The Innovators Den: EyeCare Pioneers

Prof. Dr. Jorge Alió MD, PhD, FEBO is Professor and Chairman of Ophthalmology, University Miguel Hernandez, Alicante, Spain, founder of Vissum Corporation, Spain and the Jorge Alió Foundation for the Prevention of Blindness. He is a high-volume surgeon in cataract, cornea and refractive surgery with over 55,000 surgeries performed. His main research interests include lens, refractive and corneal surgery. Pioneer in the area of multifocal, accommodative and toric IOLs, excimer laser refractive surgery, phakic IOLs and more recently corneal regeneration surgery. Author of over 768 peer review papers in indexed journals, 423 chapters, 96 books. Extremely active at congresses with lectures and courses. 2023 Hirsch factor (h-factor) of 70 (Scopus).

LXIII chair of the Academia Ophthalmologica Internationalis, XLIX chair of the European Academy of Ophthalmology, President of the ISRS/AAO (2006-2008) member of the American Ophthalmological Society, member of the Board of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons and has received over 103 international and national awards.

He is the creator and Director of the online International Specialization Course in Refractive, Cornea and Lens Surgery (University Miguel Hernandez). Fellows from all over the world come to his research facilities to be trained under his supervision.

I was born in Zaragoza (Spain) where I studied Physics at the University of Zaragoza. I was a pre-doctoral fellow at the Madrid-CSIC “Instituto de Optica”, a post-doctoral research fellow, first at Cambridge University (UK) and later at the Institut d’Optique in Orsay, France. After returning to Spain, I obtained a permanent researcher position at the Instituto de Optica. In 1994, I became the first full Professor of Optics at the University of Murcia, Spain founding the “Laboratorio de Optica”. I spent sabbatical years in Rochester (USA) and Sydney (Australia). I am currently a distinguished visiting professor at the Aier School of Ophthalmology at the Central South University in Changsha, China. My research interests are centered on the optics of eye and the retina and the development of optical and electronic imaging techniques to be applied in Vision, Ophthalmology and Biomedicine. I pioneered highly innovative and significant advances in the methods for studying the optics of the eye and contributed substantially to our understanding of the factors that limit human visual resolution. In addition, several of my results and ideas in the area of ophthalmic instrumentation over the last years have been introduced in instruments and devices currently in use in clinical Ophthalmology. I has published more than 400 reviewed papers that received more than 24000 citations (h-index of 82) in Google Scholar. I presented more than 250 invited talks in international meetings and around 150 seminars in research institutions around the world. I was elected fellow member of the Optical Society of America (OSA) in 1999, fellow of the Association for research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) in 2009 and 2013 (gold class), fellow of the European Optical Society (EOS) in 2014 and fellow of the SPIE in 2016. In 2013, I received the “Edwin H. Land Medal” for scientific contributions to the advancement of diagnostic and correction alternatives in visual optics. This award was established by the Optical Society of America (OSA) and the Society for Imaging Science and Technology (IS&T) to honor Edwin H. Land. In 2014, I was awarded with an Advanced Research grant of the European Research Council. In 2015, I received the “King Jaime I” award in New Technologies. In 2018, he was awarded the Spanish National Research award “Juan de la Cierva” and in 2019 the “Edgar D. Tillyer” award of the Optical Society of America for “the pioneering use of optics and photonics technologies to unravel the human visual system and to improve eye diagnostics and correction”. In 2021, I was awarded the medal of the Spanish Royal Physics Society. I am a co-inventor of 30 international patents in the fields of Optics and Ophthalmology and the co-founder of four spin-off companies developing my concepts and ideas.

Kfir Azoulay is Head of Strategy at Heidelberg Engineering, a technology leader in the field of ophthalmic diagnostic imaging systems and Managing Director of Munich Surgical Imaging GmbH (a Heidelberg Engineering company).

In his current role he oversees business development, the company’s global strategic initiatives, and its Surgical business unit. Prior to Heidelberg Engineering, Mr. Azoulay served for several years as VP & General Manager of Lumenis’ global ophthalmology business.

Mr. Azoulay currently also serves on the Board of Directors of several ophthalmology companies, including Implandata GmbH (Germany), CloudVision (China), and Medisoft Ltd. (UK). Mr. Azoulay holds an MBA degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and he has also successfully completed the ophthalmology science program (BCSCO) at Columbia University in New York.

He is currently also pursuing a Master of Public Health degree at University College London (UCL). He has lived, worked, and studied in 6 countries.

Professional Profile – Dominik Beck, PhD

• Senior exec with 25+ years experience in building, growing, running eye care companies in EU and US
• Experience in SME private & public, VC- and PE-backed Co’s and Country Manager @ Alcon
• Diagnostic-, Surgical-, Implants-, Pharma-, Vision Care products in global markets
• Turn-arounds, Integration, Restructuring for growth, Acceleration of growth, Digital Transformation
• M&A role (sell- and buy-side) in all my tenures other than @ Alcon
• PE industry advisor (buy-side) and NED in multiple eyecare companies
• Trained engineer (Mechanical/Biomedical/Medical Optics)

I am a multi-cultural, multi-lingual seasoned executive who has been successfully growing, transforming and building businesses with a clear mission and focus on creating high-performing teams, that deliver on a set of customer-centric strategic goals, in the U.S. and Europe.

I am a results-oriented leader and visionary, who has:

• Extensive experience in driving business growth and profitability for medical device and (to a lesser extend) pharmaceutical organizations in U.S. and Europe.
• A comprehensive background in all aspects of building, restructuring, change- and turn-around management, with success-proven strength in strategic and operational execution in healthcare businesses ranging from start-up to large established operations.
• Broad experience in international business development and commercial operations in Ophthalmic Diagnostic and Surgical devices, as well as Ocular Pharmaceutical and Vision Care products.
• Proven experience and strong leadership and management skills capitalizing on effective communication, collaboration and facilitation to drive growth and profitability.
• Built and led companies to develop best-in-class technology platforms for surgeons and physicians in eye care, dentistry, dermatology, urology and intensive and commercialize them to global markets.

The following highlights a few of my accomplishments:

Revenue/Profitability Growth/M&A:

Currently, at D.O.R.C., I am responsible for product strategy and marketing, BD&L as well as M&A. We recently made two acquisitions and continue to drive double-digit growth of this highly profitable global surgical-eyecare company.

As CEO and President of Haag-Streit USA, Inc. and Reliance Medical Products, Inc., I managed all US operations of the Haag-Streit Group and increased organic sales revenue by over 80% from 2003 to 2011. In the same time frame, I delivered unprecedented financial results by growing profitability year-over-year.

During my tenure at Riester, I grew the company’s net profit at high-single digits YoY at a Return on Sales of approx. 28%.

I negotiated multi-million-dollar purchase and sale transactions for the acquisition and disposition of stock and assets on multiple occasions and served as a strategic advisor to several private equity firms in the EU and US. Largest negotiated ticket was close to $400mio.

Turn-around/Restructure/Re-alignment:

As CEO of Riester, I developed and implemented a comprehensive strategic vision and digital transformation plan to accelerate bottom-line growth (organic and through acquisition) and to replenish our innovation pipeline after years of trimming, which created a substantial investment backlog throughout the business.

As CEO of IRIDEX and CEO of Alcon Germany and Austria, I rapidly developed and executed turn-around plans, resulting in substantiated growth trajectories after multiple years of inertia or decline. This, I achieved by creating effective work forces, faster decision-making structures and instilling a strong focus on top- and bottom-line growth within the organization.

Commercial Experience:

Most recently prior to joining D.O.R.C., at Riester we were makers and marketers of diagnostic medical devices (over 2000 SKUs) selling to primary, secondary and post-acute care facilities in more than 140 countries through a vast network of distributors, 12 regional sales organizations including commercial operations (subsidiaries) in the U.S., China, and Brazil, totaling sales of approx. $40m with a workforce of 170 FTEs.

At Alcon/Novartis, the market leader in ophthalmic products, I managed a total of $400m in sales with a market-facing team of ~400 associates. At IRIDEX, I managed a total of $45m in global sales and a work force of 160 FTEs. At Haag-Streit Holding US, I managed a team of 120 with international sales of approx. $70m.

Visionary Leadership:

At Haag-Streit USA, I executed a first business turn-around in 2003 and later in 2005 at Reliance Medical Products, I executed a second turn-around, devising a new vision and strategic plans that enabled these previously marginally profitable businesses to unprecedented profitability in a short time period. The transformation of company culture improved employee productivity and energized those businesses to acquire new customers and push product technology to new heights of performance at both companies.

Innovation:

As CEO of Ophthalmic Development Company AG (ODC), I managed the start-up of an independent ophthalmic device firm in Zurich, Switzerland. My team developed, manufactured and commercialized the world’s first high-precision non-applanating contour-tonometer, a break-through in Glaucoma diagnosis, especially for patients that underwent prior LASIK or corneal refractive surgery. The company was sold to a leading Swiss refractive eye care company in 2002. Prior to ODC, from 1995 to 1997, I was heading the medical division of an optical device company in Switzerland that created the first commercially available high-definition stereo-endoscopic system for use in eye care.

In 2009, my team helped introduce the first AI-ML algorithms (radial bias functions) for ocular biometry in close collaboration with one of the leading cataract surgeons in the US, Warren Hill and MathWorks. As CEO of Haag-Streit US, I initiated, funded and co-managed the project.

Other examples: In 2007, my team developed the first 3D-imaging system (together with TrueVision) for ocular-free AR-imaging on Haag-Streit slit-lamps. In 2014, my team introduced the first optical-scanning device for corneal biomechanics mapping (BOSS), and finally in 2021, my team introduced the first AI-ML based heart and lung sound diagnostic system

2021 Jan is now dedicated to controlling his investments in several different start-up companies around the globe, including holding several Board Positions. Some of which are new, and some have been long lasting over time like RxSight.

2019-2020 Consultant and founder of Corneagen Europe, S.L., the European arm of Corneagen Inc. Consultant and investor of TwoEyesVision, S.L. and Wooptix, S.L., Co-Founder of Bynocs Inc. Consultant and Board Visitor at RxSight.

2002 – 2018 Founder and CEO of Visiometrics, S.L. High-tech company in the optical and ophthalmic field. Visiometrics is a leading company in the diagnostic market of quality of vision. Together with his team, he accomplished several crucial milestone objectives, such as: obtain FDA approval and CE-Mark approval for a new product called OQAS and establish distribution and sales all over the globe. Visiometrics is a start-up and a spin-off from the Polytechnic University of Barcelona.

He implemented a very compelling business model. Visiometrics is now a full organization with presence in over 30 countries, located in both USA and Spain. Visiometrics has signed several contracts with important multinational companies.  Agreements and partnerships in important markets like China, Korea, Japan and Europe have also been successfully clinched. He sold Visiometrics to Halma, Plc in late 2015.

It was very interesting for him to build this business having to deal with all possible ingredients in a complex business scenario. From fundraising to local political administration, jumping from possible business exits to establishing a revolutionary technology. Ensuring a safe growth model while making sure that 30 scientists at the University also appreciated that their effort has true and direct economical impact. The Business Plan written by him, made emphasis of the need of close collaboration with at least 50 worldwide opinion leaders to be the first to embrace the concept. Today Visiometrics has many international well-known spokesmen for the HD Analyzer.

1997-01 CEO Oftalogic, S.A. a distributor company working as exclusive distributor with several important international brands in the Ophthalmic field, such as, LaserSight, Lenstec, Ophtec, Laser Diagnostics, Refractec, ThinOptx, Feather, Kera-Vision etc. Oftalogic, S.L. became a leader in the Spanish Refractive market with over 20 employees and a 6mil. € / yearly turnover.

1991-1997 CEO Europhtal, S.L. a distributor company acting in Spain and in some other European markets as distributor for Chiron Vision, Technolas, (now B&L). The most remarkable contribution is probably the fact that Europthal was the first company in the world to perform LASIK with Hansatome and Technolas. Jan and Dr. Güell, were the first in the world to promote LASIK, offering LASIK curses to most of the first adapters and more than 200 users all over the world.  He also served on the European board of Chiron Vision. Europhtal had an approx. yearly turnover of 1000 Mill. Pesetas.

In the early nineties, he accomplished to bring Lasik Surgery to the market, together with a very small select group of people. He also pioneered in the cataract market with Healon and Intraocular Lenses. He is a founding member of ACEOS, American Society for American and European Ophthalmologists.

1986-1991 He started as Sales Representative to become Marketing Manager at Pharmacia, AB. (later Phizer, AMO and now Abbot). These were the early days of IOL´s and the Viscoelastic, Healon. This is truly where Jan got involved with ophthalmology both professionally and emotionally. Keeping in mind his previous experience as a teacher and his newly acquired business skills, at Pharmacia he received an extraordinary technical background. The experience was so good it could be further cultivated over the years, making him probably one of the most technically and clinically skilled top executives in the world today. He also established close relationships with those days upcoming star ophthalmologist, who are now the most prominent opinion leaders in the world. Professional commitments included branding of Healon, the world leading Viscoelastic product and Intraocular lenses to be implanted after Cataract surgery. Together with his team they made several historical % growth/year figures. It is fair to say that in those days the market was exploding from virtually no implantations towards the today standard of 100% implantation. He is proud of having been able to play an important role in this evolution.

Education

2007-08

IESE Business School’s “Advanced Management Program”. This program shares methodology and teachers with the AMP program at Harvard

1988-89

“Dirección de Marketing” at the Barcelona based Business School EADA

1979-83

Economics and foreign languages at the University of Uppsala, Sweden

Francesco Carones, MD was born in Italy in 1963. He graduated in 1988 at the University of Milan, Italy, where he attended the Department of Ophthalmology as resident. In 1992 he took a clinical training period focused on refractive surgery at Emory University, Atlanta GA, USA. Formerly he was Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology and Director of Refractive Surgery at the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, S. Raffaele Hospital, University of Milan, Italy. Now in private practice, Dr. Carones is co-founder, Medical Director and Physician CEO (Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill. USA) of Carones Vision (formerly Carones Ophthalmology Center) at Advalia in Milan, Italy where he performs mainly cataract and refractive surgery.
Dr. Carones is involved in refractive surgery since 1989, when he started pioneering the use of excimer laser. He participated at several clinical trials, including the first human study on hyperopia correction using erodible masks. He explored the application of mitomycin C after laser surgery. He was among the first to have access to the tracker-assisted flying-spot ablation technology and to propose LASEK. Currently he is clinical investigator for major surgical companies. As for cataract surgery, he was the first to implant a toric multifocal IOL as well as a low power add multifocal IOL. His cataract and refractive surgery practice also involves phakic IOLs, intracorneal ring segments, corneal inlays, corneal cross-linking, and refractive keratotomy.
Dr. Carones published 141 papers in peer-reviewed scientific journals, books and book chapters on refractive and cataract surgery and corneal topography. His research activities lead him to lecture and present at major meetings on refractive surgery worldwide, including AAO, ASCRS, ESCRS, IIIC and ISRS. He is Associate Editor of the Journal of Refractive surgery and member of the most important Editorial Boards. He currently serves as Board Member of International Ophthalmological Societies (AECOS, RSA, WCRSVS), and Member of the Advisory Board of major ophthalmic companies (Alcon, Johnson & Johnson Vision, Zeiss, Hoya, WaveLight).

CEO Rayner

Tim has spent 30 years in the international ophthalmic business with experience in medical devices, pharmaceuticals, services, digital healthcare and private equity.

Following an earlier career at Zeiss and Allergan/AMO, Tim was CEO of Moonray Healthcare, a proprietary capital fund at Fidelity, investing in medical technology and healthcare services.

Tim was appointed to the Rayner board in 2014 to lead a strategic expansion plan.  He successfully led an MBO by Phoenix Equity Partners in 2017 and an SBO by CVC Capital Partners in 2021. During his tenure, Rayner has pursued a growth strategy based on innovation, expansion of its international direct footprint and concluded several acquisitions to expand and diversify the company into a global leader in eye care.

Arthur Cummings is a cataract and refractive surgeon at the Wellington Eye Clinic in Dublin, Ireland, participating in clinical studies and serving on the medical advisory boards of numerous ophthalmic companies. A past-President of AECOS Europe, he is Global Ambassador of the Refractive Surgery Alliance. He is co-chief medical editor of Cataract & Refractive Surgery Today Europe and reviews numerous journals. He has published > 120 articles in peer-reviewed and trade journals, 12 book chapters, co-edited 2 textbooks and delivered more than 500 lectures at international meetings. He authored the Wellington nomogram for WaveLight excimer lasers.  In 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022 and 2023 he was ranked in the Top 100 most influential ophthalmologists worldwide by The Ophthalmologist. He has received awards from the AAO, ISRS, ESCRS, SECOIR, IIRSI, AECOS Europe and SASCRS. He serves on the board of directors of Alcon since they spun off from Novartis in April 2019. He is a co-Founder, Trustee and board member of the World College of Refractive Surgery & Visual Sciences and serves as the President of the Board of Governors.

Director, Clinical Professor
Department of Ophthalmology
University Eye Clinic Bochum-Langendreer

School/Education

Membership:

• American-European Congress of Ophthalmic Surgery (AECOS)
• American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery
• American Academy of Ophthalmology
• Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology
• Berufsverband der Augenärzte Deutschlands
• Deutsche Ophthalmologische Gesellschaft
• European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons
• International Society of Refractive Surgery
• IIIC
• Deutschsprachige Gesellschaft für Intraokularlinsen Implantation und refraktive Chirurgie (GSCRS)

Mor Dickman is an acknowledged expert in anterior segment surgery, specializing in corneal transplantation, refractive surgery, and complex cataract surgery. He is a group leader at the Institute of Regenerative Medicine, where his team develops cell therapies for corneal diseases. Within the ESCRS, he chairs the ESCRS Registries, one of the largest IT projects in Ophthalmology, as well as the Inclusion and Belonging committees. Additionally, he is a member of the ESCRS Research Committee and the Digital Health Committee. He has experience with public-private initiatives, fostering collaborations to advance ophthalmic innovations.

Damien Gatinel, MD, PhD

Summary

Damien Gatinel, MD, Ph.D., has been the head of the Anterior and Refractive Surgery Department of the Rothschild Foundation, Paris, since 2007. His research mainly focuses on IOL optical design, IOL power calculation, mathematical modeling of laser refractive surgical procedures, applications of AI in ocular anterior segment pathology, astigmatism correction, and the detection of subclinical keratoconus. He holds a Ph.D. in applied mathematics and devised a new classification for ocular optical aberrations. He owns several patents, including the first diffractive trifocal IOL design (e.g., FineVision IOL), for which he was discerned with the title Knight of the Order of the Crown from the Kingdom of Belgium. Dr. Gatinel is a board member of the Executive Committee of the International Society of Refractive Surgery (ISRS) and the Research Committee of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ESCRS). He serves on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Refractive Surgery. He has received over 22 international awards, including 17 Best Paper of Session won during ASCRS meetings. Dr. Gatinel has published more than 170 articles in peer-reviewed journals and edited or co-edited five books. In 2018, 2020, 2022, and 2023 he was listed among the 100 top-ranking most influential ophthalmologists (Power list, The Ophthalmologist magazine).

Positions:

• Head of Anterior and Refractive Surgery – Ophthalmology Dept, Rothschild Foundation, Paris, France – since 2008
• Assistant Professor at the Bichat Claude Bernard Hospital (University of Paris VII):1999 – 2008
• Fellow of Ophthalmology (University of Paris XIII) : 1996-1999
• Ophthalmology Residency: 1993-1996

Licensures and Certifications

• Diplomate in Medicine, 1991
• Diplomate in Ophthalmology, 1996
• “Habilitation à Diriger les Recherches” (Director of Research Position), 2005
• PhD in Applied Mathematics at Paris Saclay University, Applied Math Dept. (Dir: Pr Laurent Dumas), 2017

Prizes and Awards

More than 20 Prizes, Distinctions, and Awards, including the Senior Achievement Award from the American Academy of Ophthalmology (2014), the Lans Distinguished Award (AAO/ISRS 2014), the 2016 Recognition Award from the International Society of Refractive Surgery (ISRS), the 2017 Bruce Jackson Lecture Award from the Canadian Ophthalmology Society, the 2022 Whitney Sampson Lecture Award from the Eye and Contact Lens Association, the “Prix de l’Oeil” from Fondation de France (2022) and 16 Best Paper of Session Awards (BPOS) from the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery.

Distinctions

Knight of the Order of the Crown, Kingdom of Belgium (“Chevalier de l’Ordre de la Couronne”, Belgique)

Fields of Interest, Research

Corneal topography and subclinical keratoconus detection, IOL optical design, IOL power calculation, analysis of the optical quality of the human eye, profile of ablation with the excimer laser, multifocality, customized ablations, ocular aberrometry, corneal biomechanics, mathematical modeling, computer-assisted modeling, physiological optics analysis and modeling, AI applications in anterior segment pathology.

Past and Current Scientific activities

• Optical quality assessment for the human eye structures and treatments (intra-ocular lenses, laser profiles) – aberrometry.
• Subclinical keratoconus detection.
• Mathematical and computerized modeling of corneal topography and profiles of ablation
• Characterization of the optical properties of intra-ocular lenses,
• Design of multifocal IOLs and laser corrections for presbyopia
• IOl power calculation formula design (PEARL-DGS formula)

Books

• Gatinel D, Hoang-Xuan T. Le LASIK : de la théorie à la pratique. Elsevier, 2003. (in French)
• Azar DT, Gatinel D. Refractive Surgery, 2nd ed. Mosby-Elsevier, 2006-10-22
• Gatinel D. Topographie cornéenne, Elsevier, 2011. (in French)
• Gatinel D. Topographie cornéenne, 2^nd edition, Elsevier, 2014
• Azar DT, Gatinel D, Ghanem R, Taneri S. Refractive Surgery, 3^rd edition , Elsevier 2019

Book Chapters

• >20 chapters in English medical textbooks

Publications

• >170 peer-reviewed publications
• >240 non-peer-reviewed publications in French and English for CME publications.

Society Affiliations

• Member of the ESCRS Research Committee
• Member of the ISRS Executive Committee
• French Society of Ophthalmology
• American Academy of Ophthalmology
• American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery
• ARVO (Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology)

Journals

• Editorial committee of the Journal of Refractive Surgery
• Editorial committee of the International Journal of Keratoconus and Ectatic Corneal Diseases

Personal Operating Information

• >1300 corneal laser refractive surgeries per year
• > 400 cataract and anterior segment surgeries per year

Patents:

• Gatinel D, Pagnoulle C, Nolet M : Posterior chamber intraocular implant for capsular bag of patient`s eye, has cylindrical optical part with optical axis, and tabs with outer cylinder having cylindrical axis, where optical axis and cylindrical axis are not coaxial : Brevet d’invention 1016898A3 (04/09/2007)
• Gatinel D, Malet J, Azar DT. Ocular Wavefront Profiling.
• Application #: 20060176449 Class: 351246000 (USPTO). Filed: 22/11/2005
• Gatinel D, Malet J, Azar DT. Ocular Wavefront Profiling.
• Application #: 20060023162 Class: 351246000 (USPTO). Filed: 19/07/2004
• Gatinel D, Azar DT, Malet J. Ocular Wavefront Correction Profiling (18/09/2012)
• Gatinel D, Gerlach M, Buchheister J. Method for modeling an intraocular lens and intraocular lens. Application US 2010/0094604 A1, (15/04/2010)
• Gatinel D, Houbrechts Y, Pagnoulle C. Intra ocular lens. Publication WO 2011/092169 A1 (24/07/2013)
• Gatinel D, Saad A, Youssefi G. Apparatus and method for analyzing ocular data. EP 2 594 192 B1 (09/09/2020)
• Gatinel D, Pagnoulle C, Redzovic S, Voisin L, Loicq. J Trifocal intraocular lens with extended range of vision and correction of longitudinal chromatic aberration (28/09/2021)

List of Main Distinctions :

• Prix de l’Oeil, Fondation de France (2022)
• Knight of the Order of the Crown, Kingdom of Belgium – (Croix de Chevalier de l’Ordre de la Couronne), Discerned by His Majesty King Philip on November 24^rd, 2015
• Recognition Award, 2016, International Society of Refractive Surgery (ISRS)
• Senior Achievement Award, 2014, American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO)
• Lans Distinguished Award, Academy of Ophthalmology 4AAO) and International Society of Refractive Surgery (ISRS), 2013.
• Certificate of appreciation, International Society of Refractive Surgery (ISRS), 2012.
• Achievement Award, 2006, American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO)

Sean Ianchulev, MD MPH
Professor of Ophthalmology | New York Eye and Ear of Mount Sinai

Dr. Ianchulev is a Harvard-trained physician-executive, ophthalmic surgeon, inventor and serial entrepreneur, who has been at the forefront of medical innovation and products that have transformed the ophthalmic field and are impacting medical care for hundreds of thousands of patients every year. While at Genentech, Dr. Ianchulev headed the ophthalmology clinical research group and directed the development and the FDA
approval of Lucentis®, one of the most successful biotech innovations in the field of ophthalmology with more than $4Bn of annual sales. As an inventor and developer, Dr. Ianchulev is behind many breakthrough technologies and venture-funded acquisitions – from the first ophthalmic intraoperative biometry device (Alcon, Inc.), the only FDA-approved suprachoroidal MIGS micro-stent (Alcon, Inc.), the first biologic stent technology in ophthalmology (Iantrek, Inc.), the original micro-interventional cataract fragmentation system (miLOOP, Zeiss Meditec) as well as the first microdose smart delivery system for topical therapeutics (Eyenovia, Inc.). Dr. Ianchulev’s robotics team at New York Eye and Ear and his pioneering work with Preceyes, Inc. lead to the introduction of micro-interventional robotics in ophthalmic surgery (Zeiss Meditec). Dr. Ianchulev received both his medical degree (MD) and a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree from Harvard University and completed his specialty training at the Doheny Eye Institute, University of Southern California. He is currently a Professor of Ophthalmology at New York Eye and Ear of Mount Sinai where he also directs the program for technology and innovation. For his leadership in public health, innovation and medicine, Dr. Ianchulev was an invited expert by Congress during the deliberations on medical innovation and FDA regulation. He is one of a handful of physician founders to lead a life-science company through an IPO on the NASDAQ stock exchange. Dr. Ianchulev is a holder of multiple issued and pending patents. He has multiple high-impact publications in the field, which have been cited by more than 3,000 peer-reviewed publications. He also sits on several corporate and scientific advisory Boards.

Additional Materials:

• Peer selected to the Ophthalmologist Power List (Top 0.01% of ophthalmologists in the world LINK>>)
• Glaucoma Visionary Recognition (Link>>)
• The making of an iDoctor (Link>>)
• The Impatient Innovator (Link>>)

With 30 years of experience in the healthcare field, Kris’s background combines entrepreneurship, business development, market assessment and commercial strategy, along with clinical and regulatory expertise.
In 2005, Kris founded KAMCommunications to provide medical communications services to start-ups and established ophthalmology companies. This was followed in 2008 by Medeuronet – the first pan-European company focused on working with medical device start-ups entering the market.
In 2021, Kris teamed up with some of the most experienced entrepreneurs in ophthalmology to lead the founding of Medevise Consulting that focuses on Market Access & Reimbursement, European Regulatory & Clinical Services and Medical Communications & Marketing.

Michael Mrochen, PhD (Dr. rer. medic.)

Personal information

• Born on 23^rd of January 1971 in Singen (Germany)
• Two children (18 years and 32 years)
• Swiss and German citizen;
• Language skills: German (first language); English (negotiation level)

Professional Career

Since 2016, co-founder of Allotex Inc, Boston USA and General Manager of Allotex GmbH, Switzerland. Developing a corneal inlays and onlays.

Since 2017, co-founder and Chairman of the board, Vivior AG, Zurich, Switzerland

Since 2017, Member of the company board, Schwind Eye-Tech Solutions, Klein Ostheim, Germany

Since 2021, Member of the company board, Medevice, Strasbourg, France

Since 2022, Member of the company board, Pallas Klinik – Hospitals, Olten, Switzerland

Since 2012, IROC Science to Innovation AG acts a consulting company in the field of translational research for ophthalmologic medical devices.

From 2002 to 2012, co-founder, board member and CEO of IROC AG, Zurich, Switzerland building out the three core business units IROC ophthalmology clinic, IROC Innocross and IROC Science. Management buyout in 2012 of the two core business units (100% ownership): IROC Innocross AG and IROC Science to Innovation AG.

From 2010 to 2021 IROC Innocross AG developed, produced, manufactured, distributed and sold products for corneal cross linking in more than 80 countries. In 2014, successful exit with Avedro inc. (USA) to sell IROC Innocross AG core assets and to license it’s IP.

From 2013 to 2015, co-founder and CTO of ClearSight Innovations Ltd, Dublin Ireland. Successful exit in December 2015 to a strategic corporation in the US.

From 2013 to 2021, member of the board of the Swiss Eye Research Foundation, Reinach (AG), Switzerland

Career development

1988 – 1990 Training as Physical-technical Assistenten at the Berufskolleg der Naturwissenschaftlichen – Technischen Akademie Isny, Germany

1990 – 1994 Engineering studies (general physics) University of Applied Science at the Naturwissenschaftlichen – Technischen Akademie Isny (D)

1994 – 1995 Scientific employess at the Friedrich – Schiller Universität Jena (D); Institute for Optic und Quantum Electronics;

1995 – 1999 Doctorate “Dr. rer. medic” at the Technical University Dresden, Germany, Department of Ophthalmology

1999 – 2000 Postdoctoral position at Technical University Dresden, Germany, Department of Ophthalmology

2000 – 2005 Postdoctoral position at at the University Hospital Zürich, Department of Ophthalmology and at the Institute for Biomedical Technologies of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zürich (CH)

2004, “viena legendi” (Habilitation) from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), Zurich, Switzerland with the thesis “Technology of Customized Corneal Laser Surgery for Refractive corrections”.

From 2004 to 2016 Privatdozent at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), Zurich, Switzerland

From 2004 to 2019 Visiting Professor at the University of Applied Science Isny (D) for Laser Physics, Medical lasers

Medical Advisory Boards

• 1996 to 2018, scientific consultant and advisor for Alcon, WaveLight a Novartis Company, Germany
• 2014 to 2019, member of the medical advisory board of Avedro, US

International Scientific Network

Since 2000, I am co-founder of the International Congress of Wavefront Sensing and since 2004 a co-founder of the International Congress of Corneal Cross Linking. Executive Member of the Refractive Surgery Alliance. Member of ESCRS, AAO, and AECOS.

Awards

• Troutman Award 2003 of the ISRS International Society of Refractive Surgery and the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
• Swiss Technology Award 2005 for the development of customized contact lenses
• Finalist for the Swiss Economic Award 2007 for corneal cross linking (last 3 in high tech)
• DOC German Ophthalmic Surgeon Society 2010, Bronze Medal
• DOC German Ophthalmic Surgeon Society 2013, Silver Medal
• Listed under the 100 most influential people in ophthalmology in 2014 (TheOphthalmologist)
• DOC German Ophthalmic Surgeon Society 2015, Silver Medal
• ISRS Recognition Award 2015
• EyeAdvanced, Indian Academy of Ophthalmology, Meritorious Service Star, 2016
• American Academy of Ophthalmology, Achievement Award, 2016
• Listed under the 100 most influential people in ophthalmology in 2017 (TheOphthalmologist)
• American Academy of Ophthalmology, Casebeer Award, 2018
• Listed under the 100 most influential people in ophthalmology in 2022 (TheOphthalmologist)
• Listed under the 100 most influential people in ophthalmology in 2023 (TheOphthalmologist)

Dirk Muehlhoff is currently Head of Refractive Lasers at Carl Zeiss Meditec AG.
He holds a Master of Physics from RWTH Aachen (Aachen University), Germany and a MBA degree from Augsburg University, Germany.
At ZEISS he has held several positions in R&D functions including being the first project manager for the development of the ZEISS VISUMAX femtosecond laser and the SMILE lenticule extraction procedure. He is inventor to numerous patents in ophthalmic device technology.
Since 2010 he is heading the Refractive Lasers business unit at ZEISS.

Prof. Dr. Sorcha Ni Dhubhghaill is Chair and Head of the Department at the University Hospital of Brussels and VUB University. She holds a PhD from Trinity College Dublin and has furthered her expertise with a diploma in statistics and a certificate in surgical leadership from Harvard. Prof Ni Dhubhghaill is a board member of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS) and was the first woman to achieve advanced accreditation in cataract and refractive surgery (FEBOS-CR). Her research focuses on regenerative corneal medicine where she holds a number of patents, has contributed to valorisation of Spin off technolgies, secured a number of European research grants and she has led multiple corneal clinical trials as Principal Investigator (PI).

Rajesh Rajpal, M.D. is the Chief Medical Officer and Global Head/VP of Clinical and Medical Affairs for Johnson & Johnson Vision. In this role, Dr. Rajpal leads the integration of rapidly evolving medical and clinical insights into new product development to address unmet needs of patients and eye care professionals around the world. He also oversees clinical trials and the generation of data-led evidence and serves as the critical liaison to government agencies and to the academic, scientific, and industry communities. Dr. Rajpal is a member of the Medical Devices Advisory Committee for the FDA Ophthalmic Devices Panel. He is also a practicing physician and the founder of See Clearly Vision Group, an ophthalmology and optometry group practice in Washington, DC. He serves on the clinical faculty of Georgetown and George Washington University Medical Centers and as the Cornea Consultant to the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Active in research and professional education, he has served as principal investigator in numerous clinical trials, authored multiple original peer-reviewed publications and textbook chapters, and has lectured internationally on topics related to corneal disease, cataract, and refractive surgery.

Paul Rosen is Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon at the Oxford Eye Hospital, Oxford University Hospital, UK. He is a past President of the ESCRS, a Trustee and former Chairman of Trustees of the ESCRS, and Chairman of the Leadership, Business and Innovation Committee. Paul has an MBA from the London Business School and has in the past been Clinical Director of Head and Neck Services and mentored startups.

Domenic von Planta is currently CEO of SCHWIND eye-tech-solutions. Before joining SCHWIND in 2018 as COO and Deputy Management Director, Domenic held various international top management positions with industrial and consulting companies, including several assignments in the healthcare and optical sector.

As academic background, the native Swiss holds an MBA degree from INSEAD in France and Singapore as well as a degree in law studies from the University of Basel, Switzerland. Domenic is a multi-lingual communicator with an entrepreneurial mindset and a high interest in technology.

Together with the SCHWIND team and SCHWIND users, Domenic pursues the vision to make a major contribution to laser treatment becoming the first choice for correcting refractive errors. His main goal is to provide eye surgeons with innovative solutions, so that they can offer their patients safe and precise laser eye surgery.

Andrew Webb is currently Chief Commercial Officer for BELKIN Vision Ltd. He has a deep knowledge of the ophthalmic industry. He started his career at Johnson & Johnson and has over 30 years of leadership experience in sales, marketing, M&A and general management, notably as VP Commercial, Surgical EMEA for Bausch & Lomb where he was a member of the global surgical management team. He holds an MBA from Henley Business School in England.