing power by altering the internal optics, which could reduce side effects like dry eye and inflammation. The company is structured around three primary business lines: a non-invasive alternative to refractive surgery, advanced contact lenses, and adjustable intraocular lenses for post-cataract surgery patients. These applications address a wide range of conditions, including myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, and presbyopia.

Clerio Vision's business model focuses on developing and commercializing this platform technology for various segments of the greater than $1 billion global ophthalmic market. Its products, which are currently in clinical development, target patients and physicians seeking safer and more effective vision correction options. The company's first-in-human trials for its non-invasive corneal procedure began in late 2018, demonstrating a strong safety profile. The company has successfully raised significant capital to fund its research, clinical trials, and global expansion efforts, particularly in Asia. Over multiple funding rounds, including a Series E, Clerio has secured investments from firms like Safar Partners, Bridge Point Capital, and Norwest Venture Partners.