The 1stQ Story

The 1stQ Story

Founded in 1997 as a “one-man show”, 1stQ is today one of the last owner-managed marketer of intraocular lenses standing for highest quality and functionality in cataract surgery.
Many things have happened since that time. Yet, one fact has remained constant: an absolute dedication to innovative development and continual improvement of products and processes for the benefit of patients suffering from cataract.


1997

The starting signal

Rüdiger Dworschak, a graduate engineer, is founding the Rüdiger Dworschak GbR (a BGB partnership organised under the German Civil Code) in the basement of his private home, as a one-man organisation to develop and market medical products for ophthalmic use.

1998

Rüdiger Dworschak develops the first generation of the AddOn® IOL

2000

Relocating the company with its 5 staff members to the city of Mannheim

2001

Strategic partnership

with Human Optics Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, changing the company name into Human Optics

2001

Membership in Berufsverband Medizintechnologie (www.bvmed.de), a business association of medical technology companies. The business activity of 1stQ is focused on the segment of ophthalmic surgery, and 1stQ becomes one of the initiators and founders of the German nationwide campaign „Initiative Grauer Star“ (www.initiativegrauerstar.de), meaning „Cataract Initiative“.

2008

Termination of the partnership with Human Optics

Introduction of a new generation of acrylic lenses

2008

Foundation of 1stQ GmbH

for expansion into international marketing, beginning to establish a worldwide network of experts and distributors

2009

strategic partnership with Medicontur Kft., Hungary

Changing the company name into 1stQ Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG

2009

Made in Germany!

1stQ is granted the Certification of Conformity with ISO Standards as manufacturer of intraocular lenses

Setting up an own warehouse facility for storage and deliveries from the Mannheim location

2009

1stQ shows up as first-time exhibitor at both, the DGII (www.dgii.org) and
the DOC (www.doc-nuernberg.de) conventions

2010

Relocation to the present company headquarters at the Mannheim Eastsite

2010

Introduction of hydrophilic & hydrophobic IOLs,
irrespective of the design

2010

First international presentation of 1stQ as exhibitor at the ESCRS (www.escrs.org) convention

2010

Introduction of the 2nd AddOn® generation!

Special sulcus design of the AddOn® IOL is patented.

2011

1stQ demonstrates social responsibility and commitment by supporting the British ophthalmologist Dr. Helen Roberts and her team at Kwale District Eye Centers and Taita Eye Clinic (Kenya) with know-how and donations in kind (www.eyesforeastafrica.org).

Acquisition of Technoko Medizinprodukte GmbH

2011

Increasing focus on function-related explanation, diagnostics and therapy for the treatment of cataract. Aiming at Optimal, Natural Vision (ONV) after cataract surgery based on the proprietary Qfunctional IOL system!

2012

Preloaded & non-preloaded IOLs, irrespective of design and material

2013

Qprogressive – multifocal IOL from 1stQ

2014

Strategic partnership with Austrian Center for Medical Innovation and Technology, ACMIT (www.acmit.at) in the area of research & development.

2015

Innovation on the basis of AddOn®,

launch of Macula Lens AddOn® SML (Scharioth Macula Lens).
The accolade on the JRCS cover follows shortly after.

2016

Breakthrough in Asia. 1stQ is granted the AddOn® sulcus design patent and approval for the Chinese market.

2017

20 years 1stQ!

Independent and owner-managed full-range supplier in the segment of cataract surgery, with head office in Mannheim/Germany, comprising 30 staff members, and operating on a worldwide scale under „German Engineering“ as seal of quality.

2019

Liberty²

The dual-lens system consisting of Basis and AddOn IOL re-defines Trifocality! (www.1stq.de/liberty2)