Ocumetics Bionic Lens: Development Updates and Facts

Author: Ian C. Langtree - Writer/Editor for Disabled World (DW)
Published: 7 Sep 2022 - Updated: 24 Aug 2026
Publication Type: News

Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - Overview - FAQs - Insights, Updates - Related Content

Synopsis

This report tracks the development of the Ocumetics Bionic Lens, an expandable accommodative intraocular lens that fits within the eye's natural lens compartment and works with the eye's own muscle activity to shift focus between near and distant objects without glasses or contacts. Created by Dr. Garth Webb through the Canadian firm Ocumetics Technology Corp., the technology aims to restore clear vision at all distances and to prevent cataracts by replacing the natural lens that degrades with age. The material draws its authority from dated company statements attributed to named officers, including CEO updates and the regulatory and medical leads overseeing preclinical work, and it lays out the staged testing path toward first in human trials in plain language. For seniors, people living with low vision, and anyone weighing cataract or refractive options, it offers a clear, chronological account of where this vision correction research actually stands rather than marketing claims, which makes it a useful reference for readers following advances in ophthalmology and eye care.

At a Glance

• 1 - Dr. Garth Webb brings over 40 years of optometry experience to the project. He coined the term "Human Visual Experience" to reframe how people view sight and virtual reality.
• 2 - Future concepts for the lens include slow drug delivery inside the eye. Other ideas involve sharing data with another lens wearer or projecting a smartphone screen through it.
• 3 - Preclinical studies for the retainer and optic element commenced on October 22, 2021, and were planned across three separate stages. Each component is treated as a stand-alone medical device that must be tested separately for regulatory approval.
• 4 - The company promotes the ambitious goal of vision three times sharper than 20/20 without glasses, even past age 100. Backers imagine reading a distant clock or sign clearly from 30 feet away rather than just 10 feet.

Topic Definition

Bionic Lens

The Bionic Lens is an expandable, accommodating artificial lens engineered to sit inside the eye's own capsular bag and replace the aging natural lens that stiffens and clouds over time. Rather than staying fixed like a conventional intraocular implant, it flexes in response to the ciliary muscle, letting the eye shift focus smoothly from near to far and deliver crisp vision at every distance without glasses or contacts. Developed by Dr. Garth Webb through Canada's Ocumetics Technology Corp., it is positioned as both a vision enhancement and a preventive technology, since swapping out the natural lens is meant to rule out the future formation of cataracts. As of the most recent updates it remains in preclinical development and has not yet reached first in human trials.

Overview

Imagine being able to see three times better than 20/20 vision without wearing glasses or contacts, even at 100-plus years old, with the help of bionic lenses implanted in your eyes. Imagine seeing the minor details from 30 feet away instead of only 10 feet, such as signs or the clock's time. Futuristic, but possible with the Ocumetics Bionic Lens™.

In 2012, Ocumetics Technology Corp., a Canadian-based research and product development company, was established to produce vision enhancement products and services through advanced refractive technologies invented and developed by Dr. Garth Webb.

Currently, Ocumetics is developing ground-breaking technological advancements for the ophthalmic industry through disruptive technological design in the Bionic Lens™. Its patented design may address many shortcomings of other surgeries and lens replacement options. The Bionic Lens™ is the first to help people recover normal vision at all viewing distances without requiring eyeglasses and lag time in focus.

Ocumetics is developing new lens technology, which is expected to efficiently link electrical impulses with the natural mechanisms for accommodation within the human eye. Through the Bionic Lens™, Ocumetics' goals of contributing to improving quality of life while ensuring that safety and efficacy remain central to every facet relevant to patient care are closer to being realized.

Webb says people with the specialized lenses surgically inserted would never get cataracts because their natural lenses, which decay over time, would have been replaced. He says the painless procedure, identical to cataract surgery, would take about eight minutes, and a patient's sight would be immediately corrected.

Other future possibilities for the Bionic Lens may include:

• Installing a slow drug delivery inside the eye.
• Sharing data with another person with a Bionic Lens.
• Using a projection system so you can view your smartphone screen through your Bionic Lens.

Human Eye Diagram

Bionic Lens Updates

August 24, 2026 : Ocumetics Completes $3.11 Million Financing

Ocumetics has completed the third and final tranche of its previously announced private placement, bringing total gross proceeds from the offering to $3,110,130.

The final tranche consisted of 405,000 units issued at $0.40 per unit for gross proceeds of $162,000.

This financing represents an important milestone for Ocumetics and positions the Company to advance the next stages of its clinical and regulatory program. Proceeds are expected to support:

• Continuing first-in-human clinical trials.
• Group Two surgeries planned for Mexico City this fall.
• Ongoing research and development and general working capital.
• Preparations for an FDA Investigational Device Exemption application targeted for early 2027.

"We are extremely excited to have achieved our financing target," said Dean Burns, President and CEO of Ocumetics. "The strong support from the investment community reflects growing confidence in the potential of our accommodating intraocular lens and the progress we are making toward bringing this technology to patients."

November 22, 2024 : Ocumetics Provides Update on Accommodative Intraocular Lens Internal Tests

Ocumetics Technology Corp. is pleased to provide an update on internal test results of its recently manufactured accommodative intraocular lenses ("AIOL").

During internal testing of lenses manufactured for its upcoming first in human ("FIH") trials, the design team identified an opportunity to improve the lens design to further enhance its performance and safety profile.

"During internal lab testing, we identified an opportunity to make important improvements to our AIOL design, without incurring significant costs or delays," says Dean Burns, President and CEO of Ocumetics. "Our commitment to excellence in ophthalmic technology dictates that we incorporate these design enhancements into the lens prior to FIH studies," adds Burns.

To manufacture the optimized lenses, Ocumetics must re-order raw materials, create new lens molds, and then manufacture the lenses. Thereafter, Ocumetics will perform final internal tests to ensure that safety, efficacy and regulatory standards are met or exceeded, in keeping with its quality assurance protocols. Currently, the company estimates this process will result in a 45 to 60-day delay in its previously estimated FIH surgery date.

"Moving a product from concept to first in human implantation of medical devices involves a rigorous, structured process to ensure safety, efficacy, and regulatory compliance," adds Burns. "It takes time to develop technologies aimed at restoring natural vision to millions of individuals affected by cataracts. Our commitment to excellence has improved the safety and quality of our lens beyond our original expectations, and we believe our work will result in an intraocular lens that sets new benchmarks in the industry."

May 18, 2022 : Ocumetics Update on the Status of Preclinical Studies for the Bionic Lens

Since January 2022, Ocumetics has been busy undertaking studies using cadaver donor eyes to determine how Ocumetics' optical technologies would fit in the human eye. These studies have led to design enhancements to perfect how the Bionic Lens conforms to the lens capsular bag of the human eye.

The studies, and resulting design enhancements, were supervised by Ocumetics' regulatory approval expert, Dr. Barbara Fant, Ocumetics' founder and Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Garth Webb, and Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Doyle Stulting.

"We are focused on perfecting the design of the lens technology before we begin the regulatory approval process, which we expect will begin shortly," said Dr. Barbara Fant.

Dr. Garth Webb added:

"We have been experimenting with different lens materials and combinations thereof to ensure we have optimized the quality of the optics and the accommodation levels we are seeking in the lens technology. We have also been experimenting with different lens injectors to ensure the ophthalmologist can maintain control of the injection process during surgery."

The ergonomics of installing the optical technologies has also been an emphasis over the past 4-6 weeks.

"We have received excellent feedback from the ophthalmologists performing the cadaver surgeries," says Dr. Doyle Stulting. "We have used this feedback to ensure that inserting the Bionic Lens into the eye is as easy and intuitive as possible. If ophthalmologists enjoy the surgical process of installing the Bionic Lens into the patient's eye, they are much more likely to recommend Ocumetics products to their patients."

"It has been a busy few months since our last update," said Ocumetics CEO, Dr. Mark Lee. "We could not be happier with the progress being made. Moreover, we remain on target for the first human study, the Proof of Concept, to begin later this fall. All-in-all, very encouraging news for our investors and the future users of Ocumetics' optical technologies."

January 10, 2022 : Ocumetics Update on the Status of Preclinical Studies for the Bionic Lens

The preclinical studies for the Bionic Lens, consisting of the lens retainer and the lens itself, commenced on October 22, 2021. The preclinical studies are planned in three stages:

"Our research team has planned three stages of preclinical studies to test the two components of the Bionic Lens technology - the retainer and the optic element," said Dr. Mark Lee, President & CEO of Ocumetics. "Each of these components is considered a stand-alone medical device, which will be tested separately to meet regulatory approval requirements."

"We are pleased with the learnings obtained from the first stage of our preclinical studies," adds Dr. Lee. "We obtained invaluable data from our Stage 1 work that we used to refine the design of the Bionic Lens technology to 1) enhance the functioning of the lens in the eye and 2) to streamline the Bionic Lens surgical procedure."

Successful preclinical studies will be followed by Phase 1 human clinical trials, starting with a planned Proof-of-Concept study in the Fall of 2022.

Ocumetics Technology Corp.

Ocumetics Technology Corp. is a Canadian research and product development company that specializes in adaptive lens designs. Ocumetics is in the preclinical study stage of a game-changing technology for the ophthalmic industry - the Bionic Lens. The Bionic Lens is an expandable intraocular lens that fits within the natural lens compartment of the eye, potentially eliminating the need for corrective lenses. It allows the eye's natural muscle activity to shift focus from distance to near.

Ocumetics is in the preclinical study stage of a game-changing technology for the ophthalmic industry. Ocumetics has developed an intraocular lens that fits within the natural lens compartment of the eye potentially to eliminate the need for corrective lenses. It is designed to allow the eye's natural muscle activity to shift focus from distance to near, providing clear vision at all distances without the help of glasses or contact lenses.

Dr. Garth Webb - Founder of Ocumetics Technology Corporation

Dr. Garth Webb has an inherent background in the science of sight. With over 40 years of optometry experience, Dr. Webb shifted his attention to product development and soon after became the sole innovator of the Bionic Lens. Coining the term "Human Visual Experience", he has completely changed the way people once viewed virtual reality through integration of basic science with physiological options and digital communications.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Bionic Lens require ongoing maintenance after implantation

The company has not published any routine maintenance requirements, and because it is still in development patients should ask an ophthalmologist about long term care once trials and approvals occur.

Can the Bionic Lens correct astigmatism

The available material focuses on shifting focus between near and far distances and does not confirm astigmatism correction, so this remains unclear until clinical data is released.

Is there an age limit for receiving the Bionic Lens

No specific age range has been announced, though the marketing highlights benefits even for people over 100 years old, and eligibility would ultimately be decided during clinical evaluation.

How long is the recovery time after the procedure

The company states sight would be corrected immediately and compares the eight minute procedure to cataract surgery, but detailed recovery timelines have not been formally published.

Will the Bionic Lens work in only one eye or both

The materials do not specify whether implantation is limited to one eye or performed in both, so this would depend on the surgeon and the eventual approved protocol.

Who invented the Bionic Lens

The Bionic Lens was invented by Dr. Garth Webb, an optometrist with more than four decades of experience who founded Ocumetics Technology Corp. in 2012.

Does the Bionic Lens need batteries or a power source

The design relies on the eye's own natural muscle activity to change focus, so it is not described as needing any external battery or power source.

Where can people follow official progress on the Bionic Lens

Official progress is shared through dated company statements from Ocumetics Technology Corp. attributed to named executives and regulatory leads overseeing the staged testing path.

Insights, Analysis, and Developments

Editorial Note: What sets this account apart is its honesty about timelines, since each update quietly resets expectations rather than overselling them, from the 2022 Proof of Concept target to the 2024 decision to redesign the lens before any human implantation. That candor matters because the potential audience is enormous - the millions affected by cataracts and age related focus loss who would gain the most from a lens that accommodates like a young, healthy eye. Readers should note the leadership continuity and change across the reports, with founder Dr. Garth Webb and a rotating slate of executives and regulatory experts steering the science, and they should treat the projected surgery dates as moving targets tied to raw material reorders, new molds, and repeated internal testing rather than fixed promises.

Author Credentials: Ian is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Disabled World, a leading resource for news and information on disability issues. With a global perspective shaped by years of travel and lived experience, Ian is a committed proponent of the Social Model of Disability-a transformative framework developed by disabled activists in the 1970s that emphasizes dismantling societal barriers rather than focusing solely on individual impairments. His work reflects a deep commitment to disability rights, accessibility, and social inclusion. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and accomplishments, visit his full biography.