Edenlux Introduces Eyeary: A Revolutionary Solution for Digital Eye Strain in the U.S.
In today’s digital era, individuals worldwide are spending an increasing number of hours on their smartphones and other digital devices. Research indicates that daily smartphone usage averages over three hours, with many adults exceeding six hours of total screen time. This prolonged exposure to screens has been associated with a range of eye health issues, including dryness, irritation, fatigue, blurred vision, headaches, and the progression of nearsightedness.
Addressing these concerns, South Korean startup Edenlux has developed innovative technology aimed at mitigating the adverse effects of screen-heavy lifestyles on eye and ear health. The company’s mission is deeply personal to its founder and CEO, Sungyong Park. During his tenure as a military physician, Park experienced a rare side effect from a muscle relaxant injection, leading to temporary paralysis of the eye muscles responsible for focusing. Faced with limited medical options, Park took matters into his own hands by importing specialized ophthalmic equipment and retraining his eye muscles. His successful recovery inspired him to create solutions that empower individuals to protect and restore their vision in an increasingly digital world.
Edenlux is now preparing to launch its second wellness device, Eyeary, a daily visual recovery tool designed specifically for the U.S. market. The company plans to introduce Eyeary through an Indiegogo campaign around the end of March. Unlike medical devices, Edenlux’s products are categorized under the FDA’s wellness category, allowing them to be marketed for vision training and general eye health purposes. Park mentioned that the decision to launch on Indiegogo, rather than seeking investor funding, was due to the company’s sufficient cash reserves to support operations for several years.
The company’s inaugural product, Otus, debuted in 2022 across South Korea, Singapore, Japan, and Taiwan. This VR-style device utilizes lenses to contract and relax the ciliary muscle, aiding in visual recovery. Otus has achieved $10 million in cumulative revenue. Building on this success, Edenlux asserts that Eyeary is designed to be faster and more user-friendly. Park stated, With Otus, users typically took about 12 months to reduce their dependence on reading glasses. Eyeary could shorten that to around six months.
Eyeary represents a significant advancement in design and functionality. Resembling conventional glasses, it is lighter and more comfortable for users. The lens system boasts 144 diopter focal points, enabling finer focus adjustments and more precise eye-muscle training compared to Otus, which has five diopter focal points. The device connects to a mobile app via Bluetooth, collecting usage data that is analyzed by Edenlux’s servers. By leveraging artificial intelligence, the company can predict improvement timelines and customize training programs based on datasets encompassing age, gender, and vision profiles.
Prolonged screen time can overwork the ciliary muscle, which controls the lens inside the eye. Park explained, When people are young, the muscle is strong enough to focus. But constant smartphone use keeps it contracted, and over time, it can weaken, leading to fatigue and vision problems.
Edenlux has developed a suite of products targeting specific eye conditions, including Otus and Eyeary for visual recovery, Tearmore for dry eye, Lux-S for strabismus, Lumia for myopia prevention, and Heary for auditory recovery. Tearmore, Lux-S, Lumia, and Heary are expected to roll out in Asia, Park said.
Park sees companies like Oura Ring as peers. Both collect human data and provide insights via software, on a subscription model. But while Oura focuses on heart rate and sleep, Edenlux targets vision and hearing health.
Its target customers include all individuals who regularly use smartphones and earphones. We aim to address the root causes of eye and hearing problems from digital device overuse, Park said.
Edenlux raised $39 million in its Series A round in 2020 and $60 million in Series B funding in 2022. The company recently established a U.S. subsidiary in Dallas, Texas, where its devices will undergo final assembly.
While Edenlux currently develops and manufactures in-house, it’s exploring partnerships with major tech firms like Apple or Samsung, aiming to integrate its vision-protecting technology with smartphones.
Combining firsthand insight, advanced science, and hardware devices, Edenlux believes that eye health in the digital age is more than a wellness trend – it’s an emerging area in consumer technology.
