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Draft:Khalid Mentak

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Khalid Mentak
NationalityAmerican
Other namesKal Mentak
Alma materUniversity of Florida
Occupation(s)Entrepreneur, Inventor, Investor, Philanthropist
Known forIntraocular lens design; Ophthalmic medical device innovation
AwardsUniversity of Florida MSE Distinguished Alumnus Award (2007); Humanitarian Award, Surgical Eye Expeditions (2000)
Websitekalmentak.com

Khalid Mentak is a Moroccan-American entrepreneur, inventor, and philanthropist best known for developing materials used in intraocular lenses (IOLs) for cataract surgery. He is the founder of several ophthalmic medical device companies, including Surgidev Corporation and Advanced Vision Science, and holds more than 45 patents in materials science and biomedical engineering.[1][2] He currently serves as chairman of the Vision Innovation Institute and is a board member of the Andrew Dougherty Vision Foundation.[3]

Early life and education

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Mentak was born in Morocco and immigrated to the United States to pursue higher education.[4] He earned a Master of Science (1992) and a Doctor of Philosophy (1993) in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Florida.[5] During his studies, he worked under Professor Eugene Goldberg on biomaterials for ophthalmic applications and later completed an MBA. In 2019, Mentak delivered the commencement address at the University of Florida College of Engineering, speaking about resilience and kindness.[6]

Career

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Ophthalmic innovation

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Mentak began his career developing implant materials for ophthalmology. He co-founded and led Surgidev Corporation, a manufacturer of surgical devices for cataract and refractive procedures, which was later acquired by Ciba Vision and subsequently Bausch & Lomb.[7] He went on to establish Advanced Vision Science, Inc. (AVS), a company that produced intraocular lenses and was acquired by Santen Ltd.[8]

Mentak later founded or co-founded several ventures in the ophthalmic technology sector, including Adoptics Ltd., Tenon Medical, and ClearSight LLC. His companies have specialized in intraocular lens design, polymer engineering, and medical surface technologies.[9] He has also advised venture capital firms on life science investments.

Inventions and patents

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Mentak holds over 45 patents in biomaterials and ophthalmic devices.[10] His work includes the development of the *enVista* and *Eternity* families of intraocular lenses, which are used in cataract surgery and marketed by Bausch & Lomb and Santen, respectively.[11] He has also contributed to bioactive polymers for ophthalmic implants and accommodating lens designs.

In 2012, Adoptics AG, one of Mentak’s companies, was listed among Switzerland’s Top 100 New Companies and nominated for Technology Pioneer of the Year by the World Economic Forum.[12]

Leadership roles

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Mentak serves as chairman of the Vision Innovation Institute (VII), an incubator focused on developing technologies to prevent blindness in low- and middle-income countries.[13] He is a board member of the Andrew Dougherty Vision Foundation and an emeritus board member of CureBlindness (formerly Surgical Eye Expeditions International).[14] He also co-founded the Catalyst Technology Innovation Group and serves as a venture partner at Zühlke Ventures.

Philanthropy

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Mentak has been active in global blindness prevention and humanitarian health initiatives. He received the Humanitarian Award from Surgical Eye Expeditions (S.E.E. International) in 2000 for his support of pro bono surgical programs.[15] Through partnerships with organizations such as Direct Relief International and the Andrew Dougherty Vision Foundation, he has supported medical missions and training programs in North Africa and other regions.[16]

Publications

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Mentak has written several books on entrepreneurship and innovation:

  • Letting Go to Grow: The Power of Embracing the Unknown (2023).Mentak, Kal (2023). Letting Go to Grow: The Power of Embracing the Unknown. Independent. ISBN 979-8872504542.
  • Cross-Border Capital Quest: A Startup’s Journey to Global Funding (2023).Mentak, Kal (2023). Cross-Border Capital Quest: A Startup's Journey to Global Funding. Independent.
  • Global Nomads: The Rise of the Borderless Startups (2023).Mentak, Kal (2023). Global Nomads: The Rise of the Borderless Startups. Independent.

Awards and recognition

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  • 2000 – Humanitarian Award, Surgical Eye Expeditions International.[17]
  • 2007 – Distinguished Alumnus Award, University of Florida Department of Materials Science and Engineering.[18]
  • 2012 – Top 100 New Companies in Switzerland, Adoptics AG.[19]

Personal life

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Mentak is fluent in English, Arabic, and French. He resides in California, United States.[20]

References

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  1. ^ "Khalid Mentak, Ph.D. Speaks To Graduates About The Value Of Kindness". University of Florida Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering. 2019-05-23. Retrieved 2025-10-30.
  2. ^ "Khalid Mentak Inventions, Patents and Patent Applications". Justia Patents. Retrieved 2025-10-30.
  3. ^ "Kal Mentak, PhD". Andrew Dougherty Vision Foundation. Retrieved 2025-10-30.
  4. ^ "Khalid Mentak, Ph.D. Speaks To Graduates About The Value Of Kindness". University of Florida Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering. 2019-05-23. Retrieved 2025-10-30.
  5. ^ "Kal Mentak, PhD". CureBlindness Project. Retrieved 2025-10-30.
  6. ^ "Congratulations, Class of 2019!". University of Florida. 2019-05-01. Retrieved 2025-10-30.
  7. ^ "Kal Mentak Bio" (PDF). Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati. Retrieved 2025-10-30.
  8. ^ "Kal Mentak, PhD". CureBlindness Project. Retrieved 2025-10-30.
  9. ^ "Tenon Medical, Inc. SEC Filing". U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. 2021-01-27. Retrieved 2025-10-30.
  10. ^ "Khalid Mentak Inventions, Patents and Patent Applications". Justia Patents. Retrieved 2025-10-30.
  11. ^ "Kal Mentak, PhD". CureBlindness Project. Retrieved 2025-10-30.
  12. ^ "Kal Mentak, PhD". CureBlindness Project. Retrieved 2025-10-30.
  13. ^ "Vision Innovation Institute". Retrieved 2025-10-30.
  14. ^ "Kal Mentak, PhD". Andrew Dougherty Vision Foundation. Retrieved 2025-10-30.
  15. ^ "Kal Mentak, PhD". CureBlindness Project. Retrieved 2025-10-30.
  16. ^ "Kal Mentak, PhD". CureBlindness Project. Retrieved 2025-10-30.
  17. ^ "Kal Mentak, PhD". CureBlindness Project. Retrieved 2025-10-30.
  18. ^ "Khalid Mentak, Ph.D. Speaks To Graduates About The Value Of Kindness". University of Florida. 2019-05-23. Retrieved 2025-10-30.
  19. ^ "Kal Mentak, PhD". CureBlindness Project. Retrieved 2025-10-30.
  20. ^ "Kal Mentak Bio" (PDF). Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati. Retrieved 2025-10-30.


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