Startup Fights Screen Eyes with Smart Glasses

Excessive daily smartphone use, often exceeding three hours, is linked to numerous eye health problems like fatigue and blurred vision. Edenlux, a South Korean technology startup, is pioneering solutions for these digital-age ailments. Founder Sungyong Park, a medical doctor, was driven to create vision-enhancing technology after experiencing temporary paralysis of his eye muscles.

Edenlux is preparing to launch its second wellness device, Eyeary, in the U.S. market via Indiegogo, aiming for a late March launch. Unlike medical devices, Eyeary is classified under the FDA's wellness category, focusing on vision training and general eye health. This device follows their 2022 launch of Otus, a VR-style device that has generated $10 million in revenue.

Eyeary is designed to be more user-friendly and efficient than Otus, with Park claiming it could shorten the time to reduce dependence on reading glasses from 12 months to approximately six months. The glasses-like device features 144 diopter focal points for precise adjustments and connects to a mobile app. This app collects data, enabling Edenlux to use AI for predicting improvement timelines and customizing training programs.

The company's product line extends beyond visual recovery, including Tearmore for dry eye and Lumia for myopia prevention, with these and other devices slated for Asian rollouts. Edenlux has raised substantial funding, including $39 million in Series A and $60 million in Series B rounds, and has established a U.S. subsidiary in Dallas, Texas, for final assembly. They are also exploring potential technology integration partnerships with major tech firms.