# Liane Clamen

> Liane Clamen is a Harvard-trained ophthalmologist and the founder and CEO of Adaptilens, a Newton, Massachusetts biotech building a biomimetic accommodating intraocular lens that imitates the young human lens so cataract patients can see near, intermediate, and distance without glasses. She sketched the idea more than two decades ago, fought the patent office to a 2019 grant, and in April 2024 closed a $17.5 million Series A to push the device toward its first human trial.

- **Role:** Founder and CEO at Adaptilens
- **Organizations:** Adaptilens, Massachusetts Eye and Ear (training), Harvard
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** BA, English and American Literature, Harvard College, MD, Harvard Medical School, Ophthalmology residency, Harvard Ophthalmology Residency Program at Massachusetts Eye and Ear
- **Known for:** Invented the Adaptilens Accommodating Intraocular Lens, Holds patents for a punctal plug drug delivery system and an anterior capsulotomy device, Secured a patent for an accommodating IOL in 2019 after multiple rejections

## Career timeline

- **late 1990s** — Authored a textbook chapter on the history of intraocular lenses; co-authored chapters on cataract surgery during her Harvard residency
- **2002** — Began incubating the concept of a biomimetic lens that imitates the natural human lens
- **2011** — Filed a patent application for an accommodating intraocular lens
- **2019** — Patent granted after years of rejections; founded Adaptilens
- **2020** — Signed a sponsored research agreement with Duke polymer chemist Matt Becker
- **2021** — Named a winner in MassNextGen, the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center program for women life-sciences entrepreneurs
- **2022** — Won the $75,000 grand prize in the health and life sciences track at the Harvard President's Innovation Challenge; completed computer simulations and animal trials
- **2024** — Closed a $17.5 million Series A financing round (April 2024) to advance the accommodating IOL toward human trials

## Achievements

- Invented the Adaptilens Accommodating Intraocular Lens
- Holds patents for a punctal plug drug delivery system and an anterior capsulotomy device
- Secured a patent for an accommodating IOL in 2019 after multiple rejections
- Closed a $17.5 million Series A in April 2024 (total funding reported around $20.7 million)
- Won the $75,000 grand prize at the 2022 Harvard President's Innovation Challenge
- Named a 2021 MassNextGen winner by the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center
- Produced a prototype lens demonstrating 20 diopters of accommodation, far above the 5-diopter goal

## Latest updates

- **2024-04** — Adaptilens closed a $17.5 million Series A financing round to drive development of its accommodating intraocular lens toward human trials.

## Links

- Website: https://adaptilens.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liane-clamen-b0875a156

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/liane-clamen
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-06-11