Interview with Pablo Artal, Founder and CEO of Voptica: “The CDTI Innovación Excellence Seal SME aid and FEDER funds have boosted our intraocular lenses, their clinical validation, and international expansion”
Voptica is advancing the development of next-generation optical solutions aimed at improving visual quality for patients with complex eye conditions, leveraging cutting-edge research and technology transfer. Supported by the CDTI Innovación Excellence Seal and co-financed by European FEDER funds, its ClearVIS project seeks to address unmet clinical needs in ophthalmology.
In the field of ophthalmology, where technological advances directly impact the quality of life of millions, the ability to translate scientific research into clinical practice is crucial. In this context, Voptica develops advanced optical solutions based on leading research with a strong focus on technology transfer.
Founded in 2010 as a spin-off of the University of Murcia, Voptica emerged from the work of the Laboratory of Optics (LOUM), an internationally recognized group studying human eye optics. “The company was created to transfer years of accumulated knowledge into clinical and industrial applications, particularly regarding the optical quality of the eye and the limitations of conventional solutions,” explains founder and CEO Pablo Artal.
Since then, the company has evolved into a model where research remains at the core of its activities. With a team of 14 professionals—12 dedicated to R&D—and a strong international focus, Voptica combines scientific excellence, clinical knowledge, and technological development to design solutions that enhance patients’ real visual quality.
From Research to the Clinic
One of the company’s main milestones has been the development of technologies that, for the first time, allow clinicians to preview how a patient will see before undergoing surgery. “We were pioneers in bringing adaptive optics–based visual simulators to the clinic, which allows treatments to be personalized and clinical decision-making to be improved,” says Artal.
Alongside this, Voptica has developed a new generation of intraocular lenses, called ArtIOLs, representing a significant evolution over traditional solutions. These lenses, designed with innovative optical principles, aim to provide visual quality closer to the patient’s real experience.
Voptica’s international focus is clear. Most of its sales are currently outside Spain, with a growing presence in Europe and emerging Asia-Pacific markets. “For our lenses, more than 75% of sales come from abroad, and this trend continues to grow,” notes the CEO.
Addressing Unmet Needs
In this continuous innovation context, the ClearVIS project—supported by CDTI Innovation and FEDER funds—is one of the company’s most ambitious developments. Its goal is to address an unmet medical need: improving visual quality in cataract patients who also have retinal conditions such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
“We decided to drive ClearVIS because conventional solutions do not always perform optimally in these patients, especially for peripheral vision, which is crucial for many visual functions,” Artal explains.
Voptica’s approach extends the optical advantages of its ArtIOL lenses to a new design specifically for this clinical profile. “We aim to maximize overall visual quality, not only along the central axis but also outside it, where many current lenses have limitations,” he adds.
Enhancing Vision and Autonomy
The potential impact of this technology goes beyond visual improvement. In conditions like AMD, where central vision deteriorates progressively, the ability to utilize peripheral vision becomes essential.
“Our technology is specifically designed to optimize peripheral vision, providing a clearer and more useful image outside the visual axis,” explains Artal. This can translate into tangible daily-life benefits: orientation, mobility, and object recognition in the environment.
While it is not a cure, it offers a significant functional benefit. “We can give patients a sort of ‘extra time,’ improving the use of available vision and delaying the practical impact of the disease,” he notes.
Overall, this translates into greater autonomy, safety, and well-being—key factors for patient quality of life.
A New Way to Understand Intraocular Lenses
The difference between ArtIOLs and traditional lenses lies in their design. Unlike lenses optimized only for central vision, Voptica proposes a more comprehensive approach.
“Our lenses are designed to provide high-quality images for both central and peripheral vision. It is a unique design, the result of years of research,” Artal explains.
The technological key is the inverted meniscus geometry, which interacts more naturally with the eye’s optics and improves image quality under real conditions. “Instead of splitting light into multiple foci, we generate a continuous functional depth of focus, using controlled aberrations that are vision-friendly.”
This approach not only improves visual experience but also reduces unwanted effects like halos or glare, common in other solutions.
Validating the Difference
Bringing this concept into clinical practice has been challenging. “The main challenge has been ensuring that an innovative optical design works robustly in real eyes, where variability is significant,” Artal admits.
Factors such as lens decentration, pupil dynamics, and individual aberrations require extensive modeling, simulation, and experimental validation.
Adding to this is the complexity of bringing a completely new technology to market as a small company. “Overcoming regulatory, industrial, and clinical barriers with limited resources adds an extra level of difficulty,” he points out.
Institutional support has been crucial in this process. “The backing from CDTI, obtained through the EIC Excellence Seal and co-financed with FEDER funds, has been decisive for us. It has allowed us to accelerate development, complete our lens portfolio, and advance clinical validation for international launch,” he affirms.
Barriers and Adoption in Healthcare
Beyond technology development, one major challenge is adoption within the healthcare system. “There is clinical and regulatory inertia. Introducing new technologies requires solid evidence, time, and changes in routine practice,” Artal explains.
Economic factors, such as evaluation and reimbursement processes, can also slow patient access to new solutions. To overcome these barriers, Voptica relies on an evidence-based and collaborative strategy. “It is essential to generate robust clinical data, work with leading ophthalmologists, and demonstrate that these innovations provide real value.”
In this regard, support from CDTI Innovation and FEDER funds has had a multiplying effect. “Beyond financial support, this type of aid brings credibility and confidence, facilitating the attraction of partners and investors. Without this backing, progress would have been slower and more uncertain.”
Innovation with Global Impact
Voptica’s case illustrates the potential of public funding to drive innovation. “European funding has a significant economic and social impact. It strengthens the innovation ecosystem, drives knowledge transfer, and allows advanced technologies to reach society sooner,” Artal emphasizes.
In Voptica’s case, this impact translates directly into solutions that improve patients’ quality of life while also enabling competitiveness in a highly demanding global market.
With over 70% of its budget allocated to R&D and a growing patent portfolio, the company is in a key phase of consolidation and international expansion.
Future Plans
Looking ahead, Voptica aims to consolidate its position as a leader in advanced optical technologies. Its solutions will evolve toward greater personalization and adaptation to diverse clinical profiles.
“We expect lenses to become increasingly tailored to the real needs of patients, especially in complex cases like retinal pathologies,” Artal notes.
The company will also continue developing new diagnostic and simulation tools, reinforcing its integrated approach to vision improvement.
Globally, the goal is clear: to make its technology a reference standard. “We believe our approach, based on a deep understanding of eye optics and focused on real visual functionality, can make a difference compared to more traditional solutions.”
Projects like ClearVIS not only open new market opportunities but also strengthen the role of Spanish biomedical innovation internationally. As Artal concludes, “It is possible to transform excellent research into advanced clinical technology with a direct impact on patients.”
CDTI Innovation
The Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology (CDTI E.P.E.) is the innovation agency of the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, aimed at promoting technological innovation in business. Its mission is to ensure that Spanish companies generate and transform scientific and technical knowledge into globally competitive, sustainable, and inclusive growth. In 2025, under the 2024–2027 Strategic Plan, CDTI provided over €2 billion in support to Spanish companies and startups.
More info:
Web: www.cdti.es
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Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/CDTIoficial
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