Foldable version of Artisan lens shows promise

The new Artiflex lens is implanted much like its PMMA predecessor, but through a smaller incision.

Issue: August 1, 2002

ByMichela Cimberle

ROME – First implants of the new Ophtec Artiflex, the foldable version of the Artisan lens, are showing good results, according to Camille Budo, MD, speaking at the Rome 2002 meeting.

“The performance of the classic PMMA Artisan has always been highly satisfactory,” said Dr. Budo, who has considerable experience with this lens. “However, we have aimed for quite a long time at a foldable version to reduce postoperative astigmatism, and to meet the demands of most Artisan surgeons, who are phaco surgeons and are therefore accustomed to foldable IOLs.”

Aphakic implant

The first Artiflex IOL was implanted by Dr. Budo in an aphakic eye. This first model was a three-piece lens, with silicone optic and PMMA haptics. It had a refractive power of 22 D, and could be implanted through a 3.4-mm incision.

The surgical technique was quite similar to that of a classic Artisan. Three basic instruments were used: a spatula and two forceps.

“The lens was inserted in the eye through the phaco incision with the spatula holding it from behind,” he explained. “Once the lens was in the horizontal position, cohesive viscoelastic was injected. Then the first forceps were inserted through the main incision on the right side of the lens, to grasp the right haptic and enclavate the iris. The same procedure was repeated on the left, with the other hook. At the end, an iridotomy was performed.”

The spatula is used to fold the Artiflex for implantation.

The Artiflex is engaged in the implantation device.

Phakic IOL

The second and newest model of the Artiflex has been improved even further for implantation in phakic eyes.

“The optic is in a new material, a type of silicone with very high refractive index to reduce the thickness of the lens, which is now extremely thin and passes through a 3.2-mm incision,” Dr. Budo said. “No suture is necessary at the end of the procedure. Surgical maneuvers are basically the same. We tried different implantation techniques for this lens, like using vacuum to fix the haptics to the iris, but found that enclavation with the hooks was still the best procedure at the moment.”

A European multicenter study to evaluate the results of this IOL will start in September 2002, just after the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons meeting in Nice.

“The Artiflex needs to go through European trials, then Food and Drug Administration trials, and this will take at least 5 to 6 years. Until then, the classic Artisan will survive, then I can predict that it will be completely replaced by this new, foldable model,” Dr. Budo said.

Right forceps are used for enclavation of the right claw of the Artiflex.	Left forceps are used for enclavation of the left claw of the Artiflex.
The lens is grasped prior to implantation.	The Artiflex is fixated in the peripheral iris.

For Your Information:
Camille Budo, MD, can be reached at Sint-Godfriedstraat 8, (Sint-Truiden), Melveren 3800, Belgium; (32) 11-689684; fax: (32) 11-688286; e-mail: camille.budo@skynet.be. Dr. Budo is a paid consultant for Ophtec.
Ophtec BV, manufacturer of the Artiflex Lens, can be reached at Ophtec BV, Sohweitzerlaan 15, 9728 NR Groningen, The Netherlands; (31) 50-525-1944; fax: (31) 50-525-4386; Web site: www.ophtec.com.
Rome 2002, the 7th Annual Rome Symposium on Cataract, Refractive and Glaucoma Surgery, was sponsored jointly by Ocular Surgery News, the International Society of Refractive Surgery and the Italian Association of Cataract and Refractive Surgery.