TECLens

TECLens, Inc. is a clinical-stage ophthalmic medical device company operating from Stamford, Connecticut. Founded in 2013 by David E. Acker and Patrick Lopath, the company is focused on developing a non-invasive treatment for vision correction. The leadership team includes CEO Thomas Dunlap, a veteran of the ophthalmic device industry, alongside the founders who bring significant entrepreneurial and operational experience. Dr. Acker is a serially successful entrepreneur, notably as the inventor and co-founder of BioSense, which was later sold to Johnson & Johnson. The initial concept for the company's core technology came from co-founder Dr. Roy Chuck, Chairman of Ophthalmology at Montefiore Einstein.

The company is pioneering a proprietary technology called Quantitative Corneal Cross-Linking (qCXL™). This procedure is designed to be a comfortable, in-office treatment that provides an alternative to traditional refractive surgeries. The system uses a disposable, fiber optic-connected scleral contact lens, the CXLens®, which is placed on the patient's eye. This device delivers a customized, patterned dose of ultraviolet (UV) light after the application of a topical riboflavin (Vitamin B2) solution. The process strengthens and gently reshapes the cornea to correct vision. A key feature is the use of integrated, real-time ultrasound monitoring to track the corneal response, ensuring the treatment adheres to a pre-calculated plan and enhances the precision of the outcome. This allows the patient to sit comfortably, blink, or even close their eyes during the procedure, which is a significant departure from the patient experience in laser-based surgeries.

TECLens is positioning itself to disrupt the refractive surgery market by targeting patients who find existing surgical options too risky or expensive. The business model appears to be centered on the sale of a low-cost control system to practitioners and single-use, disposable CXLens® devices for each procedure, which could offer higher margins for eye care professionals compared to expensive laser systems. The company successfully raised $9.3 million in a Series A funding round on February 11, 2025, co-led by Johnson & Johnson Innovation – JJDC Inc. and Yonjin Capital, with participation from other investors like Rimonci Capital and Sunmed Capital. This funding is allocated to advance clinical development, with an initial focus on treating presbyopia. While presbyopia is the primary target, TECLens sees potential future applications for treating keratoconus, pediatric progressive myopia, low-order adult myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism.

Keywords: ophthalmic medical device, corneal cross-linking, qCXL, CXLens, non-invasive vision correction, refractive surgery, presbyopia treatment, myopia control, keratoconus therapy, ultraviolet light therapy, riboflavin, eye care technology, medical device startup, Johnson & Johnson Innovation, vision care, corneal reshaping, personalized medicine, ultrasound monitoring, scleral lens, Series A funding, Thomas Dunlap, David E. Acker