Our History
Our Origin: A Better Way Forward
From Dr. Richard Hill’s idea to reality. Glaukos was founded on a simple but powerful belief and invention: patients with glaucoma deserve better treatment options.
The company’s origin traces back to Orange County, California, Dr. Richard (Rick) Hill was confronted with a deeply personal challenge. A teenage youth visited Rick and was diagnosed with advanced glaucoma and faced invasive, end-stage surgical treatment — procedures associated with significant risk and morbidity. Unwilling to accept that these procedures were the best available treatment option for patients, Dr. Hill devised a novel, inspired and game-changing approach to the treatment of glaucoma.
From Impossibility to Innovation
Dr. Rick Hill, a researcher and glaucoma specialist at the University of California, Irvine, was inspired by a novel idea: restoring the eye's natural fluid outflow through a micro-invasive, internal implantation of a medical device. His idea was to devise a tiny stent made small enough to restore physiological outflow of fluid in the eye to reduce intraocular pressure to safely and effectively treat glaucoma and thereby avoid the major drawbacks of current invasive glaucoma surgeries.
At the time, experts believed the concept was not feasible—the technology and manufacturing required to create such a precise, microscale device simply did not exist.
Dr. Hill and team challenged that assumption.
Bringing in Dr. Mory Gharib of Caltech, a world-renowned expert in fluid dynamics, Drs. Hill and Gharib, together with ingenuous contribution of Glaukos engineering leaders, combined medical insight with critical engineering and manufacturing innovation to design a breakthrough solution. Together, they developed the first prototype of what would become the iStent®—the world's first micro-scale trabecular bypass device.
Building a New Category
What began as a bold idea has since evolved into an entirely new clinical category of interventional treatment for glaucoma patients.
Glaukos has since expanded its platform into a portfolio of micro-scale therapies designed to address the full spectrum of glaucoma disease severity. Generational innovations like iStent inject® and iDose® TR build on the original vision—delivering safe and effective treatment while minimizing disruption to patients' lives
Our Mission Today
From a single patient's unmet need to a global innovation platform, Glaukos continues to redefine how glaucoma and other sight-threatening diseases are treated.
We remain committed to advancing therapies that restore natural physiology, reduce treatment burden, and improve outcomes for patients around the world.
Our History of Firsts
Since our inception, every milestone has pushed us to the next, enabling us to transform the future of eye care.
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Glaukos is founded
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The first trabecular micro-bypass glaucoma stent is developed
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The first human implant of micro-bypass glaucoma stent is performed
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Landmark trial evaluating iStent® in conjunction with cataract surgery begins
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Glaukos receives Category III CPT code to describe insertion of a flow device into the trabecular meshwork of the eye
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Glaukos establishes a direct sales organization and launches iStent in the United States
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Glaukos secures 100% Medicare coverage for the iStent® procedure
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Glaukos establishes a direct sales organization and launches iStent inject® in Germany
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Glaukos completes initial public offering
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iStent® is approved in Japan
iStent® launches in Australia and Canada
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Glaukos expands into 17 countries with direct sales operations
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iStent inject® is approved by the FDA in combination with cataract surgery; US commercial launch
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Glaukos acquires Avedro, establishing the cornerstone of a new corneal health franchise
Glaukos acquires DOSE Medical, establishing a new R&D retinal program
Glaukos enters licensing agreement with Intratus for a non-invasive, cream-based drug delivery platform
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iStent inject® W is launched
The iLink® corneal cross-linking procedure is introduced to the Glaukos family
Glaukos completes convertible debt financing
Glaukos issues inaugural sustainability report
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Glaukos completes patient enrollment in Phase 3 clinical program for iDose TR
Glaukos surpasses 200 peer-reviewed publications on iStent technologies
Glaukos enters licensing agreement with Attillaps Holdings, Inc.
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U.S. commercial launch of iAccess and iStent infinite®
Glaukos exceeds 1 million iStent devices implanted
Commenced Phase 2 clinical program for iLution platform
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Glaukos receives FDA Approval for iDose® TR (travoprost intracameral implant), 75 mcg
Glaukos commences first-in-human clinical development for retina program (GLK-401)
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iStent infinite EU MDR Certification
Glaukos receives FDA Approval for Epioxa™ (riboflavin 5’-phosphate ophthalmic solution)
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Glaukos exceeds 3 million iStent devices implanted
Looking Ahead at Glaukos
Glaukos is actively developing microsurgical devices, pharmaceuticals, and biosensors for the treatment of chronic eye disease. Stay tuned!
Empowering ophthalmic growth worldwide
With direct sales operations in 17 countries, we employ more than 250 commercial sales personnel worldwide. And we serve additional international markets through relationships with valued distributors. In all, our technologies are currently approved for use in more than 30 countries, and we continue to pursue regulatory approvals in more regions.