Smartlens raises $5.2M in funding to revolutionize glaucoma care with world’s first electronics-free smart contact lens

For millions living with glaucoma, vision loss often creeps in silently — not from lack of treatment, but from lack of visibility. Eye pressure, the key indicator of disease progression, fluctuates throughout the day, yet doctors still rely on single measurements taken in clinics. Those missed pressure spikes can mean the difference between preserving sight and losing it forever. Now, clinical-stage ophthalmic startup Smartlens is stepping in to change that.

Smartlens isn’t just building another medical device — it’s rethinking how glaucoma is monitored and treated. The Silicon Valley-based ophthalmic technology startup has closed a $5.2 million oversubscribed bridge round led by Ambit Health Ventures, with participation from Graphene Ventures, Boutique Venture Partners, Harvard Business School Alumni Angels GNY, and a network of leading eye care providers. The funding will accelerate FDA clearance and prepare the company for commercial launch once approval is granted.

With $5.2 Million in Funding, HealthTech Startup Smartlens Aims to Redefine Glaucoma Management with AI-Enabled Contact Lens

At the heart of Smartlens’ innovation is miLens, a first-of-its-kind, electronics-free contact lens that continuously monitors intraocular pressure (IOP). Instead of relying on infrequent clinical readings, miLens tracks real-world eye pressure changes around the clock. The contact lens works in sync with Smartlens’ AI-powered smartphone imaging platform, turning raw readings into actionable insights that help ophthalmologists make data-based treatment decisions.

“This financing milestone strengthens our position as we advance through the FDA clearance process and prepare for commercialization,” said Savas Komban, CEO and Co-Founder of Smartlens, Inc. “We’re laying the foundation for the next generation of glaucoma management—one driven by continuous, data-based insight rather than intermittent snapshots.”

The company has already made meaningful progress. Its ongoing multi-site U.S. pivotal trial has shown encouraging results, while manufacturing and regulatory readiness are well underway. In an independent survey of 166 ophthalmic practitioners conducted by Market Scope, more than 96% said they plan to adopt miLens once it becomes available — a sign of both market need and practitioner enthusiasm.

Glaucoma and ocular hypertension together affect more than 180 million people worldwide and remain the leading cause of irreversible blindness. Since elevated intraocular pressure is the only modifiable risk factor, continuous monitoring could reshape glaucoma care by enabling early intervention and personalized therapy.

Sam Goldberger, MD, MBA, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Ambit Health Ventures, said, “Smartlens continues to make impressive progress with its technology, and miLens is a true leap forward in ophthalmic innovation. We are proud to lead this strategic round as the company advances through the FDA clearance process, positioning Smartlens not just for commercial launch, but to redefine continuous glaucoma monitoring and transform patient care worldwide.”

Smartlens’ microfluidic lens fits into a patient’s daily routine without electronics, batteries, or external hardware. By feeding continuous IOP data into its AI-driven analytics platform, the company aims to give ophthalmologists a more complete picture of disease behavior — one that could prevent irreversible damage before it starts.

Founded to reshape anterior segment disease management, Smartlens combines microfluidic lens technology with AI-based diagnostics to deliver real-time insights for glaucoma and beyond. If successful, it could turn one of medicine’s most reactive specialties into one guided by continuous, predictive care, giving doctors something they’ve never truly had before: a real-time window into the eye.