Clerio Vision (Rochester, NY) is commercializing its laser-induced refractive-index change (LIRIC) technology—a novel, noninvasive method to correct human vision. The core technology for the laser refractive surgery method, which was developed at the University of Rochester, has been in development for more than 15 years and has now entered clinical trials.
"We are excited to announce that we have now treated the first five partially sighted subjects in our First-in-Human study," states J. Mikael Totterman, CEO of Clerio Vision. The purpose of this study is to confirm safety as well as demonstrate the ability to correct the optics of the eye in a nonsurgical fashion.
The procedure is based on ultrafast laser technology originally developed at the University of Rochester by Gerard Mourou, Ph.D., and Donna Strickland, Ph.D., who recently received the 2018 Nobel Prize in Physics. Capitalizing on the ultrafast techniques, Wayne Knox, Ph.D., an early colleague of Mourou, refined the novel femtosecond techniques for noninvasive ophthalmic applications. In extensive preclinical studies, these femtosecond lasers were optimized to change the refractive index of corneal tissue. The refractive index modifications can be used to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and presbyopia.
Globally, only about 28 million or about 1.4% of people who need vision correction have chosen laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK), a form of laser vision correction. The most common obstacle to a greater adoption of laser vision correction is the fear on the part of the patients regarding the surgical nature of the current LASIK procedures despite its proven efficacy.
Clerio Vision's first-in-human clinical trial is being conducted at Grupo Oftalmo & Plástico (San Salvador, El Salvador), a highly experienced clinic with First-in-Human studies for next-generation ophthalmic products. In addition to developing LIRIC as a method to correct optical errors directly in human corneas, the company is currently conducting clinical trials of new contact lens designs using LIRIC technology as well as further refining the technology for intraocular lens applications.
For more information, please visit www.cleriovision.com.