e-Vision

What e-Vision does

e-Vision Smart Optics, Inc. is a privately held Delaware corporation founded in 1999 and headquartered in Sarasota, Florida. It develops and licenses electronic lens and smart-focus optics technology centered on its Smart Focus Optics™ platform, which uses liquid crystal tunable lenses with proprietary concentric-ring and floating electrode configurations to deliver analog, continuously adjustable focus without moving parts. The portfolio of 440+ issued or pending worldwide patents covers electronic focusing eyeglasses, electronic contact lenses, intraocular lenses, head-mounted displays, electronic phoropters, electronic wearable frames, and night-vision depth-of-field optics.

The company's commercial offerings span core technology platforms (Smart Focus Optics™), core products (Electronic Focusing Eyeglasses, Electronic Contact Lens, Head Mounted Displays, Electronic Wearable Frames, Night Vision Depth of Field Booster), and licensed products (VisionFit Electronic Phoropter via Adaptica; TouchFocus eyewear via Mitsui Chemicals). Applications address presbyopia, dynamic vision correction, Vergence Accommodation Conflict in AR/VR/MR, astronaut vision impairment, and defense head-mounted displays.

e-Vision operates as a patent licensing business rather than a product manufacturer. Revenue derives from licensing its patent portfolio to partners (Mitsui Chemicals in Japan for TouchFocus, Adaptica in Europe for VisionFit) and from patent enforcement, including 2023 infringement litigation against Seiko Epson, Lenovo, and Luxottica. The company engages scientific advisors from Kent State, University of Arizona, Cambridge, and Edinburgh, and is led by President/CEO Joel D. Zychick and CTO Tony Van Heugten, supported by a board with eyewear, ophthalmology, and private equity backgrounds.

Name

e-Vision

Legal name

e-Vision Smart Optics, Inc.

Website

https://evisionoptics.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

e-Vision Smart Optics is a private Sarasota-based patent licensing company that develops liquid crystal tunable lens technology for electronic eyeglasses, contact lenses, AR/VR/MR displays, and ophthalmic devices, licensing its 440+ patent portfolio to manufacturers such as Mitsui Chemicals and Adaptica.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electronic Vision Technology Licensing

NAICS

Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing (339115), Optical Goods Retailers (456130)

SIC

Ophthalmic Goods (3851), Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827), Semiconductors & Related Devices (3674)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHLAHAJAD

Optical Dispensing & Eyewear Devices (Frames, Lenses, Lens Edging/Finishing Equipment)

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Medical Devices & Diagnostics/Ophthalmic Devices (Vision Care & Surgical)

SECONDARYCRACAIAE

AR Smart Glasses

Consumer Products & Retail/Consumer Electronics & Appliances Retail/Wearables & Personal Tech Retail

SECONDARYHDAHAAAH

Optoelectronics & Photonics (LED/Laser/Optical ICs)

Hardware, Technology & Telecom/Semiconductors & Electronic Components/Integrated Device Manufacturers (IDMs)

SECONDARYHLAHAJAE

Contact Lenses & Care Systems (Soft/RGP/Scleral Lenses; Cleaning/Disinfection Solutions)

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Medical Devices & Diagnostics/Ophthalmic Devices (Vision Care & Surgical)

Keywords

• Electronic lens technology
• Liquid crystal optics
• Technology licensing
• Smart focus optics
• Ophthalmic devices

Headquarters

HQ city

Wellesley

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Technology Licensing: e-Vision licenses its patent portfolio to companies for commercial products. Licensing partners include Mitsui Chemicals (TouchFocus eyewear) and Adaptica (VisionFit electronic phoropter). The company offers traditional vision applications (spectacles, contact lenses, IOLs, ophthalmic devices) and AR/VR/XR markets.
2. Patent Enforcement: The company engages in patent infringement lawsuits to protect its intellectual property, including litigation against Seiko Epson, Lenovo, and Luxottica in 2023.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

e-Vision Smart Optics is a technology licensing company that develops and patents electronic lens and smart focus optics based on proprietary liquid crystal tunable lens technology. The company licenses its patent portfolio of 440+ worldwide patents to manufacturers across eyewear, ophthalmic devices, AR/VR/MR head mounted displays, and aerospace applications. Core offerings include Smart Focus Optics™ platform technology, electronic contact lenses, electronic focusing eyeglasses, electronic phoropters, HUD optics, and night vision depth of field boosters.

Product overview

e-Vision Smart Optics is a patent licensing company offering a portfolio of electronic vision technologies centered on its Smart Focus Optics™ platform. The core offering includes electronic focusing eyeglasses (commercially available as TouchFocus through Mitsui Chemicals), electronic contact lenses (in development with prototype), head mounted displays for VR/AR/MR applications, electronic wearable frames with tinting and media capabilities, and night vision depth of field boosters. The company licenses its patent portfolio to manufacturers including Mitsui Chemicals (TouchFocus eyewear), Adaptica (VisionFit phoropter), and others. e-Vision's technology is based on liquid crystal tunable lens technology that controls and shapes light without moving parts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Smart Focus Optics™ Core platform technology using liquid crystal lens-based electro-active optics with proprietary concentric ring electrodes and floating electrodes for analog adjustable focus control without moving parts. Licensed to manufacturers for incorporation into commercial products across eyewear, contact lenses, IOLs, HMDs, and diagnostic devices.
• Electronic Focusing Eyeglasses (TouchFocus) Electronically focusing spectacle lenses that adjust between near and distance viewing via liquid crystal technology. Licensed to Mitsui Chemicals as the TouchFocus brand, featuring in-frame battery and electronic control with touch sensor activation. Awarded the 2018 Good Design Award by the Japan Institute of Design Promotion.
• Electronic Contact Lens (ECL) Electronic contact lens with onboard power/control and wireless charging capability. Features up to four diopters of focus adjustment, 6mm optical portion, and pre-set ranges for far, near, and intermediate vision. Currently demonstrated as a prototype available for licensing to manufacturers.
• VisionFit Electronic Phoropter Wearable, mobile electronic phoropter developed by Adaptica S.r.l. using e-Vision licensed technology. Received CE Mark in 2015 and available in Europe. Enables comfortable eye examinations with adjustable step resolution down to 0.05 D.
• Head Mounted Display (HMD) Optics Optics systems for head mounted displays, VR/AR/MR devices that maintain content in focus when users focus on near and distant objects. Features solid state, low power consumption optics with hands-free anatomical focus adjustment capability. Available for licensing to AR/VR/MR manufacturers.
• Electronic Wearable Frames Electronic spectacle frames incorporating mobile media components including audio, video, microphones, wireless communication, and displays for AR/VR applications. Features include electronic tinting, camera/video capture, and heads-up display integration. Available for licensing through e-Vision's developer program and direct licensing.
• Night Vision Depth of Field Booster Electronic lens accessory for night vision devices that expands depth of field without light loss or moving parts. Weighs less than one ounce with less than 5% light loss. Activated remotely or via wireless signal. Available for licensing to night vision and defense equipment manufacturers.
• Developer Program for Variable Optics and Electronic Wearable Frames Licensing program launched in April 2024 offering qualified developers royalty-free access to e-Vision's global patent portfolio covering variable optics and electronic wearable frame technology, with sublicense to Mitsui Chemical patents acquired by Zeiss Vision Care. Participants are fast-tracked for commercial licensing programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Electronic Contact Lens achieves focus change in 50 milliseconds with up to 4 diopters of control
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 January 2017Mitsui Chemicals licensed e-Vision technology for TouchFocus™ electronic LCD lens eyewear - the first commercialized product using e-Vision patents. Product launched in Japan in 2018 with nationwide expansion in 2019 including titanium frames. Awarded 2018 Good Design Award in Japan.
• Adaptica S.r.l.coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerItalian manufacturer licensed e-Vision technology for VisionFit™ electronic phoropter. Product received CE Mark in 2015 and is available for sale in Europe. Wearable, mobile eye examination system with adjustable step resolution down to 0.05 D.
• United States ArmycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative development of augmented reality and head mounted display technologies for military applications. Focus on hands-free operation and rapid eye movement response for soldiers.
• National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI) / NASAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNSBRI issued grant to e-Vision to develop electronic tunable eyeglasses for astronauts experiencing vision impairment during long-term microgravity exposure. Technology development for space travel applications.
• Kent State University - Liquid Crystal InstitutesupportingTechnology or IntegrationCollaboration on lens designs and materials optimization for liquid crystal lens technology. Professor Philip J. Bos serves on e-Vision Scientific Advisory Team.
• University of Cambridge - Centre of Molecular Materials for Photonics and ElectronicssupportingTechnology or IntegrationAcademic partnership for materials optimization research for photonics and electronics applications in e-Vision optical systems.
• University of Edinburgh - Institute for Integrated & Nano DevicessupportingTechnology or IntegrationPartnership for development of micro-electronics for optical systems, supporting miniaturization and integration of e-Vision technologies.
• Helbling Technik Bern AGsupportingTechnology or IntegrationSwiss engineering firm partner for development of micro-electronics and integration of e-Vision optics with micro electronics, including Electronic Contact Lens development.
• King & Spalding LLPsupportingOthersInternational law firm selected in February 2020 to represent e-Vision for patent licensing negotiations and IP protection. Over 1,200 lawyers in 23 offices globally.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Magic Leap: AR/MR headset maker facing the same Vergence Accommodation Conflict that e-Vision's tunable optics solve. Comparable as a potential AR optics licensing counterparty and direct beneficiary of e-Vision's focus-adjustment technology.
• Mojo Vision: Developed AR-enabled smart contact lenses with onboard micro-LED displays. Comparable as an emerging player in electronic/smart contact lenses, an adjacent technology area where e-Vision also holds patents.

Broad incumbents

• Bausch + Lomb: Major eye health company with broad contact lens, IOL, and ophthalmic pharmaceutical portfolios. Comparable as incumbent that could license or compete with e-Vision's electronic contact lens and IOL technologies.
• Carl Zeiss Meditec: German precision optics leader in ophthalmic devices and surgical microscopes. Comparable as incumbent in ophthalmic optics that acquired certain Mitsui Chemical patents referenced in e-Vision's Developer Program, making Zeiss both a potential partner and competitor.
• Johnson & Johnson Vision (Acuvue): Major contact lens and IOL manufacturer. Comparable as incumbent that could license e-Vision's electronic contact lens and IOL technologies, representing a large potential OEM partner.
• Alcon: Global eye care company with leadership in cataract surgery/IOLs (acquired WaveTec Vision Systems from e-Vision's CTO in 2014). Comparable as incumbent in IOL and ophthalmic surgical device markets.
• EssilorLuxottica: Global eyewear conglomerate (Ray-Ban, Oakley, LensCrafters) producing the majority of prescription frames and lenses. Comparable as dominant eyewear incumbent and named defendant in e-Vision's patent litigation; potential large licensing counterparty.

Direct peers

• Mitsui Chemicals: Japanese chemicals company that licensed e-Vision's technology for TouchFocus electronic eyewear. Comparable as a commercial licensee and partner, and a model for how OEM partners commercialize e-Vision IP into consumer products.
• DeepOptics: Israeli startup developing tunable liquid crystal lenses for variable-focus eyewear and AR/VR. Closest direct competitor in electro-active adaptive focus lens technology with a similar technology licensing trajectory.
• Adlens (formerly Superfocus): Developed variable-focus eyewear using adjustable lens technology. Directly comparable as a competitor in the electronic/adjustable focus eyewear space, though using mechanical rather than liquid crystal approaches.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vision-optics-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 e-Vision