Brien Holden Vision Institute
BHVI is an Australian not-for-profit R&D organization that invents, patents, and licenses innovative contact lens, spectacle lens, and intraocular lens designs to global ophthalmic manufacturers, while providing free clinical tools (Myopia Calculator) and consensus guidelines to eye care professionals worldwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1985
- HeadquartersSydney, Australia
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Brien Holden Vision Institute does
Brien Holden Vision Institute (BHVI) is a not-for-profit research and development organization incorporated in Australia in 1985 as the Institute for Eye Research and renamed BHVI in 2010. It invents, prototypes, and licenses patented designs for contact lenses, spectacle lenses (including Extended Depth of Focus and myopia control designs using laterally separated optics), and intraocular lenses to market-leading ophthalmic manufacturers. The organization operates two wholly owned subsidiaries, Vision CRC Limited (Australia) and Vision CRC (USA) Inc., which manage intellectual property and technology transfer to industry partners. Patents are granted across more than 14 jurisdictions including the US, Australia, China, Japan, Korea, and the EU.
BHVI's revenue is generated primarily through licensing royalties on its lens design patents, with cumulative R&D reinvestment exceeding AUD 265 million since inception. The organization also operates the free Myopia Calculator — a globally used clinical tool with three calculators (refractive error progression, axial length, myopia onset prediction) accessed by tens of thousands of practitioners monthly — and founded the International Myopia Institute (IMI), which produces consensus white papers and clinical guidelines adopted across the eye care profession. Its go-to-market combines OEM-style IP licensing to enterprise manufacturers with product-led growth via the free Myopia Calculator, supplemented by an annual Myopia Awareness Week campaign in partnership with Review of Myopia Management.
The organization is governed by a Board chaired by Dr Howard Purcell (since October 2023), with CEO Yvette Waddell and Head of Technology Dr Arthur Back leading a 101-250 person scientific and operational team. End customers split between ophthalmic industry partners licensing patented designs and eye care professionals worldwide using BHVI's clinical tools, with the ultimate beneficiary being patients — including children at risk of myopia progression, in a market projected to reach 50% of the global population by 2050.
Brien Holden Vision Institute firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Brien Holden Vision Institute
- Legal name
- Brien Holden Vision Institute (ABN 49 081 303 282)
- Website
- https://bhvi.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1985
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- BHVI is an Australian not-for-profit R&D organization that invents, patents, and licenses innovative contact lens, spectacle lens, and intraocular lens designs to global ophthalmic manufacturers, while providing free clinical tools (Myopia Calculator) and consensus guidelines to eye care professionals worldwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Brien Holden Vision Institute industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Ophthalmic Lens Design and Myopia Research
- NAICS
- Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing (339115)
- SIC
- Ophthalmic Goods (3851)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Contact Lenses & Care Systems (Soft/RGP/Scleral Lenses; Cleaning/Disinfection Solutions) (HLAHAJAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Optical Dispensing & Eyewear Devices (Frames, Lenses, Lens Edging/Finishing Equipment) (HLAHAJAD), Cataract Surgery Systems & IOLs (Phaco Systems, IOLs, Intraoperative Aberrometry, Viscoelastics) (HLAHAJAH), Contact Lens Specialty & Myopia Control (HLAKAKAK)
Keywords
Where Brien Holden Vision Institute is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sydney
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices1 record
Markets served
Brien Holden Vision Institute business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Others
Revenue model
- Patent and Design Licensing: BHVI licenses its patented lens designs (contact lenses, spectacle lenses, and intraocular lenses) to market leaders in the ophthalmic industry. This is the primary revenue generation mechanism that funds the organization's R&D activities.
- R&D Investment from Licensing Revenue: Since its inception three decades ago, BHVI has invested revenues exceeding AUD 265 million into research and development, building a significant intellectual property asset portfolio to ensure long-term viability.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free access to Myopia Calculator for eye care professionals |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
Brien Holden Vision Institute product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Brien Holden Vision Institute invents, prototypes, and licenses innovative ophthalmic lens designs including contact lenses, spectacle lenses, and intraocular lenses (IOLs) that correct refractive errors and slow myopia progression. The organization protects its designs through patents in markets worldwide and licenses them to ophthalmic industry leaders. It also provides free clinical tools such as the Myopia Calculator and supports the International Myopia Institute's evidence-based consensus publications.
Product overview
BHVI is a not-for-profit R&D organization that invents, prototypes, and licenses innovative ophthalmic lens designs. Its product portfolio includes patented contact lens designs, spectacle lens designs (including EDOF and myopia control lenses), and intraocular lens designs—all licensed to ophthalmic industry leaders. BHVI also offers the Myopia Calculator suite (refractive error progression, axial length, and myopia onset predictive calculators), the International Myopia Institute (IMI) with its consensus white papers, and clinical guidelines. The organization exploits its patent portfolio through multi-jurisdictional licensing while supporting the ophthalmic sector with myopia education and evidence-based management tools.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Myopia Calculator A free online clinical tool designed for eye care practitioners to assess myopia risk and demonstrate the benefits of myopia management interventions over time. Provides refractive error progression, axial length, and myopia onset predictive calculators.
- International Myopia Institute (IMI) A global collaborative initiative dedicated to advancing the understanding and management of myopia through evidence-based consensus, producing White Papers, Clinical Summaries, and educational resources.
- Patented Contact Lens Designs BHVI's patented contact lens designs that address refractive errors including myopia, presbyopia, astigmatism, and hyperopia. Includes EDOF (Extended Depth of Focus) contact lens designs protected by US Patent 11,061,253 B2 and other patents.
- Patented Spectacle Lens Designs BHVI's patented spectacle lens designs for correcting refractive errors and myopia control, including designs featuring laterally separated optics technology.
- Patented Intraocular Lens (IOL) Designs BHVI's patented intraocular lens designs for implantation during cataract surgery and refractive correction, including designs to reduce peripheral pseudophakic dysphotopsia.
- Myopia Clinical Guidelines Evidence-based clinical guidelines covering initial consultation procedures, risk assessment for myopia onset and progression, management strategies, and follow-up protocols. Available in multiple languages including English, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese, and Vietnamese.
- IMI Whitepapers Consensus-driven scientific publications covering myopia management, risk factors, interventions, and clinical practice guidance for eye care professionals.
Quantifiable outcome
- Licensed designs correct refractive errors and slow myopia progression for millions of wearers worldwide
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Brien Holden Vision Institute
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Brien Holden Vision Institute technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Brien Holden Vision Institute partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Review of Myopia ManagementcoreStrategic partnership for Myopia Awareness Week campaigns. BHVI and Review of Myopia Management have partnered for three consecutive years (as of 2026) to spotlight early detection and intervention for myopia. RMM is a leading online publication for eye care professionals.
- Shanghai Eye Disease Prevention and Treatment Centre (China)coreCollaborative development partner for the BHVI Myopia Calculator. The partnership combines expertise in eye disease prevention and treatment with BHVI's myopia research capabilities to create a clinically validated risk assessment tool.
- Ulster University (UK)coreAcademic partner contributing to the development of the BHVI Myopia Calculator, providing research expertise and validation for the myopia risk prediction modeling.
- Linnaeus University (Sweden)coreAcademic partner in the international collaboration developing the BHVI Myopia Calculator, contributing research expertise to the myopia management tool.
- International Myopia Institute (IMI)coreBHVI founded the International Myopia Institute following a joint meeting with the World Health Organization. IMI is a global collaborative initiative dedicated to advancing understanding and management of myopia through evidence-based consensus. BHVI continues to actively support IMI.
- University of New South WalescoreBHVI is headquartered at UNSW and collaborates with the university's School of Optometry and Vision Science. The partnership supports academic research and provides clinical and educational resources.
- Brien Holden FoundationminorAffiliated organization providing eye health services to remote, regional and disadvantaged communities in Australia, PNG and Asia (funded by Australian Government and other organisations). BHVI provides direct financial support and in-kind support through staff, premises and administrative assistance.
- Vision CRC LimitedcoreWholly owned subsidiary of BHVI, an Australian company. Part of the BHVI Group corporate structure.
- Vision CRC (USA) InccoreKey service provider and wholly owned subsidiary of BHVI, incorporated in California. Engaged to enhance BHVI's intellectual property portfolio, develop prototypes of innovative lens designs addressing myopia, presbyopia and astigmatism, and transfer technologies to BHVI's industry partners.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Brien Holden Vision Institute competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Singapore Eye Research Institute (SERI): Asia-Pacific not-for-profit ophthalmic research institute with myopia as a flagship research area. SERI parallels BHVI's R&D-and-licensing posture in the region and is a likely collaborator/competitor for translational myopia programs.
- Centre for Eye Research Australia (CERA): Australian not-for-profit ophthalmic research institute with a comparable mission in vision science R&D. CERA shares BHVI's structure and translational research focus, making it the closest analogue in the same geography.
- HOYA Corporation: Japanese specialty manufacturer of ophthalmic lenses (spectacle and contact) and IOLs. HOYA has active myopia management initiatives and competes with BHVI-licensed designs in the Asia-Pacific region.
- Topcon Healthcare: Ophthalmic device company focused on diagnostic imaging, refractive, and surgical equipment. While primarily in adjacent sub-categories, Topcon's myopia management and screening offerings overlap thematically with BHVI's clinical tools.
Broad incumbents
- EssilorLuxottica: Global leader in spectacle lenses and eyewear frames with a major stake in myopia control solutions. Essilor (now EssilorLuxottica) is a relevant counterpart on the spectacle lens side of BHVI's IP portfolio, with former BHVI Chair Dr Howard Purcell having served as SVP there.
- Carl Zeiss Meditec: Medical technology company with a strong ophthalmic devices franchise spanning IOLs, diagnostic equipment, and surgical microscopy. Comparable in IOL patent scope and ophthalmic R&D depth to BHVI's IOL design portfolio.
- Alcon: Global ophthalmic device leader across contact lenses, IOLs, and cataract surgery systems. Alcon is both a potential BHVI licensee and a direct competitor with deep internal R&D and an extensive patent portfolio that overlaps with BHVI's IOL and contact lens design space.
- Bausch + Lomb: Vision care major covering contact lenses, IOLs, ophthalmic pharmaceuticals, and consumer eye health. Bausch + Lomb operates across categories where BHVI licenses designs, with comparable scale and global distribution capability.
- Johnson & Johnson Vision: Major global ophthalmic device company spanning contact lenses, IOLs, and surgical equipment. J&J Vision is one of the named market leaders to which BHVI licenses designs, and competes with BHVI-licensed technologies through its own internal R&D.
Direct peers
- CooperVision: Global contact lens manufacturer and BHVI's key commercialization licensee. CooperVision commercialized MiSight and Biofinity Toric — both developed by BHVI's current Head of Technology, Dr Arthur Back — making it the most direct counterpart in turning BHVI's IP into shipped product.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Brien Holden Vision Institute social profiles
Digital presenceBrien Holden Vision Institute financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Brien Holden Vision Institute leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Brien Holden Vision Institute subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Brien Holden Vision Institute funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Brien Holden Vision Institute 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 Brien Holden Vision Institute
What does Brien Holden Vision Institute do?
Brien Holden Vision Institute invents, prototypes, and licenses innovative ophthalmic lens designs including contact lenses, spectacle lenses, and intraocular lenses (IOLs) that correct refractive errors and slow myopia progression. The organization protects its designs through patents in markets worldwide and licenses them to ophthalmic industry leaders. It also provides free clinical tools such as the Myopia Calculator and supports the International Myopia Institute's evidence-based consensus publications.
Is Brien Holden Vision Institute a public or private company?
Brien Holden Vision Institute is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Brien Holden Vision Institute founded?
Brien Holden Vision Institute was founded in 1985. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Brien Holden Vision Institute based?
Brien Holden Vision Institute is headquartered in Sydney, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does Brien Holden Vision Institute make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Patent and Design Licensing is the primary driver. The others are R&D Investment from Licensing Revenue.
Who are Brien Holden Vision Institute's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Singapore Eye Research Institute (SERI), Centre for Eye Research Australia (CERA), HOYA Corporation and Topcon Healthcare. Broad incumbents are EssilorLuxottica, Carl Zeiss Meditec, Alcon, Bausch + Lomb and Johnson & Johnson Vision. CooperVision is listed as a direct peer.
Does Brien Holden Vision Institute have an API?
No public API is recorded for Brien Holden Vision Institute.
What industry is Brien Holden Vision Institute in?
Brien Holden Vision Institute's product category is Ophthalmic Lens Design and Myopia Research. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAHAJAE, Contact Lenses & Care Systems (Soft/RGP/Scleral Lenses; Cleaning/Disinfection Solutions), with a secondary code of HLAHAJAD, Optical Dispensing & Eyewear Devices (Frames, Lenses, Lens Edging/Finishing Equipment). Its NAICS code is 339115 and its SIC code is 3851.