Ophthalmology

Sight is one of our five basic essential senses, deeply shaping the way we perceive and interact with the world. From over 2.2 billion people worldwide that suffer from some form of vision impairment, at least 1 billion of these cases would have been preventable or treatable with timely care. As the global population ages and life expectancy increases, the incidence of eye diseases is expected to rise dramatically in the future. Being a burden not only for individuals, but also for healthcare systems worldwide, developing novel and advanced treatments is of critical importance.

At Empa, we develop cutting-edge treatments for a wide range of eye diseases. Our work includes treatments for corneal ulcers, painful infections on the surface of the eye that affect around 6 million people annually. We are also pioneering innovative approaches to managing glaucoma, which currently affects over 76 million people worldwide and is a leading cause of irreversible blindness. Additionally, we are addressing cataracts, the leading cause of blindness globally, which accounts for 51% of all blindness cases, through improved surgical techniques and treatment methods.
Moreover, we are exploring alternative methods for sutures to improve surgical outcomes, reduce recovery times, and enhance the healing process after eye surgeries or injuries. In parallel, our research also focuses on developing better treatments against bacterial infections of the eye, which can lead to severe complications if left untreated.

Since eye diseases are so widespread in the current society, our mission is not only to develop new treatments, but also to ensure that these innovations are accessible and effective for the millions of people worldwide suffering from sight impairments.