Ocutech
Ocutech is a Chapel Hill, NC-based medical device company that designs and sells prescription bioptic telescopes and related low-vision aids, distributed exclusively through a global network of 533 registered eye care prescriber offices.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1984
- HeadquartersChapel Hill, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Ocutech does
Ocutech, Inc. is a Chapel Hill, North Carolina-based private corporation that designs and manufactures prescription bioptic telescope systems and related low-vision aids for individuals with impaired vision. The company's core technology is its trademarked Vision Enhancement System (VES), a Keplerian telescope-periscope optical design fitted to eyeglasses, offered across multiple form factors including the VES Falcon Autofocus, VES Sport-II, VES Explorer, VES K, and VES Mini (with the original VES II discontinued but supported with replacement parts). Adjacent product lines include the SightScope and Reveal series, the SideSight hemianopsia alert system, and Tunnel Vision aids, collectively addressing a range of low-vision conditions from macular degeneration to hemianopsia.
Ocutech firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ocutech
- Legal name
- Ocutech, Inc.
- Website
- https://ocutech.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1984
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Ocutech is a Chapel Hill, NC-based medical device company that designs and sells prescription bioptic telescopes and related low-vision aids, distributed exclusively through a global network of 533 registered eye care prescriber offices.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ocutech industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Low Vision Optical Devices
- NAICS
- Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing (339115), Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers (423460), Offices of Optometrists (62132), Electromedical and Electrotherapeutic Apparatus Manufacturing (334510)
- SIC
- Ophthalmic Goods (3851), Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841), Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Low Vision & Assistive Vision Devices (Magnifiers, Electronic Video Magnifiers, Wearable Vision Aids) (HLAHAJAN)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Pediatric Ophthalmology & Orthoptics Devices (Amblyopia Therapy, Strabismus Measurement & Treatment) (HLAHAJAM), Optical Dispensing & Eyewear Devices (Frames, Lenses, Lens Edging/Finishing Equipment) (HLAHAJAD)
Keywords
Where Ocutech is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chapel Hill
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Ocutech business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Bioptic Telescope Sales: Products sold exclusively through registered eye care professionals who prescribe and dispense to patients. Revenue generated from base device cost, customization charges for eyeglass prescriptions, eyepiece correction, special filters, and professional services associated with evaluation, prescribing, fitting and training.
- Accessories and Frames: Ocutech offers replacement carrier lenses, special filter colors, and compatible metal frame styles. Revenue from accessory sales through prescriber network.
- Diagnostic and Loaner Kits: Specially priced diagnostic systems for professionals to demonstrate products to patients. Revenue from initial equipment sales to prescribers establishing low vision practice capabilities.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Base Device Cost |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Customization Charges |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Professional Services |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Ocutech product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Ocutech manufactures and sells prescription-only bioptic telescope systems and related low vision optical devices for individuals with central vision loss, tunnel vision, and hemianopsia. Products are dispensed exclusively through registered eye care professionals who evaluate, prescribe, fit, and train patients on the devices. The portfolio spans Keplerian (VES series) and Galilean (SightScope, Reveal series) optical designs, autofocus systems, the SideSight hemianopsia alert device, and tunnel vision field-expanding aids, with powers ranging from 0.5x to 6x.
Product overview
Ocutech is a low vision aid company offering a comprehensive portfolio of bioptic telescope systems designed to help visually impaired individuals enhance their vision and independence. The product lineup includes two main optical technologies: Keplerian products (VES Falcon Autofocus, VES Sport-II, VES Explorer, VES K, VES Mini, and discontinued VES II) featuring wide field-of-view optics in 3x to 6x powers, and Galilean products (SightScope series and Reveal series) available in 0.5x to 2.2x powers. Ocutech also offers specialized solutions including the SideSight hemianopsia alert device and tunnel vision aids (Image Minifier, Field Viewer, Field Expander). All products are prescription-only, dispensed through registered eye care professionals. The company provides specialized frames and diagnostic kits as accessories to support the prescription and fitting process.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- VES (Vision Enhancing System): Ocutech's trademarked and patented technology for its innovative Keplerian optical design that combines a telescope and periscope into one optical assembly.
- SightScope
- SideSight
Products and services
- VES Falcon Autofocus An autofocus Keplerian bioptic telescope designed for children and adults with low vision, providing the most natural magnified vision possible with automatic focusing capability. Prescribed by low vision specialists.
- VES Sport-II A Keplerian-style bioptic telescope available in 4x, 5x, and 6x powers, providing the widest fields of view in high-power devices; 20% smaller and 10% lighter than the original Sport design.
- VES Explorer A manual focus Keplerian bioptic telescope available in 3x and 4x powers with wide field-of-view optics, weighing less than an ounce and designed for all-day comfortable wear.
- VES K A manual focus Keplerian bioptic telescope available in 3x and 4x powers with wide-field optics, providing edge-to-edge image sharpness in a small, lightweight design.
- VES Mini The smallest, lightest, widest-field Keplerian bioptic telescope available, half the size of traditional Keplerian telescopes, weighing less than an ounce, available in 3x power.
- SightScope An innovative Galilean telescope system with completely adjustable design providing the widest field of view possible, available in 1.7x and 2.2x powers with flip capability.
- SightScope 2 The modern design version of the SightScope providing the same optics in both 1.7x and 2.2x powers, can be prescribed for one or both eyes.
- SightScope NearView A Galilean telescope system designed specifically for near vision with magnification powers from 1.8x to 2.6x based on working distance, ideal for computer work and reading.
- Reveal InstaMount Series A quick, convenient method to attach a monocular Galilean telescope to the front of an eyeglass lens using self-adhesive flanges or magnetic clip-on frames.
- Reveal On & Off Bioptic A Galilean telescope system that allows the telescope to be easily removed when not needed, attached using magnetic clip-on frames.
- Reveal Traditional System Through-the-lens Galilean telescopes using sharp, crisp optics designed to be inserted through the carrier lens in the traditional manner.
- SideSight Hemianopsia Alert Device A discreet hemianopsia alert device that attaches to eyeglasses and alerts users to obstacles on their non-seeing side through gentle vibrations using motion detection; for individuals with hemianopsia, spatial neglect, or tunnel vision.
- Tunnel Vision Aids Visual field expanding aids including Image Minifier, Field Viewer, and Field Expander that make images smaller to enhance peripheral field awareness for individuals with tunnel vision.
- Ocutech Frames Three metal frame styles compatible with all Ocutech telescope products, specially designed to meet the demands of incorporating low vision aids.
- Diagnostic Kits Specially priced diagnostic kits that allow low vision specialists to demonstrate Ocutech Bioptic products to their patients, with options for customization.
Quantifiable outcome
- Vision improvement from 20/200 to 20/40 with bioptic glasses (individual user report)
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Ocutech
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Ocutech technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Ocutech partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Eschenbach (for Canada)coreEschenbach serves as the contact for Canadian prescribers seeking Ocutech products. [email protected] handles Canada-specific inquiries for prescriber referrals.
- Duke University Eye CenterminorDr. Diane Whitaker of Duke University discusses bioptics for driving and has been involved in educating patients about bioptic technology.
- OHSU Casey Eye InstituteminorOregon Health Sciences University Casey Eye Institute is a prescriber of Ocutech products and location in provider network.
- Emory University Eye CenterminorEmory University Eye Center offers Ocutech vision-enhancing systems to patients. Press releases indicate collaboration on low vision care.
- VA Medical CenterscoreVeterans Administration Medical Centers provide Ocutech products for their clients through VA Central Contract Registration System. Multiple VA locations listed in prescriber network.
- Optica Hammersley (Chile)minorChile-based low vision care provider featuring Ocutech products. Demonstrates Ocutech technology in Chile with Spanish-language content.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves1 record
Expansion highlights4 records
Ocutech competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- OrCam: Israeli maker of AI-powered wearable vision aids for blind and low vision users. Represents the emerging digital/AR alternative to traditional bioptic telescopes and could substitute for Ocutech's offerings in some use cases.
- IrisVision: VR/AR-based low vision assistive device startup. Targets the same low vision patient population but with a digital head-mounted approach, representing a potential technology shift away from traditional optical telescopes.
Direct peers
- Chadwick Optical: US specialty optics company producing custom low vision telescopes, prisms, and filters. Serves the same low vision specialist base with custom prescription optics.
- Low Vision International (LVI): Swedish low vision device manufacturer producing optical and electronic magnifiers and telescopes. Overlaps with Ocutech on Galilean and Keplerian-style optical aids and shares the same specialist prescribing model.
- Designs for Vision: US-based manufacturer of low vision optical aids including bioptic telescopes and surgical loupes. Overlaps directly with Ocutech's Keplerian and Galilean bioptic product lines serving the same low vision specialist channel.
- Optelec: Global low vision aids manufacturer offering magnifiers, CCTVs, and wearable devices. Directly comparable customer base (low vision specialists and patients) with overlapping but broader product portfolio.
- Beecher Optical: Specializes in custom bioptic telescopes and low vision devices. Direct head-to-head competitor in the prescription bioptic market, with similar dispensing through eye care professionals.
- Eschenbach Optik: German low vision specialist manufacturer of telescopes, magnifiers, and filters. Already Ocutech's channel partner for Canada, making it both a direct peer and a distributor overlap. Highly comparable on product category and customer base.
- Enhanced Vision: US-based maker of low vision electronic and optical devices including portable magnification and wearable solutions. Competes in the same prescriber channel with a tech-forward product mix.
Broad incumbents
- Humanware: Broader assistive technology company offering video magnifiers, Braille devices, and GPS for the visually impaired. Overlaps in target end-users (low vision patients) but leans more electronic than optical.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Ocutech social profiles
Digital presenceOcutech financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ocutech leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Ocutech funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ocutech 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 Ocutech
What does Ocutech do?
Ocutech manufactures and sells prescription-only bioptic telescope systems and related low vision optical devices for individuals with central vision loss, tunnel vision, and hemianopsia. Products are dispensed exclusively through registered eye care professionals who evaluate, prescribe, fit, and train patients on the devices. The portfolio spans Keplerian (VES series) and Galilean (SightScope, Reveal series) optical designs, autofocus systems, the SideSight hemianopsia alert device, and tunnel vision field-expanding aids, with powers ranging from 0.5x to 6x.
Is Ocutech a public or private company?
Ocutech is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Ocutech founded?
Ocutech was founded in 1984. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Ocutech based?
Ocutech is headquartered in Chapel Hill, United States, in the North America region.
How does Ocutech make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Bioptic Telescope Sales are the primary driver. The others are accessories and Frames and diagnostic and Loaner Kits.
Who are Ocutech's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are OrCam and IrisVision. Direct peers are Chadwick Optical, Low Vision International (LVI), Designs for Vision, Optelec, Beecher Optical, Eschenbach Optik and Enhanced Vision. Humanware is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Ocutech have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ocutech.
What industry is Ocutech in?
Ocutech's product category is Low Vision Optical Devices. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAHAJAN, Low Vision & Assistive Vision Devices (Magnifiers, Electronic Video Magnifiers, Wearable Vision Aids), with a secondary code of HLAHAJAM, Pediatric Ophthalmology & Orthoptics Devices (Amblyopia Therapy, Strabismus Measurement & Treatment). Its NAICS code is 339115 and its SIC code is 3851.