TECLens begins first-in-human trial of noninvasive vision correction technology

TECLens Inc. announced the treatment of the first patient in its first-in-human clinical trial evaluating the company’s quantitative corneal crosslinking (qCXL) technology for noninvasive refractive vision correction.¹ The study is designed to assess the safety and efficacy of a platform (CXLens system) intended to strengthen the cornea while reshaping it to improve vision, according to the company.¹

How the technology works

Unlike traditional surgical refractive procedures that involve cutting or removing corneal tissue, the technology uses patterned ultraviolet light to create new molecular bonds in targeted areas of the cornea.^1,2 These bonds strengthen the tissue and induce reshaping, offering a noninvasive approach to correct refractive errors. According to TECLens, the platform includes a proprietary treatment planning engine to design personalized correction plans and employs real-time ultrasound monitoring to ensure precise execution.¹

Perspectives on the trial

“This first-in-human trial represents a transformative moment not just for TECLens, but for the field of vision correction as a whole,” Thomas Dunlap, chief executive officer of TECLens, said in a prepared statement.¹ “We’re introducing an entirely new category in ophthalmology by bringing vision correction out of the operating room and into the exam room, without surgery. Our [technology] has the potential to expand treatment options for millions of patients as a first-line treatment for vision correction for both refractive errors and presbyopia.”

The trial will focus on patients with refractive errors, with particular emphasis on presbyopia, a condition affecting an estimated 2 billion people worldwide.¹ TECLens said the epithelium-on procedure can be performed in-office, offering flexibility for both patients and physicians.

“The initiation of human trials for TECLens’ [technology] marks a pivotal advancement in refractive surgery,” said Roy S. Chuck, MD, PhD, chairman, Department of Ophthalmology, Montefiore Einstein in Bronx, New York, and one of the pioneers of the foundational technologies behind TECLens. “For the first time, we have a refractive correction approach that is designed to both strengthen the cornea while improving vision. This novel approach represents a fundamental shift in how we think about treating refractive errors.”¹

Robert Ang, MD, head of cornea and refractive surgery at the Asian Eye Institute in Makati City, Philippines, added, “As someone who has been treating refractive errors for years, I’m particularly excited about the potential of [this] technology to expand our treatment capabilities, without disrupting our everyday practice. The ability to offer a noninvasive, in-office treatment that doesn’t remove tissue changes both the patient conversation and access to care. For [patients with] presbyopia especially, it opens the door to earlier interventions without closing off future options.”¹

References

1. First patient treated in TECLens first-in-human clinical study of revolutionary non-invasive vision correction technology. News release. February 24, 2026. Accessed February 25, 2026. https://teclens.com/first-patient-treated-in-teclens-first-in-human-clinical-study-of-revolutionary-non-invasive-vision-correction-technology/

2. TECLens quantitative corneal cross-linking (qCXL) debuted in the US for the first time. News release. November 4, 2025. Accessed February 25, 2026. https://teclens.com/teclens-quantitative-corneal-cross-linking-qcxl-debuted-in-the-u-s-for-the-first-time/