IOLab

IOLab was a pioneering medical device company specializing in the development and manufacture of intraocular lenses (IOLs) used in cataract surgery. Founded in 1976, the company played a significant role in the early commercialization of IOL technology, which replaced the natural lens of the eye after cataract removal. IOLab was acquired by Johnson & Johnson in 1980 and later sold to Bausch & Lomb in 1994 for approximately $150 million. During its peak, it was a market leader in ophthalmic surgical products, including lenses, viscoelastics, and microsurgical instruments. The company's innovations helped transition cataract surgery from a procedure requiring thick glasses to one with internal lens replacement. Following its acquisition by Bausch & Lomb, the IOLab brand was eventually integrated into the parent company's broader surgical division.