Two eye care giants are joining forces to build a lens that surgeons can fine-tune after cataract surgery. Alcon and RxSight announced a collaboration to develop a light-adjustable presbyopia-correcting intraocular lens (IOL) — a technology that doesn't exist yet. Alcon is kicking things off with a $60 million upfront payment to RxSight, with up to $140 million more tied to development and regulatory milestones.
Two eye care giants are joining forces to build a lens that surgeons can fine-tune after cataract surgery. Alcon and RxSight have announced a nonexclusive collaboration to develop a light-adjustable presbyopia-correcting intraocular lens (IOL) — a technology that currently doesn't exist on the market. The goal is to combine RxSight's postoperative light-adjustable technology with Alcon's established presbyopia-correcting optical designs into a single, novel IOL platform.
Under the deal, Alcon will pay RxSight $60 million upfront to kick off development, with up to $140 million in additional payments tied to development and regulatory milestones. RxSight will handle development and manufacturing, while Alcon will lead global commercialization of the finished product.
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Why it matters: Today, surgeons have no way to adjust a presbyopia-correcting IOL after it's implanted — meaning patients who aren't happy with their results have limited options. A tunable PCIOL could give surgeons a powerful new tool to refine visual outcomes post-surgery, potentially improving patient satisfaction and reducing the need for corrective glasses after cataract procedures.
