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    OCTANe Focuses on What’s Next in Ophthalmics at Ophthalmology Technology Summit

    ALISO VIEJO, Calif., July 11, 2018 – OCTANe, Orange County’s life sciences and technology accelerator, today announced the continued growth of its signature event, Ophthalmology Technology Summit (OTS). The conference was attended by industry leaders, investors and physicians who came to learn about current and future ophthalmology trends as well as to see the latest ophthalmic innovations originating from the Southern California ophthalmic hub.

    OTS 2018 saw significant growth this year with over 400 attendees - a 35 percent increase in attendance year-over-year. The purpose of OTS is to create a local forum where leading ophthalmology experts and entrepreneurs can come together to discuss ground-breaking technologies and new business opportunities fueled by the Orange County ophthalmology ecosystem.

    OTS was chaired by industry movers and shakers – including, Jim Mazzo, global President of Ophthalmic Devices at Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc., John Hovanesian MD, FACS, Private Practice from Harvard Eye Associates, Elizabeth Yeu MD, Partner at Virginia Eye Consultants and Ehsan Sadri MD, FACS from Atlantis Eye Care. “To see this tremendous growth in innovation during the past five years is exciting. Growth is not only coming from these ophthalmology companies, but also from venture capital and private equity as well as physicians,”said Jim Mazzo, Global President of Ophthalmic Devices at Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc. “But for me, the true highlight at OTS was awarding Gavin Herbert, the Roger Steinert Lifetime Achievement Award. Gavin builtour industry and is a true legend.”

    The ophthalmology summit featured an interview with Brent Saunders, CEO of Allergan as well as panels on discussing Innovation and Perspectives in Ophthalmology, The Changing Practice Landscape, and Practice Technologies and Their Impact. The event also featured a humanitarian panel with organizations such as the Foundation for Fighting Blindness, Armenian Eye Care Project and Project Theia.

    “OCTANe has created a strong partnership with key physicians, industry leaders and investors to create a unique two-day experience at OTS,” said Bill Carpou, CEO of OCTANe, “I want to thank everyone who attended and specifically our tier one sponsors – Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Alcon, Allergan, J&J Vision, Visionary Ventures and Carl Zeiss.”

    In attendance at OTS were the nine companies that Visionary Ventures has invested in to-date – CorneaGen, Equinox, IanTech, Mynosys, Orasis Pharmaceuticals, RxSight, Surface Pharmaceuticals, Tear Film Innovations and TearClear. Visionary Ventures is an important part of OCTANe’s capital access strategy.

    This year’s Roger F. Steinert, MD, Honorary Lifetime Achievement Award was given to Gavin S. Herbert, Founder of Allergan. This is the second year awarding this honor, which recognizes exceptional leadership and contribution to the ophthalmic industry.

    A new addition to OTS this year was featured LaunchPad SBDC presentations. The four LaunchPad companies that presented included:

    • Allegro Ophthalmics is establishing integrin peptide therapy as the next-generation pharmaceutical category for the treatment of diabetic macular edema (DME).
    • Eyedaptic has created a unique Software for retina-related vision loss, embedded in Augmented Reality glasses that simulate natural vision to restore a complete field of vision and help sufferers lead fuller lives.
    • LensGen is positioned to participate in the presbyopia and toric correcting IOL categories as well as the emerging adjustable IOL category with its unique modular IOL design platform. The company’s flagship product Juvene is the world’s first modular curvature changing fluid IOL.
    • Novaliq is developing innovative ophthalmic pharmecutical products
      Allegro Ophthalmics was named the winner of the LaunchPad SBDC award.OCTANe has released dates for its 2019 signature event series. Technology Innovation Forum (TIF) will be held from May 13 to May 14 at the Newport Beach Marriott Hotel and Spa, Ophthalmology Technology Summit (OTS) will be on June 28 at the Fashion Island Hotel, and Medical Technology Innovation Forum (MTIF) will take place from October 28 to 29, at the Newport Beach Marriott Hotel and Spa.About OCTANe:OCTANe is building the SoCal of Tomorrow by connecting people, resources and capital to fuel technology growth in Southern California. Its members represent technology executive leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, venture capitalists, academicians, and strategic advisors, all working together to fuel innovation in the region. The organization has helped more than 800 companies via the LaunchPad SBDC accelerator. LaunchPad companies have received more than $2.1 billion in investment and equity exits. These investments have supported the creation of more than 8,200 new jobs. OCTANe annually welcomes more than 7,000 people to its signature events and programs. More than 2,000 business leaders throughout the region are OCTANe members. For more information, visit www.octaneoc.org.###Media Contact:Cara Parchment cara@octaneoc.org (949) 412-7671

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    Tech Ophthalmology Orange County

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