CorneaGen
CorneaGen is a Seattle-based for-profit eye bank and ophthalmic device company that processes and distributes donor corneal tissue and manufactures surgical instruments for corneal surgeons performing transplantation and keratoconus procedures at U.S. hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersSeattle, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What CorneaGen does
CorneaGen is a Seattle-based for-profit eye bank and ophthalmic surgical products company that processes, preserves, and distributes donated corneal tissue and manufactures proprietary surgical instruments for corneal surgeons. Founded in 2016 as a spinoff of the nonprofit SightLife (which traces its lineage to the 1969 Northwest Lions Eye Bank), CorneaGen operates eight regional laboratories across the United States and serves corneal surgeons at hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), and academic medical centers. The company self-describes as the world's leading eye bank and reports that its technicians have processed more than 150,000 corneas.
The company's core technology centers on advanced tissue processing methods — including gamma-irradiation sterilization at a sterility assurance level of 10⁻⁶, femtosecond laser cutting via the Ziemer LDV Z8 and Neo Z8 platforms, and proprietary preservation formulations including an Amphotericin B antifungal additive at 2.50 µg/ml concentration. CorneaGen offers a portfolio covering the full corneal transplantation spectrum: DSAEK (including Nano-Thin under 60 microns and Ultra-Thin under 100 microns), DMEK (including a pre-loaded format in a Geuder Glass Cannula), PKP, ALK/DALK, FLAK, BrightMEM anterior keratoplasty, sclera patches, and the CTAK (Corneal Tissue Addition Keratoplasty) procedure for keratoconus introduced in 2024. Surgical devices include the FDA-cleared EndoSerter-PL single-use graft inserter, EndoSerter, DescePro System, and precision Donor and Recipient Trephines. The VisionGraft product line provides sterile, gamma-irradiated, non-immunogenic cross-linked cornea tissue for corneal and glaucoma applications, reportedly used in 100,000+ to 140,000+ ocular surgeries.
CorneaGen generates revenue through transaction fees on corneal tissue processed and distributed (billed via HCPCS code V2785 at invoice cost as Medicare pass-through), hardware sales of single-use disposable surgical devices, and one-time payments for patient-specific sterile tissue products including CTAK inlays. The company sells and distributes direct to surgeons through a dedicated field sales team (Surgical Product Specialists), a Surgeon Portal for online ordering, and its regional lab network enabling same-day or day-of-surgery delivery. Key customers include Wills Eye Hospital, Duke University Eye Center, Cincinnati Eye Institute, Wake Forest University Eye Center, and Minnesota Eye Consultants. The company maintains FDA registration, EBAA accreditation, ISO 13485 certification, CE Mark, multi-state tissue bank licenses, and Health Canada CTO registration. Aurion Biotech, established as an independent cell-therapy-focused business unit in 2021, has subsequently raised more than $100M from outside investors to develop endothelial cell therapy. CorneaGen is led by President & CEO Bernie Iliakis, who was promoted to President in March 2021.
CorneaGen firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CorneaGen
- Legal name
- CorneaGen
- Website
- https://corneagen.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- CorneaGen is a Seattle-based for-profit eye bank and ophthalmic device company that processes and distributes donor corneal tissue and manufactures surgical instruments for corneal surgeons performing transplantation and keratoconus procedures at U.S. hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CorneaGen industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Ophthalmic Corneal Tissue and Surgical Devices
- NAICS
- Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing (339115), Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers (423460), Blood and Organ Banks (621991)
- SIC
- Ophthalmic Goods (3851), Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841), Services-Medical Laboratories (8071)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Cornea & External Disease Surgical Devices (Keratoplasty Tools, Cross-Linking Systems, Amniotic Membrane Delivery) (HLAHAJAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Cornea, External Disease & Refractive Surgery (LASIK/PRK) (HLAKAKAF), Ophthalmology Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAK)
Keywords
Where CorneaGen is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Seattle
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices8 records
Markets served
CorneaGen business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Corneal Tissue Processing and Distribution: Core business generating revenue through processing, preserving, and distributing donated corneal tissue for transplantation. Revenue derived from processing fees and tissue acquisition costs billed to hospitals and ASCs using HCPCS code V2785. Tissue is sold as pass-through at invoice cost for Medicare reimbursement purposes.
- Surgical Products: Sale of proprietary surgical instruments and devices including EndoSerter, EndoSerter-PL, Geuder Glass Cannula, Donor Trephine Punch, Recipient Vacuum Trephine, and DescePro System. Products are single-use disposable devices sold to corneal surgeons.
- CTAK Tissue Inlays: Custom laser-cut corneal tissue inlays for Corneal Tissue Addition Keratoplasty procedure. Revenue generated from patient-specific tissue processing and customization services.
- Sterile Tissue Products: Gamma-irradiated sterile corneal tissue (VisionGraft, Sclera patches) and CTAK inlays. Revenue from these processed tissue products with extended shelf life and ready-to-use characteristics.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Corneal tissue billed at invoice cost via V2785 code |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | VisionGraft reimbursement under CPT codes 66180 and 66185 |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
CorneaGen product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CorneaGen is the world's leading eye bank, processing and distributing donated human corneal tissue for transplantation (DMEK, DSAEK, PKP, ALK/DALK, FLAK, BrightMEM, Sclera) to hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, and corneal surgeons across the United States. The company complements its tissue portfolio with sterile tissue products (VisionGraft, CTAK inlays) and proprietary single-use surgical instruments (EndoSerter-PL, EndoSerter, Geuder Glass Cannula, DescePro System, trephines), along with reimbursement support, surgeon education, and wet lab training services.
Product overview
CorneaGen operates as the world's leading eye bank providing a comprehensive portfolio of corneal transplant tissue products, surgical instruments, and the innovative CTAK procedure. The core offering includes various corneal tissue types (DSAEK, DMEK, PKP, ALK, FLAK, BrightMEM, Sclera) processed to surgeon specifications, supplemented by sterile tissue products like VisionGraft for glaucoma and corneal applications. Surgical instruments include the EndoSerter-PL and EndoSerter for DSEK insertion, Geuder Glass Cannula for DMEK, DescePro System, and precision trephines. The flagship CTAK procedure offers patient-specific laser-cut corneal inlays for keratoconus treatment. Additional offerings include Ampho B antifungal additive and comprehensive reimbursement and education services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- CTAK: Corneal Tissue Addition Keratoplasty - An innovative solution for keratoconic eyes using patient-specific, laser-cut tissue inlays that are gamma-irradiated for sterility.
- VisionGraft
- BrightMEM
- EndoSerter-PL
- Nano-Thin DSAEK
- CTAK International
Products and services
- CTAK (Corneal Tissue Addition Keratoplasty) Patient-ready, gamma-irradiated sterile, non-immunogenic donated corneal tissue inlays that are laser-cut and customized to patients' specific severity and cone location for keratoconus treatment, processed with the Ziemer Z8 femtosecond laser.
- DMEK (Descemet's Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty) Tissue Corneal transplant tissue prepared to surgeon specifications for DMEK procedures, offering quicker recovery times and better visual acuity compared to traditional transplantation.
- DSAEK (Descemet's Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty) Tissue Corneal transplant tissue processed with customizable thickness (including Nano-Thin under 60 microns and Ultra-Thin under 100 microns), age range, and cell count specifications.
- PKP (Penetrating Keratoplasty) Tissue Standard full-thickness corneal grafts offered based on surgeon predetermined tissue criteria specifications.
- ALK/DALK (Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty / Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty) Tissue Partial-thickness anterior stromal grafts that can be pre-cut upon request or provided for surgeon preparation at time of surgery.
- FLAK (Femtosecond Laser Assisted Keratoplasty) Tissue Precisely cut corneal tissue using the IntraLase femtosecond laser, available in zig-zag, top hat, and mushroom tissue shapes for various corneal transplant indications.
- BrightMEM (Anterior Keratoplasty) Surgical procedure utilizing a corneal allograft to improve ocular surface conditions, encouraging durable regeneration of the corneal epithelium with permanent basement membrane (type IV collagen) promoting corneal epithelial adhesion and re-epithelialization.
- Sclera Tissue
Quantifiable outcome
- 100% of CTAK clinical trial patients had improved UDVA
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use CorneaGen
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
CorneaGen technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
CorneaGen partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Ziemer USAcorePartnership announced November 2021 for Ziemer USA's partnership with CorneaGen. Ziemer provides the LDV Z8 and Neo Z8 femtosecond laser platforms used for CTAK procedure tissue preparation and processing.
- Aurion BiotechcoreCorneaGen established Aurion Biotech as an independent business unit to drive cell therapy technology for endothelial disease. After early clinical research demonstrated safety and efficacy, Aurion Biotech raised more than $100M from outside investors and is driving the technology toward clinical trials and commercialization.
- Lions Gift of Sight at University of MinnesotaminorFoundational technology behind BrightMEM was developed by Lions Gift of Sight at the University of Minnesota in Saint Paul, MN. Technology licensed and commercialized through CorneaGen.
- Melling MedicalminorPartner listed on CorneaGen's Our Partners page. Melling Medical is a service-disabled veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB) providing medical supplies to federal healthcare facilities.
- Aurion BiotechcorePartner listed on CorneaGen's Our Partners page. CorneaGen established Aurion Biotech as an independent business unit for cell therapy development.
- Donate LifecorePartner listed on CorneaGen's Our Partners page. Donate Life is a national donor registry and education organization essential to CorneaGen's tissue supply chain.
- GeudercorePartner listed on CorneaGen's Our Partners page. Geuder is a German medical technology company that manufactures the Geuder Glass Cannula used for DMEK procedures, distributed by CorneaGen.
- Baylor College of MedicineminorPartner listed on CorneaGen's Our Partners page. Baylor College of Medicine is a medical school and research institution in Houston, TX with cornea fellowship programs.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves11 records
Expansion highlights6 records
CorneaGen competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Eversight: One of the largest US eye bank networks providing corneal tissue processing and distribution to surgeons. Directly comparable to CorneaGen as a fellow EBAA-accredited, multi-state eye bank competing for the same hospital, ASC, and surgeon customers.
- Miracles In Sight: Nonprofit eye bank with regional labs across the US providing fresh and preserved corneal tissue for transplantation. Operates an analogous tissue-processing-and-distribution model and competes for surgeon adoption.
- KeraLink International: Eye bank focused on corneal tissue recovery, processing, and distribution with international placement. Directly comparable mission, business model, and customer base to CorneaGen.
- Advancing Sight Network: Nonprofit eye bank (formerly Alabama Eye Bank) providing corneal and scleral tissue to surgeons across the southeastern US. Comparable EBAA-accredited, regional-lab-based operating model.
- Lions Eye Institute for Transplant and Research: Tampa-based nonprofit eye bank providing ocular tissue for transplantation and research. Comparable EBAA-accredited model and customer base; a likely regional competitor to CorneaGen's Florida operations.
Broad incumbents
- SightLife: Nonprofit parent of CorneaGen and global eye health organization. Operates complementary international programs in corneal blindness elimination; functions as a parent/incumbent in the broader eye-bank space.
Emerging players
- Aurion Biotech: Cell-therapy company spun out of CorneaGen in 2021, developing a cell therapy for corneal endothelial disease. Has raised $100M+ and is the most credible emerging alternative to traditional DMEK/DSAEK transplantation that CorneaGen's core business depends on.
Others
- Geuder AG: German medical device company that manufactures the Geuder Glass Cannula distributed by CorneaGen for DMEK. Functions as a technology supplier and partner rather than a competitor, but a meaningful adjacent player in the corneal surgery device ecosystem.
- Ziemer Ophthalmic Systems: Swiss manufacturer of femtosecond laser platforms (LDV Z8, GALILEI) used for CTAK tissue preparation. A critical technology partner; while not a direct competitor, controls a key dependency in CorneaGen's premium CTAK product.
Regional players
- Tissue Banks International (Banc d'Ojos / TBI): Long-established eye banking organization (now part of operated network) with multi-state tissue recovery and distribution. Comparable service offering and EBAA-accredited model; competes for surgeon relationships in overlapping US regions.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
CorneaGen social profiles
Digital presenceCorneaGen compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
CorneaGen financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CorneaGen leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
CorneaGen subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
CorneaGen funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors4 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CorneaGen M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CorneaGen
What does CorneaGen do?
CorneaGen is the world's leading eye bank, processing and distributing donated human corneal tissue for transplantation (DMEK, DSAEK, PKP, ALK/DALK, FLAK, BrightMEM, Sclera) to hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, and corneal surgeons across the United States. The company complements its tissue portfolio with sterile tissue products (VisionGraft, CTAK inlays) and proprietary single-use surgical instruments (EndoSerter-PL, EndoSerter, Geuder Glass Cannula, DescePro System, trephines), along with reimbursement support, surgeon education, and wet lab training services.
Is CorneaGen a public or private company?
CorneaGen is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was CorneaGen founded?
CorneaGen was founded in 2016. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is CorneaGen based?
CorneaGen is headquartered in Seattle, United States, in the North America region.
How does CorneaGen make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Corneal Tissue Processing and Distribution is the primary driver. The others are surgical Products, CTAK Tissue Inlays and sterile Tissue Products.
Who are CorneaGen's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Eversight, Miracles In Sight, KeraLink International, Advancing Sight Network and Lions Eye Institute for Transplant and Research. SightLife is listed as a broad incumbent. Aurion Biotech is listed as an emerging player. Others are Geuder AG and Ziemer Ophthalmic Systems. Tissue Banks International (Banc d'Ojos / TBI) is listed as a regional player.
Does CorneaGen have an API?
No public API is recorded for CorneaGen.
What industry is CorneaGen in?
CorneaGen's product category is Ophthalmic Corneal Tissue and Surgical Devices. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAHAJAK, Cornea & External Disease Surgical Devices (Keratoplasty Tools, Cross-Linking Systems, Amniotic Membrane Delivery), with a secondary code of HLAKAKAF, Cornea, External Disease & Refractive Surgery (LASIK/PRK). Its NAICS code is 339115 and its SIC code is 3851.