CorneaGen

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.

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

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

• Corneal tissue processing
• Eye banking services
• Corneal transplant tissue
• Ophthalmic surgical devices
• Keratoconus treatment

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core 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

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ziemer USAcoreTechnology or Integration · 11 November 2021Partnership 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 BiotechcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorneaGen 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 MinnesotaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundational 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 MedicalminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner 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 BiotechcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner listed on CorneaGen's Our Partners page. CorneaGen established Aurion Biotech as an independent business unit for cell therapy development.
• Donate LifecoreOthersPartner listed on CorneaGen's Our Partners page. Donate Life is a national donor registry and education organization essential to CorneaGen's tissue supply chain.
• GeudercoreTechnology or IntegrationPartner 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 MedicineminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner 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

Direct 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

• Xx.com/CorneaGen_
• Facebookfacebook.com/CorneaGen

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors4 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CorneaGen