LKC Technologies (Formerly LKC Systems)

LKC Technologies, established in 1975 as LKC Systems by Jerome Leight, Sigmund Krassowsky, and Frank Chen, is a Gaithersburg, Maryland-based manufacturer of medical devices for the ophthalmic and visual electrophysiology sectors. The company operates in the diagnostic equipment industry, providing tools that measure retinal function to assist clinicians in diagnosing and managing a wide array of vision-threatening diseases and primary retinal disorders. The business primarily generates revenue through the sale of its medical devices, such as the RETeval® and UTAS™ systems, and associated consumable products like the patented Sensor Strip electrodes.

The current president, James Datovech, along with a business partner, acquired the company approximately 20 years ago. His journey is deeply personal; his son was born with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and is blind, which fueled his passion to make visual electrophysiology technology more accessible to preserve sight. Prior to LKC, Datovech held multiple sales and management positions at IBM and was president of a venture-backed eBusiness consulting firm. In late 2023, the company was acquired, with Dina Dubey, a 20-year veteran of the medical device industry, appointed as the new CEO to guide its future growth.

The company's flagship product is the RETeval® device, the world's first handheld, portable, and battery-powered device for electroretinography (ERG) and visual evoked potential (VEP) testing. Introduced in 2013 and granted FDA clearance in 2015, the RETeval® allows for non-invasive functional testing of the retina and optic nerve on both dilated and non-dilated eyes. A key feature is its use of skin sensor strips that adhere below the eye, avoiding direct corneal contact for enhanced patient comfort. The device performs various tests, including full-field ERG and VEP, and incorporates real-time pupil size compensation to ensure consistent results. It provides objective, color-coded results benchmarked against an age-adjusted reference database, aiding in the early detection and management of conditions like diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and inherited retinal dystrophies. With an estimated annual revenue of $20.3 million and over 3,000 units installed globally, the RETeval® is referenced in over 200 peer-reviewed publications.

Keywords: electroretinography, visual electrophysiology, ophthalmic devices, retinal function testing, diagnostic equipment, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma diagnosis, VEP testing, handheld medical device, non-invasive eye testing, RETeval, LKC Technologies, retinal disease management, optic nerve conditions, ocular health, functional eye testing, medical diagnostics, vision preservation, ophthalmic technology, eye care solutions