The Company OphthoCare is an Israeli based technology company, founded in 2003, specializing in the field of technology for ophthalmic disorder treatments. The company develops and commercializes unique, medical, electronic eyeglasses for treatment of ocular disorders and nerve stimulation applications. The first product is designed to treat Amblyopia in children. The company is in the stage of preparation for high volume production and start of sales.
The Problem
“Lazy eye syndrome” in children, formally known as Amblyopia, affects about 5% of children and should be treated at early childhood to be effective (up to the age of 10).
Enforcement of utilization of the weak eye by patching of the sound eye (eye patches) is the most commonly used treatment for Amblyopia. However, it is problematic and highly disliked by the children. As a result, and due to compliance issues, the treatment success rate is low (less than 50%). The outcome is that children remain with their disorder for life.
The Product
OphthoCare develops unique electronic eye glasses for treatment of ocular disorders and nerve stimulation applications.
The LCG (Liquid Crystal Glasses) provide a better solution than the adhesive eye patches used today. The LCG perform the occlusion process in periodical fashion using thin film liquid crystal shutter which is incorporated in the optical refractive lens.
The LCG has achieved high efficacy and high compliance in the clinical trials. The LCG is comfortable to the child, friendly, simple to use, integrated into his day to day activities and safe. The LCG therapy will provide: higher compliance of the children, higher efficacy, and a shorter treatment period. This type of therapy can work either as a primary treatment or as a method of maintenance after the traditional patching regimen has achieved best recovery.
The Technology
LCG is electronically controlled eyeglasses, using Thin Film Liquid Crystal technology lens that electronically performs the occlusion- penalization of the healthy eye.
The LCG incorporates refractive correction lens mounted when required (~80% of cases).
The LC lens is controlled by microchip circuitry that switches the lens of the sound eye from an opaque "ON" position ("occlusion") to that of a transparent "OFF" position according a preprogrammed modality.
The occlusion of the healthy eye is performed periodically for a short time of 30-50seconds with 10 -30 seconds rest between occlusion intervals. This rapid and frequent transition to the opaque mode is training actively the muscles and neural pathways while enabling vision maintenance in the healthy eye and relaxation of the amblyopic one. This type of treatment provides training in binocular vision fashion.
The software enables programming of several modes of treatment.
Additional features include a special bedside device “Compliance meter” that performs as a charger and provides indication of actual wear time, giving feedback to the child, parents and physicians regarding wearing compliance (actual and prescribed times).
Market Potential
The LCG treatment is aimed for population aged between 4-9, about 3M children in the industrial nations. In the western industrial countries there are approximately 400,000-600,000 (3%) new cases per year.
The major countries outside the western world are China and India that provide an additional and significant business opportunity. The middle class population in China and India is estimated at 250M, and growing. These are significant emerging markets with strong potential for the LCG product.
The potential customers of the LCG can be characterized as follows:
- Parents/children who choose the LCG treatment following the Ophthalmologist recommendation
- Parents who prefer the LCG for aesthetics and convenience reasons
- Children who fail the traditional patching method due low compliance
- Children who initially are treated by the patching and due to long treatment time and maintenance choose to change treatment method and use the LCG – mainly due to convenience
Competition
There are currently no direct competitors to the solution offered by the LCG. The old eye patching solutions or the Atropine eye drops are traditional treatment for Lazy eye.
The Team
Rafi Herzog (B.Sc, MBA) - Co CEO, in charge of R&D and operations has extensive experience in management, product development, marketing and regulatory issues.
Harel Orbach (MSc. MBA) - Co CEO, in charge of marketing and business development. Has 20 years experience in marketing, sales, business development and product management, Harel hast 13 years experience in medical device, pharmaceuticals and diagnostics.
Yossi Gross – (B.Sc) leading Israeli entrepreneur involved in large number of medical companies.
Dr. Omry Ben Ezra – MD, Medical Director with a great deal of experience in medical research.
Dr. Schmuel Lveinger – MD, Medical advisory board.
Company Status
- Completed clinical studies - the Company has performed a multi-center clinical study on 30 children in 3 leading medical centers in Israel. The study was completed successfully in July 2005. Study results show high compliance, good efficacy and safety of the LCG device.
- Ready for production and sales - the company has completed the engineering phase of the device and is ready for large scale production and sales world wide - Q1 2009.
- FDA approved- the LCG device is approved by the FDA for marketing in the US (510K).
- Capital – completed recently 450K round from leading eye care clinic in Israel
Contacts