Study Underway for TECLens’ Non-Invasive Vision Correction Technology

TECLens Inc. has treated its inaugural patient in its first-in-human clinical trial evaluating the company’s quantitative corneal crosslinking (qCXL) technology for non-invasive refractive vision correction. The study marks a significant milestone in developing the first vision correction platform designed to strengthen rather than compromise corneal integrity, according to TECLens.

The clinical study will evaluate the safety and efficacy of TECLens’ proprietary CXLens system, which delivers personalized, patterned ultraviolet light to reshape the cornea while preserving the epithelium. Unlike traditional surgical refractive procedures that cut or remove tissue, qCXL creates new molecular bonds in precise locations. These new bonds strengthen the cornea in these targeted areas, causing it to reshape to improve vision. CXLens relies on a proprietary treatment planning engine that helps physicians create personalized precision plans and real-time ultrasound monitoring to ensure the plan is precisely executed.

“This first-in-human trial represents a transformative moment not just for TECLens, but for the field of vision correction as a whole,” TECLens CEO Thomas Dunlap said. “We’re introducing an entirely new category in ophthalmology by bringing vision correction out of the operating room and into the exam room, without surgery. Our qCXL technology has the potential to expand treatment options for millions of patients as a first-line treatment for vision correction for both refractive errors and presbyopia.”

The current study will focus on patients with refractive errors, with particular emphasis on presbyopia correction—a condition affecting nearly 2 billion people worldwide. The non-invasive, epithelium-on treatment can be performed in-office, offering flexibility for both patients and physicians.

“The initiation of human trials for TECLens’ qCXL technology marks a pivotal advancement in refractive surgery,” stated Dr. Roy Chuck, chairman, Department of Ophthalmology, Montefiore Einstein, and pioneer of the foundational technologies behind TECLens. “For the first time, we have a refractive correction approach designed to both strengthen the cornea while improving vision. This approach represents a fundamental shift in how we think about treating refractive errors.”

“As someone who has been treating refractive errors for years, I’m particularly excited about the potential of qCXL technology to expand our treatment capabilities, without disrupting our everyday practice,” added Robert Ang, M.D., head of Cornea and Refractive Surgery, Asian Eye Institute, Makati City, Philippines. “The ability to offer a non-invasive, in-office treatment that doesn’t remove tissue changes both the patient conversation and access to care. For presbyopia patients, especially, it opens the door to earlier interventions without closing off future options.”

The CXLens system’s design features a scleral UV delivery that eliminates the need for a speculum, making the treatment comfortable for the patient and easy for the physician to administer. The treatment’s real-time biomechanical monitoring tracks the cornea’s response throughout the procedure, automatically concluding when the desired correction is achieved.

TECLens is a clinical-stage ophthalmic medical device company pioneering non-invasive quantitative corneal cross-linking technology (qCXL) for vision correction. Its CXLens system uses patterned ultraviolet (UV) light to gently reshape the cornea with continuous biomechanical control. qCXL aims to be a comfortable, safe, and effective alternative to traditional refractive surgeries. TECLens is funded by Johnson & Johnson Innovation – JJDC Inc., Yonjin Venture, Rimonci Capital, and Sunmed Capital.