PixelOptics

PixelOptics, founded in 2005 by optometrist Dr. Ron Blum, was a Roanoke, Virginia-based company that aimed to transform the prescription eyewear market. Dr. Blum, an entrepreneur with a history in the optical industry and holder of numerous patents, established the company to commercialize electronic focusing eyewear.

The company's flagship product was emPower!, marketed as the first electronic focusing eyewear designed to address presbyopia, the age-related loss of near-focusing ability. The glasses utilized a liquid crystal layer sandwiched within the lens, which could be electronically activated to change the refractive index. This technology allowed the lower portion of the lens to switch to a near-vision prescription, eliminating the visual distortions often associated with traditional bifocal or progressive lenses. The wearer could operate the glasses in three modes: automatic, manual on, and manual off. In automatic mode, an accelerometer embedded in the frame would detect when the user tilted their head down to read and would trigger the near-focus zone. A small button or a swipe on the frame's arm allowed for manual control. The glasses featured a rechargeable battery, lasting for up to two or three days, which was recharged via an inductive charging cradle.

PixelOptics operated by forming strategic partnerships with established industry players. Panasonic Healthcare was a key development partner and manufacturer for the electronic lens components, while Aspex Eyewear produced the frames. The company raised significant capital, totaling $132 million over 11 rounds from investors including Safeguard Scientifics and The Carlyle Group, to fund its development and commercialization efforts.

Despite launching emPower! in 2011 and selling over 1,000 pairs, the company faced substantial challenges. The first generation of the product suffered from reliability and design flaws, leading PixelOptics to halt distribution in March 2013. Burdened by significant debt and unable to commercialize its second-generation product, the company filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in November 2013. In early 2014, the company's assets, most notably its extensive intellectual property portfolio of over 400 patents, were acquired by Mitsui Chemical, which planned to revive the technology through a subsidiary named Whole You.

Keywords: electronic eyewear, dynamic focus lenses, liquid crystal lens, presbyopia correction, smart glasses, ophthalmic technology, vision care, intellectual property, venture capital, bankruptcy