Clerio Vision: First Noninvasive Laser Vision Correction Procedures Performed
Leveraging technology developed at the University of Rochester that was recently recognized with a Nobel Prize, Clerio Vision is commercializing LIRIC—a novel, noninvasive method to correct human vision. The core technology 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,” J. Mikael Totterman, CEO of Clerio Vision, said in a company news release. 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 which was originally developed at the University of Rochester by Gerard Mourou, PhD, and Donna Strickland, PhD, who recently received the 2018 Nobel Prize in Physics. Capitalizing on the ultrafast techniques, Wayne Knox, PhD, an early colleague of Dr. 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 even presbyopia. Presbyopia is the age-related, degradation of vision that occurs for most people between the ages of 40 and 50 years.
More than 200 million people in the United States and more than 2 billion people worldwide require some form of vision correction. Globally, only about 28 million or about 1.4% of people have chosen 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.
“In addition to being able to offer a noninvasive vision correction alternative to patients concerned about surgery, we are optimistic that LIRIC may offer an improved safety profile for a procedure that already has excellent outcomes,” Scott MacRae, MD, an international leader in LASIK innovation at the University of Rochester’s Flaum Eye Institute, said in the news release. He was the first refractive surgeon to perform the laser induced refractive index change procedure (LIRIC).
Jeffery J. Machat, MD, one of the early pioneers of LASIK and the original cofounder of TLC Laser Eye Centers, also served as a treating refractive surgeon. Dr. Machat noted, “Not since the advent of excimer laser have I been this excited about a new laser vision correction technology. I absolutely believe that the LIRIC procedure can revolutionize ophthalmology and the way we treat prescriptions without any pain or weakening of the eye. It was an honor to be a part of the original team that performed these inaugural procedures and be a part of history.”
Clerio’s first-in-human clinical trial is being conducted at Grupo Oftalmo & Plástico, a highly experienced clinic with first-in-human studies for next generation ophthalmic products. The full team of refractive surgeons in the first-in-human study also includes Drs. Gabriel Quesada, Rodrigo Quesada, Kevin Waltz, and John Vukich. Drs. Quesada, Quesada, Waltz, and Vukich lead a complete group in San Salvador, El Salvador providing fully compliant, world-class ophthalmic research services and built a custom made OR within their pre-existing facility to support the requirements of advanced femto clinical research.
In addition to developing LIRIC as a method to correct optical errors directly in human corneas, Clerio is currently conducting clinical trials of new contact lens designs using LIRIC technology as well as further refining the technology for intraocular lens applications.