SAN DIEGO—Tear Film Innovations Inc. (TFI) has completed a $9 million Series A preferred stock funding round led by Visionary Ventures Fund and Tigris Ventures, according to an announcement earlier this week.

TFI’s flagship product, the iLux system, is an investigational device that enables eyecare professionals to provide in-office treatment of blocked meibomian glands through targeted heating and compression of affected eyelids. The FDA is currently reviewing the device, according to the announcement.

TFI said it has recently completed a multi-site clinical study demonstrating the safety and efficacy of the system.

“This funding provides both capital as well as important support from key opinion leaders for our evaporative dry eye treatment system as we advance through regulatory approvals to commercialization,” Rob Thornhill, chief executive officer and president, said in the announcement. “The team at Visionary Ventures is a tremendous resource, with deep expertise in all facets of the ophthalmic sector and we are delighted to work with the fund as well as their affiliated doctors during this exciting phase in our company’s development."

Richard Lindstrom, MD, of Minnesota Eye Consultants and a member of the Visionary Ventures Fund investment team, noted that he believes “the early experience with the iLux product is encouraging for both patients and eyecare providers."

“As we look at the ophthalmic device sector landscape, the dry eye market is poised for strong growth in both the optometry and ophthalmology channels,” added Jeffry Weinhuff, a managing partner of Visionary Ventures Fund, an ophthalmology-focused venture capital firm investing across all aspects of the eye.