What Mind-Eye Institute does

Mind-Eye Institute is a privately held neuro-optometric rehabilitation practice founded in the early 1990s by optometrist Deborah Zelinsky, O.D., and headquartered in Northbrook, Illinois. The institute treats children and adults with sensory and processing challenges — including autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, dyslexia, concussion, traumatic brain injury, PTSD, stroke, and behavioral disorders — by addressing how the retina (as brain tissue) processes light and how visual and auditory systems synchronize. Its core methodology is delivered through 3–4 hour comprehensive evaluations and personalized treatment plans, anchored by the patented Z-Bell Test (which measures visual-auditory synchronization) and Brainwear™ therapeutic eyewear (custom lenses that modify retinal light input to influence brain function).

The business operates on an out-of-network, cash-pay model: the institute does not bill insurance directly and instead provides superbills and CPT codes for patient reimbursement, supplemented by Care Credit financing (6–12 months) and a sliding-scale financial aid program. Revenue streams include clinical evaluation services, therapeutic eyewear and custom lenses, and ongoing follow-up care that extends over a 2–3 year treatment arc. The patient base is primarily direct-to-consumer, augmented by referrals from healthcare providers, schools, and Veteran Service Organizations, with marketing conducted through the website, social media, earned media, and free educational resources.

The institute is organized around several internal divisions — a clinical practice, the Mind-Eye Academy (training center), Mind-Eye Technology Center (product development), and Mind-Eye Research Division — and is building a "Mind-Eye Campus" / Clinics of Excellence to train additional optometrists in its proprietary methods. The practice serves both domestic and international patients, with non-U.S. patients typically flying in for periodic evaluations over multi-year treatment timelines. Leadership includes founder and Executive Director of Research Dr. Deborah Zelinsky, President Zemen S. Abebe, and Director James W. Smyth, supported by a team of approximately 15–20 staff including optometrists, rehabilitation specialists, patient advocates, technicians, and administrative personnel.

Name

Mind-Eye Institute

Legal name

Mind-Eye Institute

Website

https://mindeye.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Mind-Eye Institute is a privately held neuro-optometric rehabilitation practice in Northbrook, Illinois that treats sensory and processing challenges (autism, ADHD, TBI, concussion, PTSD, learning disorders) using patented diagnostic testing and custom therapeutic lenses.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation

NAICS

Offices of Optometrists (62132), Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing (339115)

SIC

Ophthalmic Goods (3851), Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827)

akta.pro primary industry

Vision Therapy & Orthoptics (HLAKAKAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Low Vision Rehabilitation (HLAKAKAJ), Optometry Clinics (Primary Eye Care) (HLAKAKAB)

Keywords

• Neuro-optometric rehabilitation
• Sensory integration therapy
• Therapeutic eyewear
• Visual processing assessment
• Brain injury rehabilitation

Headquarters

HQ city

Northbrook

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Clinical Evaluation Services: Comprehensive neuro-optometric evaluations lasting 3-4 hours that assess visual processing, eye-ear coordination, and sensory integration. Initial evaluations conducted in-person at the Northbrook clinic.
2. Therapeutic Eyewear and Lenses: Prescription Brainwear therapeutic eyewear, custom filters, and tinted lenses prescribed based on evaluation findings. Patients may require multiple lens changes over the course of treatment.
3. Follow-up Care and Rehabilitation: Ongoing follow-up appointments over 2-3 years with patients returning 2-3 times per year for updated evaluations and prescription changes. Treatment can extend 2-3 years or longer depending on condition.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Mind-Eye Institute provides neuro-optometric rehabilitation services, conducting comprehensive 3-4 hour sensory integration evaluations and prescribing custom Brainwear™ Therapeutic Eyewear lenses that modify retinal light input to influence brain function. The practice uses the patented Z-Bell Test℠ to measure visual-auditory synchronization, along with Targeted Retinal Stimulation (syntonics), to treat patients with autism, ADHD, dyslexia, concussion, TBI, PTSD, and related sensory and processing challenges. Services are delivered at the Northbrook, Illinois clinic with periodic follow-up appointments over a typical 2-3 year treatment span.

Product overview

The Mind-Eye Institute offers a suite of neuro-optometric rehabilitation products and services centered on sensory integration therapy. The core offerings include Brainwear™ Therapeutic Eyewear (custom lenses that modify light input to the retina), the patented Z-Bell Test℠ diagnostic tool for measuring eye-ear synchronization, and Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation programs. These are supplemented by Targeted Retinal Stimulation (light-based neuromodulation) and supported by the Mind-Eye Academy (training center), Mind-Eye Technology Center (product development), and Mind-Eye Research Division. The approach addresses conditions including ADHD, dyslexia, autism, concussion/TBI, and behavioral disorders by improving how the brain processes visual and auditory information.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Brainwear™: Therapeutic eyewear brand featuring custom lenses that modify retinal light input to improve brain function and sensory processing.
• Z-Bell Test℠

Products and services

• Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation A comprehensive sensory integration treatment program that assesses and strengthens coordination between visual, auditory, and motor systems. Includes personalized strategies and exercises to rebuild brain pathways disrupted by injury or developmental conditions, with 3-4 hour initial evaluations followed by ongoing follow-up over 2-3 years.
• Z-Bell Test℠ Patented diagnostic test measuring the synchronization between visual processing and auditory localization. The patient closes their eyes and reaches toward a bell sound to assess eye-ear integration and spatial awareness, with results used to prescribe therapeutic lenses balancing central and peripheral vision.
• Brainwear™ Therapeutic Eyewear Custom prescription therapeutic glasses and lenses that modify how light enters the eyes, targeting peripheral retinal processing to calm sensory overload, improve brain efficiency, and synchronize visual-auditory processing. Prescribed as the primary intervention tool following neuro-optometric evaluation, with multiple lens changes typically required over the 2-3 year treatment course.
• Targeted Retinal Stimulation Light-based neuromodulation techniques including syntonics and other phototherapy methods that retrain how the brain processes sensory signals, improving timing and integration between visual and auditory systems.

Quantifiable outcome

• 94% of retinal input comes from the periphery, which strongly impacts focus, energy, and attention
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Hope for HIEminorOthersDr. Deborah Zelinsky serves on the medical advisory board of Hope for HIE (Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy), providing expertise in visual processing and neuro-optometric rehabilitation for the HIE community.
• Society for Brain Mapping (SBMT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Deborah Zelinsky serves as a board member of the Society for Brain Mapping, contributing to and collaborating on research in the field of brain mapping and neural interfaces. This partnership supports the institute's research and development efforts.
• Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association (NORA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Zelinsky holds fellowship status in NORA. The organization focuses on development and advancement of neuro-optometric rehabilitation. Affiliation provides credibility and collaborative opportunities in the field.
• College of Optometrists in Vision Development (COVD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Zelinsky holds fellowship status in COVD. The organization promotes professional excellence in developmental vision care. Affiliation provides professional credentials and collaborative research opportunities.
• International Brain Mapping Foundation (IBMF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured partner organization shown on Veterans page, supporting the institute's mission to advance brain mapping and neuro-optometric research.
• American Optometric Association (AOA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional association representing optometrists in the US. Featured as a partner organization, indicating alignment with professional standards and community.
• Optometric Extension Program FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional organization focused on advancing the science and practice of optometry through research and education. Featured as a partner organization.
• Care CreditminorOthersFinancing partner providing payment plan options (6-12 months) for patients to manage costs of evaluation and treatment services.
• Veteran Service Organizations (VSOs)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorReferral partnerships with Veteran Service Organizations for directing veterans with TBI and PTSD to the institute's services. Multiple veteran-specific success stories on website.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Padula Institute of Vision Rehabilitation: Neuro-optometric rehabilitation practice led by Dr. William Padula, focused on visual processing and TBI recovery using therapeutic lenses. Closest direct competitor in neuro-optometric rehabilitation methodology and lens-based interventions.
• Cognitive FX: Provo, UT clinic specializing in concussion and mild TBI treatment using multidisciplinary neuro-rehabilitation. Comparable as a destination clinic for post-concussion and TBI patients seeking non-traditional therapies.
• WOW Vision Therapy: Vision therapy practice network delivering developmental and neuro-optometric vision therapy. Comparable as a multi-location vision therapy provider using therapeutic lenses and in-clinic treatment programs.
• Spectrios Institute for Low Vision: Illinois-based vision rehabilitation center providing low vision services and adaptive techniques. Comparable to Mind-Eye's vision rehabilitation services for patients with neurological and visual processing challenges.
• Plasticity Brain Centers: Orlando-based clinic treating post-concussion syndrome, TBI, and neurological conditions using neuro-rehabilitation techniques. Directly comparable to Mind-Eye's neuro-optometric rehabilitation approach for brain injury and recovery patients.

Broad incumbents

• Lighthouse Guild: National nonprofit providing comprehensive vision rehabilitation, behavioral health, and vision loss services. Larger, broader-scope organization with overlapping vision rehabilitation and assistive services for visually and neurologically impaired populations.

Others

• Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association (NORA): Professional association of clinicians practicing neuro-optometric rehabilitation. Mind-Eye's founder is a NORA fellow, and NORA's membership largely consists of independent practitioners offering similar services, making them ecosystem peers rather than direct competitors.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/mindeyeconnect
• Facebookfacebook.com/mindeyeinstitute
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mindeye

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Mind-Eye Institute