Have you ever heard the phrase “can’t see straight”? Turns out, many people actually have this problem. According to the National Institutes of Health, up to 5% of people worldwide have improperly aligned eyesight—a condition known as strabismus. One eye may look straight ahead, while the other aims slightly inward, outward, up, or down. An even higher percentage of people suffer from computer vision syndrome—digital eye strain caused by prolonged use of digital devices.

Today Coppell-based Neurolens announced a milestone in alleviating the symptoms caused by these conditions, seven months after raising $67 million to fund the company’s growth.

Founded in 2012, Neurolens developed eyeglass lenses with a patented Contoured Prism design that help the eyes work together comfortably, bringing the eyes into alignment and avoiding symptoms such as headaches, eye strain, and neck pain. 

Today the company announced that its Neurolens Measurement Device—an eye-tracking system that can identify eye misalignment as small as 0.01 Prism Diopters—recently measured the vision of its one millionth patient. The milestone measurement was performed at Broadway Eye Clinic, a Vision Source Practice in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Neurolens says its technology is only available to independent eye care providers.

Neurolens: ‘At least 2/3 of people’ experience eye misalignment symptoms

While up to 5% of people may have strabismus, Neurolens says that far more can struggle with symptoms caused by prolonged near-focusing on things like phones, tablets, and computer screens.

“At least 2/3 of people experience the symptoms of eye misalignment, and that number grows as we shift to remote working and learning,” the company says on its website. “Even small misalignments can cause painful symptoms, and even small prism corrections can provide dramatic relief,” the company adds.

Company has seen ‘tenfold growth’ in last three years

[Image: Nuerolens]

“While we have grown tenfold in the past three years, the unmet patient need remains massive,” Neurolens CEO Pierre Bertrand said in a statement. “Today we celebrate our one-millionth patient measured, a huge milestone for the organization. But with 80% of consumers experiencing symptoms of eyestrain according to The Vision Council’s recent report FocusedinSights: Digital Habits 2022, we’re excited to continue bringing solutions to independent optometry to meet their needs. We are, first and foremost, in the business of patient outcomes.”

Remote working and learning have led to ‘record numbers of patients’ complaining of symptoms

The company says that since remote working and learning skyrocketed during the pandemic, “optometrists have reported record numbers of patients experiencing the symptoms of eye misalignment such as headaches, eye strain, and neck pain.” Other symptoms of the condition can include motion sickness and dry eye sensation.

Neurolens says that its Neurolenses “have been proven to alleviate these symptoms for over 93% of patients.”

$67 million raised in September 2022

Last September, Neurolens raised $67 million in a funding round from MVM Partners, Falcon Vision/KKR, Marshall Wace, and existing investors.

That raise came a month after Inc. Magazine recognized Neurolens as the 28th fastest-growing healthcare company on its annual Inc. 5000 list.

And the Inc. ranking came just weeks after a study revealed that “after seven days of lens wear, the average improvement in reading speed with Neurolenses was almost 70% higher than the improvement seen with other premium lens designs,” according to the company.

Oh—and that patient in Salt Lake City who got the one-millionth measurement? The company says they’re getting a free clear pair and free sun pair of Neurolenses.

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