New Zealand-based TheiaNova’s CEO Carissa Fonseca presented as a finalist at the Eyecelerator ophthalmic innovation conference during the 2024 American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) annual meeting. To learn more about the company’s innovative keratoconus eye drop, Glance President Jaclyn, Garlich, OD, FAAO, spoke with Fonseca. Let’s start with some background on this conference. Eyecelerator was established as a partnership between the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) and ASCRS in order to “accelerate” ophthalmic innovation via next-generation industry conferences. What it does: The competition is designed to connect entrepreneurs seeking to advance eyecare with investors and business partners. So what does it involve? The conference is held on the Thursday prior to the start of a society’s annual meeting (such as ASCRS) and includes a day of programs featuring KOLs and highlights of industry advancements, investments trends, networking opportunities, a...