ZEISS and M2care Co-Lead Maculaser Funding Round to Support Clinical Development of Temperature-Controlled Retinal Therapy

ZEISS and M2care Co-Lead Maculaser Funding Round to Support Clinical Development of Temperature-Controlled Retinal Therapy

(IN BRIEF) ZEISS Ventures has participated in the latest funding round of Maculaser, a Finnish medtech company developing a patented, non-damaging, temperature-controlled retinal laser therapy. The round, co-led by ZEISS Ventures and M2care, will help Maculaser begin clinical development of its personalised treatment for retinal diseases, particularly age-related macular degeneration and diabetic maculopathy. Built on research from Aalto University, Maculaser’s technology enables real-time temperature control of retinal tissue during treatment, allowing affected areas to be treated earlier while activating the eye’s natural cellular defence mechanisms. The company aims to delay or potentially prevent progression to late-stage AMD, reduce the risk of severe vision loss and offer an outpatient, repeatable procedure that can fit into regular eye care. ZEISS Ventures said the technology could support earlier and safer intervention, while Maculaser said ZEISS’s strategic investment brings both capital and ophthalmic expertise to help move the therapy toward clinical practice.

(PRESS RELEASE) OBERKOCHEN, 28-May-2026 — /EuropaWire/ —  ZEISS Ventures has taken part in the latest funding round of Maculaser, a Finnish medical technology company developing a non-damaging, temperature-controlled retinal laser therapy designed to support earlier treatment of retinal diseases and help reduce the risk of vision loss.

The funding round, co-led by ZEISS Ventures and M2care, will support Maculaser as it prepares to begin clinical development of its personalised retinal laser treatment. The investment strengthens Maculaser’s plans to bring a new therapeutic approach into retinal care, particularly for conditions such as age-related macular degeneration and diabetic maculopathy.

Maculaser’s technology is based on pioneering research from Aalto University. The company has developed a patented laser platform that enables real-time, personalised temperature control of retinal tissue during treatment. The approach is designed to treat affected areas of the retina without causing damage, while activating the eye’s natural cellular defence mechanisms.

By targeting retinal disease earlier, before irreversible damage occurs, Maculaser aims to delay or potentially prevent progression to late-stage age-related macular degeneration. The company’s technology is also intended to reduce the risk of severe vision loss and offer an outpatient, repeatable procedure that can be integrated into routine eye care.

Prof. Dr Boris Hofmann, Head of ZEISS Ventures, said Maculaser’s temperature-controlled retinal laser technology could enable earlier intervention in retinal diseases and may significantly delay or even prevent disease progression. He said the approach could improve patient outcomes by offering an earlier, safer and more effective option than currently available treatments.

Jani Tirronen, CEO and Co-Founder of Maculaser, said ZEISS’s role as a strategic investor provides the company with both capital and ophthalmic innovation expertise. He noted that the support from ZEISS Ventures strengthens Maculaser’s ability to advance temperature-controlled retinal laser therapy toward clinical practice and ultimately benefit millions of patients.

Maculaser’s innovation has the potential to shift retinal care from the management of late-stage disease damage toward proactive preservation of vision. By enabling earlier, non-damaging treatment, the technology could give ophthalmologists and patients a new data-driven laser therapy option for addressing retinal disease before severe vision impairment develops.

The investment reflects ZEISS’s continued interest in ophthalmic innovation and health technology, while supporting Maculaser’s efforts to develop a new category of retinal therapy focused on precision, safety and early intervention.

About ZEISS

ZEISS is an internationally leading technology enterprise operating in the fields of optics and optoelectronics. In the previous fiscal year, the ZEISS Group generated annual revenue totaling almost 12 billion euros in its four segments Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology, Industrial Quality & Research, Medical Technology, and Consumer Markets (September 30, 2025).

For its customers, ZEISS develops, produces, and distributes highly innovative solutions for industrial metrology and quality assurance, microscopy solutions for the life sciences and materials research, and medical technology solutions for diagnostics and treatment in ophthalmology and microsurgery. The name ZEISS is also synonymous with the world’s leading lithography optics, which are used by the chip industry to manufacture semiconductor components. There is global demand for trendsetting ZEISS brand products such as eyeglass lenses, camera lenses, and binoculars.

With a portfolio aligned with future growth areas like digitalization, healthcare, and Smart Production and a strong brand, ZEISS is shaping the future of technology and constantly advancing the world of optics and related fields with its solutions. The company’s significant, sustainable investments in research and development lay the foundation for the success and continued expansion of ZEISS’ technology and market leadership. ZEISS invests 15 percent of its revenue in research and development – this high level of expenditure has a long tradition at ZEISS and is also an investment in the future.

With over 46,600 employees, ZEISS is active globally in around 50 countries with more than 60 sales and service locations, around 40 research and development facilities, and 30 production facilities worldwide (September 30, 2025). Founded in 1846 in Jena, the company is headquartered in Oberkochen, Germany. The Carl Zeiss Foundation, one of the largest foundations in Germany committed to the promotion of science, is the sole owner of the holding company, Carl Zeiss AG.

Further information at www.zeiss.com

About ZEISS Ventures

ZEISS Ventures, the corporate venture capital arm of the ZEISS Group, makes investments and actively manages a portfolio of start-up companies. The goal is to invest in and partner with deep-tech start-ups, which go beyond ZEISS’ core business and have the potential to disrupt and innovate existing technologies and business models. ZEISS Ventures seeks to empower start-ups not only with financial support but also with access to its resources, expertise, and global network as a deep-tech corporation to foster and accelerate the development and commercialization of market-shaping innovations.

Further information at www.zeiss.com/ventures

About Maculaser

Maculaser is a Finnish medtech company founded in 2020, headquartered in Helsinki, Finland. Born from pioneering research at Aalto University’s biomedical engineering laboratory, Maculaser develops a patented temperature-controlled retinal laser therapy designed to treat common blinding eye diseases — including age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic macular edema (DME), and central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC). The company’s non-damaging approach enables personalized, safe, and effective treatment at earlier stages of disease, aiming to reduce the need for costly and invasive drug injections.

For more information, visit www.maculaser.com

Media Contact:

Julian Bosch
Corporate Brand, Communications and Public Affairs
ZEISS Group
Tel: +49 7364 201 4735
julian.bosch@zeiss.com

SOURCE: ZEISS