Novasight Ltd. has scooped up $8 million in a series A financing that’s intended to get the company through a pivotal study of its first U.S. indication, Curesight, as well as to advance other pipeline products. The Israeli startup is tackling a range of pediatric vision disorders using artificial intelligence and eye-tracking technology.

Dry eye disease is a common problem, and Sight Sciences Inc., of Menlo Park, Calif., is looking to help those who suffer from the condition. Now, the company has seen the presentation of positive clinical data from the multicenter OLYMPIA study of Tearcare, which the company has heralded as the first wearable and intelligent eyelid technology for dry eye treatment.

Irvine, Calif.-based startup Ocutrx Vision Technologies LLC unveiled new technology that it said helps surgeons better visualize the operative field during surgical procedures. The OR-Bot Surgery Visualization Theatre combines augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR) and both human- and robot-controlled arms to facilitate exacting medical procedures without the need for physicians to look away from the patient.

Saratoga, Calif.-based startup Mojo Vision Inc. has raised $51 million in a series B-1 financing led by existing investor New Enterprise Associates (NEA). The money will be used to advance development of the Mojo Lens, the company’s first-of-a-kind smart contact lens powered by augmented reality (AR) technology.

Farmington, Conn.-based biotech startup Lambdavision Inc. is preparing to test the benefits of microgravity in producing its protein-based artificial retina, thanks to a $5 million, three-year award from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The first-of-a-kind treatment aims to restore vision to people who have lost all or much of their sight due to advanced retinitis pigmentosa (RP).

It has been predicted that the COVID-19 pandemic would cause business disruption. Now, it has claimed a casualty with Second Sight Medical Products Inc., of Sylmar, Calif., which has been forced to wind down operations, citing the pandemic and the impact it will have on the company’s ability to secure financing. Second Sight, which makes the Argus II retinal prosthesis system, said that effective March 31, 84 of its 108 employees will be laid off.

Sight Sciences Inc., of Menlo Park, Calif., scooped up $30 million in a series E preferred stock financing round that was led by D1 Capital Partners. The funds are earmarked to further advance clinical and operational development and support commercial expansion of the company’s Omni surgical and Tearcare systems.

Looking to help blind and visually impaired patients, Envision, of The Hague, Netherlands, has unveiled its plans to integrate its artificial intelligence (AI)-powered software technology into Google Glass.

The FDA has awarded a breakthrough device designation to a polymer film implant to create an artificial endothelial layer in the eye. Known as Endoart, it is designed to replace a non-functioning endothelium, which is the single layer of cells on the inner surface of the cornea. Without it, excess fluid flows into the cornea and can result in severe vision loss.

The U.S. FDA has granted breakthrough device designation to Mojo Vision Inc. for its first-of-a-kind true smart contact lens. The Mojo Lens, which features “invisible computing” and a built-in display, enables people to get timely information without having to look away from what they are doing or glance at a screen.