UC Irvine is setting its sights on new eye institute

UC Irvine has ambitious plans for its fledgling eye institute.

The school has started a $50 million fund-raising campaign to build the UCI Eye Institute and initially equip two of its four floors.

Faculty at the institute would treat patients, teach students and do research in collaboration

The institute is sure to have a big internal backer in Michael Drake, who took over as UCI's chancellor in July. Drake is an ophthalmologist who headed the University of California's medical schools and hospitals before joining UCI.

The university plans to draw on Orange County's thriving crop of businesses that develop devices or drugs to treat eyes, such as Santa Ana's Advanced Medical Optics Inc., Lake Forest-based Cooper Cos. and Allergan Inc., IntraLase Corp., Ista Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Refractec Inc., all of Irvine.

Local venture-backed eye device startups that could get involved in the institute include Irvine's AcuFocus Inc., Aliso Viejo's Eyeonics Inc. and Lake Forest's IntraLens Vision Inc.