Innovation Illuminates Vision: Ophthalmology Industry Innovation Forum Concludes Successfully with Spotlight on Breakthrough Technologies and IPO Filing

The ophthalmology sector is one of the medical innovation fields most likely to give rise to super-giants.

As a high-growth, high-barrier “dual-high” sector, what innovative achievements and practical applications will the Chinese ophthalmology industry develop, driven by the deepening integration of medicine and engineering? In the future, what path toward sustainable, high-quality development will it pursue?

Held at the 8th Future Healthcare Ecosystem Exhibition on May 9Ophthalmology Innovation Forumon, byZhao Qian'ao, Executive Director and Head of the Interdisciplinary Sector at Kaicheng CapitalServed as the Invited Moderator. The forum brought togetherWang Dongsheng, Chairman of the Ophthalmology Professional Committee of the China Association of Medical Equipment and Chief Physician at the Beijing Tongren Hospital Eye Center; Zhao Chan, Chief Physician in the Department of Ophthalmology at Peking Union Medical College Hospital; Huo Li, Associate Professor in the Department of Electronic Engineering at Tsinghua University; Lin Chuang, Chief Technology Officer at Beijing Xianwei Medical; Co-founder of Mengying Eye Hospital,CEOMa Gang, Dai Xiangsong, Deputy General Manager of Product R&D at Motic Medical, Liu Xiangnan, Head of Digital Innovation at Roche Pharmaceuticals, Wang Yueyue, Managing Partner at Tianchao Capital Management, Topcon MedicalCEO, Co-founder Wang Yingqi,Focus on sharing and discussing the integration of medicine and engineering, as well as industry innovation, in the ophthalmology sector.

Moderator: Zhao Qian'ao | Executive Director and Head of Interdisciplinary Sector, Kaicheng Capital

The forum kicked off withWang Dongsheng, Chief Physician of the Ophthalmology Center at Beijing Tongren Hospital and Chairman of the Ophthalmology Professional Committee of the Chinese Association of Medical EquipmentBring“Translational Ophthalmic Medicine and Engineering: The Path to Integrating Medical Technology with Industry”sharing. He emphasized that key considerations in building and optimizing the industry chain for the translation of ophthalmic medical-engineering innovations include: policy and industrial environment, technological development trends, industry and public demands, assessment of social benefits, evaluation of corporate competitiveness, talent acquisition, international exchange and cooperation, and systematic platform construction. Finally, Wang Dongsheng also revealed that the Ophthalmology Committee of the China Association of Medical Equipment (OCC) is currently establishing an Ophthalmic Medical-Engineering Translation Center, aiming to promote the development of high-quality domestically produced medical equipment.

Wang Dongsheng | Chairman of the Ophthalmology Professional Committee of the China Association of Medical Equipment, Chief Physician at the Beijing Tongren Hospital Eye Center

Zhao Chan, Chief Physician of the Department of Ophthalmology at Peking Union Medical College Hospitalshared with everyone the presentation titled"Integration of Medicine and Engineering for Precision Diagnosis and Treatment in Ophthalmology"keynote address. The team he leads has made significant progress in the field of precision ophthalmic therapy, introducing two innovative systems: a companion diagnostic system for aqueous humor VEGF detection, and minimally invasive interventional and drug delivery techniques targeting the functional interstitial spaces within the eye. The team has developed novel medical devices, including a resistance-sensing suprachoroidal injection device and an aqueous humor-to-suprachoroidal drainage device for glaucoma treatment, which are poised to usher in a new era of minimally invasive intraocular interventional therapy.

Zhao Chan | Chief Physician, Department of Ophthalmology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital

Associate Professor Huo Li, Department of Electronic Engineering, Tsinghua UniversityIn“Prospects for the Application of New Technologies in Biomedical Photonics”The keynote address highlighted that the medical optoelectronics industry is poised to grow into a market worth hundreds of billions within 10–15 years, though it must overcome challenges such as product fragmentation and high R&D costs. Currently, the optoelectronics industry revolves primarily around optical communications; supporting medical optoelectronics will require adjustments in business models. This current phase places high demands on manufacturers, while the future phase will necessitate support from national policies and new types of collaborative research consortia. “Built upon the foundation of optoelectronic devices, an industrial ‘tree’ has gradually taken shape, with OCT, microscopy, endoscopy, and lasers forming its main trunk. In the future, more products will emerge from advances in biophotonics research, creating a new landscape for the medical optoelectronics industry!”

 Huo Li | Associate Professor, Department of Electronic Engineering, Tsinghua University

The team led by Professor Yang Yang at Beihang University was the first in China to conduct research on ophthalmic surgical robots, and it also serves as the core technical team of Xianwei Medical. At the forum,Lin Chuang, Chief Technology Officer of Beijing Xianwei Medical, presented “Innovative Ophthalmic Surgery: Future Prospects of Dual-Arm Modular Robots”The product’s scientific layout frees up the surgeon’s working space, while its ergonomic structural design helps alleviate surgical fatigue. Its master-slave fully separated teleoperation control is designed for remote surgery and integrates with the latest visual perception technologies, offering physicians a wide range of operational modes. Reportedly, within just over a year of development, the company has achieved several global firsts and obtained six core invention patents related to ophthalmic surgical robots, and is currently applying for entry into the innovative medical device approval pathway. To precisely address clinical needs, Xianwei Medical has also developed a handheld defibrillation device, providing physicians with diverse clinical options through its rich product portfolio.

Lin Chuang | Chief Technology Officer, Beijing Xianwei Medical

China's optometry market holds immense potential; however, ophthalmic medical resources remain relatively insufficient.Co-founder of Mengying Eye Hospital&CEOMa Gang's Keynote Speech “Focus on the Present, Look to the Future》，The on-site analysis examined the current supply and demand landscape of optometric services. Ophthalmology departments in public hospitals face challenges of high patient volumes and limited consultation time, while private eye care institutions suffer from weaker professional capabilities and brand recognition. Optical shops lack medical qualifications, and product homogenization is severe. From the demand side, optometric services are essentially consumer healthcare, with users prioritizing efficacy, service quality, and convenience. Mengying Eye Care has developed its proprietary GODS myopia prevention and control system, along with educational products and humanistic services. This approach enhances clinical outcomes, improves patient adherence through educational methods, and elevates user experience through compassionate care. “Mengying Eye Care aspires to be a catalyst for transformation in the optometry industry, driving better industry development. Even if we cannot become industry heroes, we are willing to serve as stepping stones, contributing to the sector’s progress.”

Ma Gang | Co-founder & CEO of Mengying Eye Hospital

Dai Xiangsong, Deputy General Manager of Product R&D at Moting MedicalShared innovative products in the field of ophthalmology at the forum——"Columbus: Frequency-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography Biometer"》. In 2021, Moting Medical officially launched this world’s first frequency-domain biometer, which won the China National Patent Excellence Award in 2022. The product has not only achieved significant sales performance in the domestic market but also begun comprehensive promotion in international markets. By adopting frequency-domain OCT technology, the device achieves visualization while controlling costs, making its price significantly lower than that of SS-OCT-based equipment. This facilitates its adoption at primary healthcare levels, representing a form of innovation characterized by the decentralization of advanced technology. Finally, Mr. Dai Xiangsong shared three key insights on product innovation: first, accurately grasping medical needs; second, focusing on end-user requirements; and third, leveraging opportunities arising from changes in the industrial environment.

Dai Xiangsong | Deputy General Manager of Product R&D, Moptim Medical

Liu Xiangnan, Head of Digital Innovation at Roche Pharmaceuticalsshared with everyone the topic of"Development and Prospects of Digital Therapeutics in Ophthalmology"His insightful presentation. He posited that ophthalmology is an ideal domain for digital therapeutics (DTx) and further analyzed three primary application directions for DTx in ophthalmology: adjunctive therapy for non-organic lesions, disease course management, and disease prevention and control. The session demonstrated how digital therapeutics leverage audiovisual media, video, virtual reality (VR), and other auxiliary technologies to achieve therapeutic efficacy. Meanwhile, Mr. Liu Xiangnan highlighted key challenges hindering the development of digital therapeutics, including issues related to market awareness, regulation, business models, and research and development (R&D). He recommended integrating software with hardware at the R&D level and collaborating with leading experts and government entities. On the commercial front, he advised adopting differentiated strategies for public and private healthcare systems to achieve greater success.

Liu Xiangnan | Head of Digital Innovation, Roche Pharmaceuticals

In“New Pathways for Sustainable Development in Ophthalmic Healthcare”At the roundtable forum,Zhao Chan, Chief Physician of the Department of Ophthalmology at Peking Union Medical College Hospital; Wang Yingqi, CEO & Co-founder of Topcon Medical Systems (Tupuie); Dai Xiangsong, Deputy General Manager of Product R&D at Motic Medical; Liu Xiangnan, Head of Digital Innovation at Roche Pharmaceuticals;An in-depth discussion was held on issues such as innovative development in the ophthalmology industry and the challenges of integrating medicine with engineering.Wang Yueyue, Partner at Tianchao Capital ManagementServed as the guest moderator for this roundtable discussion.

Currently, the trend of import substitution in China’s ophthalmic equipment sector is evident. Mr. Wang Yingqi believes that the maturation of the industrial chain and the application of biophotonics technology are the two major drivers behind the rapid development of domestic enterprises. Mr. Dai Xiangsong pointed out that the development of the industrial system and the unique market demands in China present opportunities for the growth of the ophthalmology industry. From the perspective of digital healthcare, Mr. Liu Xiangnan highlighted three major trends: increased patient decision-making power, AI applications, and industrial upgrading, arguing that these trends will bring innovative opportunities to the field of ophthalmology. When discussing the clinical and commercial value of translating medical-engineering collaborations into practice, Mr. Zhao Chan emphasized the critical role of clinicians in defining needs and stressed the importance of full-chain drive. Mr. Wang Yingqi discussed the importance of integrating industry, academia, research, and clinical practice, asserting that successful innovative products must combine clinical value, emerging technological trends, and engineering feasibility. Mr. Dai Xiangsong mentioned the necessity of market education for new products. Finally, in her summary, Ms. Wang Yueyue expressed confidence in the persistence of ophthalmic medical innovation amid the capital winter and its expansion into international markets.

From left to right: Wang Yueyue, Managing Partner at Tianchao Capital; Zhao Chan, Chief Physician of the Department of Ophthalmology at Peking Union Medical College Hospital; Wang Yingqi, CEO & Co-founder of Topcon Medical (Tupai Medical); Dai Xiangsong, Deputy General Manager of Product R&D at Moptim Medical; and Liu Xiangnan, Head of Digital Innovation at Roche Pharmaceuticals.