Purpose Before Exit: Building Ophthalmic Innovation that Lasts with Daria Lemann-Blumenthal

Purpose Before Exit: Building Ophthalmic Innovation that Lasts with Daria Lemann-Blumenthal

In this episode of Oracles of Eye Innovation, host Kris Morrill speaks with Daria Blumenthal, CEO of NanoDrop and former CEO of Belkin Vision, about legacy, leadership, and purpose-driven innovation in ophthalmology. Daria shares her deep personal roots in the field, from a family history shaped by displacement and resilience to her father’s pioneering work in cataract surgery and glaucoma care. She reflects on leading the development of DSLT, Belkin Vision’s acquisition by Alcon, and why she views exit not as the goal, but as a means to scale impact. The conversation explores startup leadership, working with physician-inventors, building strong boards, Israeli innovation culture, and Daria’s perspective as a female CEO leading with empathy, persistence, and what she calls “collaborative authority.”

Sustained-Release Drug Delivery with Michael O’Rourke of Re-Vana

In this episode of Oracles of Eye Innovation, Kris Morrill speaks with Michael O’Rourke, CEO of Re-Vana, about the company’s groundbreaking sustained-release drug delivery platforms that aim to dramatically reduce the global burden of intravitreal injections. Michael shares insights from his career in ophthalmic innovation and how a passionate team is driving the company from academic roots to an emerging biotech leader. Together, they explore the urgent need for new solutions in retinal care and how sustained-release technologies may reshape treatment for millions of patients worldwide.

The Iantrek Journey: From Ideas to Impact in Ophthalmology

In this episode of Oracles of Eye Innovation, host Kris Morrill speaks with Dr. Sean Ianchulev (Chairman of the Board at Iantrek) and Adam Szaronos (CEO of Iantrek). Together, they share their journeys from clinical practice to driving startup success. From Sean’s journey from Bulgaria to Harvard, and Adam’s transition from big company leadership into startups, the conversation highlights the nonlinear paths of innovation, the importance of perseverance, and the role of building the right team, or “tribe”, to move ideas into impact in ophthalmology.

Cell Therapy and the Road Ahead for Vision Restoration with Brian Culley

Brian Culley joins Kris Morrill to discuss Lineage Cell Therapeutics’ mission to change the outlook for geographic atrophy with cell therapy. From the long path of drug development to the promise of restoring vision, this episode offers an inside look at where science and business meet in the future of eye care.

Revolutionizing Cataract Surgery: Robotic Innovation with Dr. Hubschman

Dr. Jean-Pierre Hubschman joins Kris Morrill to discuss Horizon’s mission to reshape cataract surgery through robotics and AI. From the emotional leap into entrepreneurship to building a platform that enhances- not replaces- surgeons, this episode offers an inside look at the future of ophthalmic innovation.