Topcon acquires IRIS, enhances AI eye screenings

(Image credit: ©Tatiana Shepeleva/AdobeStock)

Topcon Healthcare, Inc, announced it has acquired cloud-based retinal screening technology company Intelligent Retinal Imaging Systems (IRIS). In a press release, Topcon expressed its intention to integrate IRIS technologies into its Healthcare from the Eye initiative and further empower clinical decision-making using artificial intelligence (AI), especially for patients with diabetic retinopathy and other diabetic eye diseases.

Topcon’s Healthcare from the Eye program is designed to facilitate directional care coordination between primary care providers (PCPs) and eye care providers (ECPs). The IRIS acquisition supports the company’s vision of a connected care model, allowing for early identification of patients at risk of ocular disease during PCP appointments. Following primary care visits, at-risk patients can be quickly referred to ECPs; using AI-analyzed ocular data, optometrists and ophthalmologists can screen for signs of systemic or neurological disease and, if necessary, refer patients back to primary care for further evaluation.

Image courtesy of Topcon Healthcare.

Topcon also said the IRIS integration will strengthen its cloud-based connected care platform, Harmony. Harmony is “designed to unify imaging, clinical insights, and AI analytics across care settings,” the company said. Following the acquisition, Harmony users will be able to access referral and communication capabilities of the IRIS platform. Topcon said the pairing will support infrastructure for robust shared clinical decision-making and improve patient adherence.

The IRIS platform is a camera-agnostic, cloud-based model for AI-assisted diabetic retinopathy screening. Founded in 2012, IRIS has enabled more than 1.8 million screenings and identified over 279,000 cases of diabetic retinopathy throughout more than 650 health care organizations, according to the press release. The IRIS mission is to improve quality scores and address gaps in the continuum of care. Its platform is used in routine clinical settings, Federally Qualified Health Centers, and larger health systems; seamless EMR integration and broad camera compatibility maximize its scalability for providers in different environments.

Jacques Gilbert, chief strategy and business development officer at Topcon Healthcare, Inc, commented on the news. “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,” Gilbert said. “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 at IRIS, also spoke about how the acquisition will allow his company to scale up and help more clinicians. “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,” Martin said.

Reference

1. Topcon Healthcare Acquires Intelligent Retinal Imaging Systems to Enhance Connected Care Across Primary and Eye Care. Press release. Topcon Healthcare, Inc. Published July 30, 2025. Accessed July 30, 2025. https://topconhealthcare.com/article/topcon-healthcare-acquires-intelligent-retinal-imaging-systems-to-enhance-connected-care-across-primary-and-eye-care/