Macroom start-up designing product to tackle dry eyes wins prestigious NovaUCD award

1.6bn worldwide suffer from dry and irritated eyes

Breda O’Regan and Sinéad Buckley, co-founders, Lia EyeCare, recipient of the 2026 NovaUCD Spin-out of the Year Award. Picture: Paul Sharp

An eyecare technology start-up based in Macroom has been named 2026 NovaUCD Spin-out of the year. 

Lia Eyecare is headquartered in the Réidh na nDoirí Gaeltacht in Macroom. The company develops user-centred products to protect and help people’s eyesight and was co-founded by Breda O’Regan and Sinéad Buckley in 2023.  Lia Eyecare is developing a non-invasive wearable product called Nightleaf to address persistent dry and sore eyes by supporting the eye’s natural overnight recovery.