Modern individuals spend more than 10 hours a day with digital devices. Eye fatigue, dry eyes, and vision deterioration are no longer issues exclusive to the elderly. However, ophthalmic treatment remains hospital-centered. To alleviate such inconvenience, a company has developed a medical device that allows for easy treatment of eye diseases at home. MediIoT, a resident company of Seoul Bio Hub, a bio-medical startup support platform created by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, is the protagonist. An interview was conducted with Lee Sang-geun, CEO of MediIoT, about the changes the portable light therapy medical device 'MediEye' will bring.

―What kind of company is MediIoT?

“MediIoT is a company that develops non-invasive eye disease treatment solutions by combining optical convergence technology and AI-based digital healthcare. It helps manage increasing eye diseases due to aging and increased use of digital devices easily and safely without visiting a hospital. In particular, it develops wearable devices applying photobiomodulation (PBM) technology to treat and prevent intractable eye diseases such as dry eye syndrome and dry macular degeneration.”

―What is the product 'MediEye' that has been developed this time?

“MediEye is a non-invasive light therapy medical device that activates cellular energy to reduce inflammation and improve blood flow based on the PBM principle. It enhances treatment efficiency with its self-developed multi-wavelength simultaneous irradiation technology compared to the existing single-wavelength method, and the treatment time is only 2 minutes. In addition to the hospital model, a wearable homecare product has been developed and has received domestic and international certifications (KC, FCC, SRRC), allowing users to wear it like glasses for convenient treatment.”

―How is it actually used?

“There are two models: medical and wellness. Users simply wear it like glasses, and the light therapy automatically proceeds for 2 minutes. It can be used twice a week, for 2 minutes each time, over a period of 2 months, allowing continuous treatment regardless of time and place. The patient app and the medical staff web/app are linked, automatically storing treatment records, enabling patients to check their treatment history themselves, and allowing medical staff to monitor the patient's condition remotely. AI functions that analyze accumulated data to predict individual prognoses or support personalized treatment will be added gradually.”

―What are the strengths of MediEye?

“Short treatment time, high efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. The multi-wavelength simultaneous irradiation technology has halved the treatment time and minimized the loss of effectiveness compared to competing products. The treatment cost has been significantly reduced to about KRW 800,000 compared to the existing overseas products priced at around KRW 3 million. The app-based remote monitoring and AI customization features provide an efficient solution for both medical staff and patients.”

―When can consumers expect to see it?

“Currently, clinical trials targeting dry eye syndrome patients are underway at Gyeongsang National University Hospital, aiming for domestic product approval by 2027. Clinical trials for dry macular degeneration are also scheduled to start within the year. Before medical device approval, the wellness version will be launched first. It is a product for relieving eye fatigue and managing eye health, expected to be released in the second half of this year or the first half of next year, priced at around KRW 500,000.”

―What are the future plans?

“In the short term, we plan to launch wellness products and secure domestic approvals, and in the medium term, we aim to enter the U.S. market. As of 2025, we are in the process of raising KRW 3 billion in Series A funding and aim for KRW 15 billion in Series B funding by 2027. In the long term, we plan to pursue an initial public offering (IPO) and expand technology to various eye diseases such as myopia, retinal diseases, macular edema, as well as mild cognitive impairment and early Alzheimer's. Support from Seoul Bio Hub, such as clinical design consultation, investor network connections, and participation in global exhibitions, has also been a stepping stone for growth. We aim to continue advancing as a global healthcare platform in collaboration with Seoul Bio Hub.”

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