HOYA Surgical Optics (HSO), the fastest growing intraocular lens (IOL) company in the world, launched its new global R&D centre in Singapore on Tuesday, 16 January 2018. This is HSO’s first R&D centre outside of Japan, and will focus on upstream research as well as the development of new products and technologies in IOL that will help effectively treat the growing burden of cataracts. 

Intraocular lenses are artificial lenses used to treat cataracts by replacing the eye’s natural lenses during surgery. According to the World Health Organization, cataract is the leading cause of blindness worldwide, and the second-most common cause of moderate to severe vision impairment. Based on data from Singapore Health Services, more than 80 per cent of people above 60 years old in Singapore have some form of cataract, with more than 30,000 related procedures carried out every year.

HSO’s new facility comes in line with Singapore’s five-year R&D funding plan Research, Innovation and Enterprise 2020 (RIE 2020). S$4 billion has been allocated to biomedical research, of which ophthalmology is one of the focus areas.