GLAUrious · Project

One-Second Automated Laser Device Replacing Daily Glaucoma Eye Drops

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Imagine having to put eye drops in every single day for the rest of your life — and half of people just stop doing it, risking blindness. That's the reality for 64 million glaucoma patients worldwide. This project built a laser device that treats glaucoma in one second with the press of a button — no touching the eye, no pain, no specialist needed. Think of it like replacing a daily pill regimen with a quick vaccination that lasts years.

By the numbers

64 million

glaucoma patients worldwide

50%

patient dropout from eye drops after 1 year

1 second

treatment time with EAGLE device

212,000

ophthalmologists worldwide who could use the device

2-5 years

duration of laser treatment effect

10 minutes

current traditional laser procedure time

EUR 2,480,275

EU contribution to development

The business problem

What needed solving

Glaucoma affects 64 million people globally and is the leading cause of irreversible blindness. The current first-line treatment — daily eye drops — has a 50% patient dropout rate after just 1 year, meaning millions of patients go undertreated and risk going blind. Existing laser alternatives require a 10-minute specialist procedure with eye contact, making them expensive and inaccessible to most patients.

The solution

What was built

The project built and validated a commercial prototype of the EAGLE device — an automated, non-contact glaucoma laser that delivers treatment in 1 second with one button press. Demonstrational prototypes were formally delivered, along with 15 project deliverables covering clinical validation, production optimization, and commercial strategy.

Audience

Who needs this

Ophthalmic medical device manufacturers looking for next-generation laser productsPrivate eye clinic chains seeking to treat more glaucoma patients per dayMedical equipment distributors serving the ophthalmology marketHospital procurement departments managing glaucoma treatment programsHealth insurance companies looking to reduce chronic glaucoma treatment costs

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Ophthalmic medical devices

mid-size

Target: Medical device manufacturers producing laser or diagnostic eye equipment

If you are an ophthalmic device manufacturer dealing with complex, specialist-dependent laser systems — this project developed the EAGLE device, an automated non-contact glaucoma laser that delivers treatment in 1 second versus a traditional 10-minute procedure. With 64 million glaucoma patients globally and 212,000 ophthalmologists as potential users, licensing or co-manufacturing this device opens a massive addressable market.

Eye care clinic chains

any

Target: Private ophthalmology clinic networks and hospital eye departments

If you are running an eye clinic network struggling with glaucoma patient retention — current eye drop treatment sees 50% patient dropout after 1 year, meaning lost revenue and poor outcomes. The EAGLE device offers a painless 1-second treatment that lasts 2-5 years and can be operated by any ophthalmologist, not just glaucoma specialists. This means more patients treated per hour and dramatically better compliance.

Pharmaceutical distribution

enterprise

Target: Medical equipment distributors serving ophthalmology markets

If you are a medical equipment distributor looking for the next breakthrough product in eye care — this project validated a commercial prototype targeting 212,000 ophthalmologists worldwide. The device replaces daily eye drops for 64 million glaucoma sufferers with a repeatable laser procedure. The consortium already focused on distributor engagement and commercial strategy refinement during the project.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What does this device cost compared to current glaucoma treatments?

The project specifically aimed at optimizing component costs and streamlining commercial production to be cost-effective. Traditional laser procedures require expensive specialist equipment and glaucoma specialist time for a 10-minute session. Based on available project data, exact pricing was not published, but the design goal was accessibility for general ophthalmologists, implying significantly lower per-treatment cost.

Can this scale to industrial production?

Yes — the project's core objective was streamlining commercial production and optimizing component costs specifically to enable market entry. The consortium included 3 industrial partners (60% of the consortium) and 2 SMEs (BEL and MCI) designated as the commercialization leads. The Innovation Action funding scheme and Fast Track to Innovation Pilot topic both target near-market readiness.

What is the IP and licensing situation?

The EAGLE technology was developed within the consortium, with industrial partners BEL and MCI positioned for commercialization. Based on available project data, specific patent numbers or licensing terms are not disclosed in CORDIS. Interested parties should contact the consortium through SciTransfer to discuss licensing or distribution arrangements.

Has the device been tested on real patients?

The project aimed at clinical prototype validation as a primary objective. A demonstrational prototype was produced as a formal deliverable. The consortium included two academic hospitals (Queen's University Belfast and a partner in Italy) providing the clinical validation pathway.

What regulatory approvals does the device have?

Based on available project data, the project focused on clinical prototype validation and commercial strategy refinement. As a medical device, it would need CE marking in Europe and FDA clearance in the US. The project's regulatory pathway details are not publicly listed in CORDIS deliverables.

How does this integrate with existing clinic workflows?

The EAGLE device is designed to be operated by any ophthalmologist — not just glaucoma specialists — with 1 second of treatment via one button press. This means it fits into a standard consultation without requiring a separate specialist referral or extended appointment slot, unlike the current 10-minute contact-based laser procedure.

Consortium

Who built it

The GLAUrious consortium is strongly business-oriented: 3 out of 5 partners are industrial (60%), including 2 SMEs positioned as the commercialization leads. The partnership spans 5 countries (Belgium, Germany, Israel, Italy, UK), giving broad European and international reach. Two academic hospitals provided clinical validation capability. With EUR 2,480,275 in EU funding under the Fast Track to Innovation Pilot — a scheme specifically designed to bring near-market innovations to commercialization — this consortium was built to deliver a market-ready product, not just a research paper.

THE QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY OF BELFASTCoordinator · UK
UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI GENOVAparticipant · IT

How to reach the team

Queen's University of Belfast coordinated this project. SciTransfer can facilitate an introduction to the development team.

Order a report on this consortium See THE QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY OF BELFAST profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore licensing, distribution, or clinical partnership opportunities for the EAGLE glaucoma laser? Contact SciTransfer for a warm introduction to the consortium.

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