Approaching the Age of 90, Billionaire Plans Cure for Blindness

Alfred Mann (L) and producer Brian Grazer

Billionaire Alfred Mann is going to turn 90 years old on his next birthday, but that’s not stopping him from using his money towards discovering a cure for blindness. He spent a majority of his life dedicated to getting a breakthrough approved to treat diabetes and is focused on making another big move forward in the medical field while he still can. His company, Second Sight Medical Products Inc. will have their initial public offering today and is valued at over $300 million.

SEcond Sight Medical Products Int currently offers an eye implant that can work with people who have an optical nerve that still functions. The goal is to take this product one step further where it would be able to connect directly to the brain of patients and cure all types of blindness. If accomplished, this would be quite an amazing breakthrough by Mann that would change and improve the world forever. Despite his age, he is still strongly motivated to do as much as he can to make this a reality. The team Mann has put together is really determined as well, especially because they are working for and with one of the smartest men around.

The company is based out of Los Angeles and is hoping to raise over $30 million through their IPO, which would break down to 3.5 million shares at a price of $9 per share. Mann owns 32% of his new company and serves as the chairman. The public offering was scheduled to happen yesterday, November 18th, but had to be delayed for a day while the company was waiting for its final regulatory approval.

Mann has already faced on major problem in the face with diabetes and was able to create a product that helps people with it. There were many challenges faced in the process of getting it approved and out onto the market, so Mann is no stranger to overcoming large feats like this. Hopefully Second Sight Medical Products Inc. can make some breakthroughs and help aid all those that suffer from blindness.

Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images

Written by Blaise Hopkins

Feel free to contact Blaise on Twitter @Blaisehopkins or check out his blog Man and His Movies.