OIS Sets Sights on Anterior Segment Innovations

The second annual Ophthalmology Innovation Summit (OIS) at the 2013 ASCRS•ASOA Symposium & Congress combined industry, clinicians, and entrepreneurs to highlight innovations in anterior segment surgery.

The half-day session featured talks on the impact of femtosecond lasers and intraoperative aberrometry, as well as micro-invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS).

Co-chairman William J. Link, PhD, Versant Ventures, Menlo Park, Calif., gave a talk on the status and impact of innovation in the ophthalmic world, and said a key criteria driving innovation is that technology has to be real and useful.

“Acquisitions have been quiet. Venture capital is dwindling,”

he said, but the size and demographic of the market is “amazing.”

“Multiple venture firms care about ophthalmology and are investing in the space,”

Mr. Link said. “Innovation is directed where it is rewarded.”

Another market being tracked carefully right now is dry eye, he added.

“I think we’ll see more innovation there,” Mr. Link said. In the refractive space, Mr. Link predicted that corneal inlays will spur innovation as well.

This is the first time that there is alignment in cataract, refractive and glaucoma spaces. “We’ve got rocket power now driving the field,” Mr. Link said. “We have unprecedented innovations. When we do well, many people benefit.”