Topcon Acquires IRIS to Expand AI Retinal Screening Capabilities

Topcon Healthcare, Inc. has acquired Intelligent Retinal Imaging Systems (IRIS), a US-based provider of cloud-based AI-assisted retinal screening technology. The acquisition supports Topcon’s strategic vision to enhance its Healthcare from the Eye™ initiative, strengthening clinical decision-making and improving early detection and care coordination for ocular and systemic diseases, particularly in patients with diabetic retinopathy and other diabetic eye diseases.

Supporting a Connected Care Model

Topcon’s Healthcare from the Eye program is designed to improve communication and coordination between primary care providers (PCPs) and eye care professionals (ECPs). With the addition of IRIS, Topcon aims to better identify at-risk patients during PCP visits and enable more efficient referrals to optometrists or ophthalmologists for specialized evaluations. By leveraging AI-analyzed retinal data, eye care professionals can detect signs of ocular, systemic, or even neurological disease and refer patients back to primary care for further management when needed.

Enhancing the Harmony Platform

The integration of IRIS also strengthens Topcon’s Harmony connected care platform, a cloud-based system that unifies imaging, clinical insights, and AI analytics across multiple care settings. Following the acquisition, Harmony users will gain access to IRIS’s referral and communication tools, enhancing their ability to coordinate care and promote shared clinical decision-making. The combination is expected to improve patient compliance and support infrastructure for integrated workflows.

Overview of IRIS Retinal Screening Capabilities

Founded in 2012, IRIS offers a camera-agnostic, cloud-based platform designed for AI-assisted screening of diabetic retinopathy. The platform has facilitated more than 1.8 million screenings, identifying over 279,000 cases of diabetic retinopathy across more than 650 healthcare organizations. IRIS is widely adopted in routine clinical settings, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), and large health systems. Its broad camera compatibility and seamless electronic medical record (EMR) integration make it highly scalable across various clinical environments.

Leadership Perspectives on the Acquisition

Jacques Gilbert, Chief Strategy and Business Development Officer at Topcon Healthcare, emphasized the strategic alignment:
"This acquisition reflects our long-term strategy to connect the continuum of care through intelligent platforms that bring together data, workflow, and real-time decision support. IRIS enables us to expand the reach of the Healthcare from the Eye™ initiative into primary care, strengthening coordination between PCPs and ECPs, and ensuring patients receive timely, targeted care."

Steven Martin, CEO of IRIS, also expressed enthusiasm about the partnership:
"With Topcon Healthcare’s investment in connected care infrastructure, we’re well-positioned to expand our impact. Together, we’ll ensure providers of all sizes can confidently deliver preventive screenings that improve outcomes and reduce disparities."