April 01, 2006
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IOL, disposable instruments designed for 2.2-mm

A combination of material and design enhances plasticity and stability for the small-incision lens.

The unique material and novel design of the Xcelens IDEA’Lens enables insertion through small incisions, automatic centration, stability and maximum protection from posterior capsular opacification, according to Chris P. Lohmann, MD.

The IOL, from the Swiss company Xcelens, is not approved for use in the United States.

“It has all the accuracy and reliability of Swiss technology,” Dr. Lohmann said. “I am now using it in an increasing number of patients.”

The IDEA’Lens ranges in power from –10 D to +35 D. The material is an acrylic blend of hydrophylic 2-HEMA and hydrophobic EOEMA, which combines biocompatibility and strength, ease of folding and resistance to tearing, Dr. Lohmann said.

“The result is a lens with a high refractive index and excellent mechanical properties that is easy to fold prior to implantation, safe to inject through a 2.2-mm incision, and unfolds gently in the bag, allowing for a rapid recovery of vision,” Dr. Lohmann said. In addition, Dr. Lohmann noted the ease of injection with the disposable injector developed for the lens. “The cartridge has been completely redesigned to ensure safe positioning of the lens in the cartridge, which is extremely easy to use,” Dr. Lohmann said.

The lens design is one piece, with a 6-mm optic, a 13-mm overall diameter and 9° angulated haptics in reciprocally inversed positions. The ‘elastic band’ design of the haptics creates an automatic centration by maximizing the contact surface between the haptics and the capsule and assures adaptability to any eye architecture. The haptic-optic junction has been designed to keep the optic free of stress, Dr. Lohmann said.

“Compared with other lenses, this IOL has shown an extraordinary capability for auto-centering and stability even within large capsular bags and, conversely, an extraordinary capacity to adapt to small capsules,” Dr. Lohmann pointed out.

A patented double-square-edge design enhances PCO protection, he said.

Mini-incision surgery

 


IDEA’Lens being implanted with an injector. The lens comes with a pack of disposable instruments for use with 2.2-mm inci sions.

Image: Lohmann CP

The IDEA’Lens is included in a pack of disposable devices for performing coaxial cataract surgery through an incision of 2.2 mm.

“Several surgeons agree that bimanual microincision surgery is today facing its own limits, due to either poor quality microincision IOLs, or to the need of enlarging the incision to at least 2 mm,” Dr. Lohmann said.

“If the large incisions of standard phaco are no longer acceptable by most of us, the compromise of coaxial surgery using 21-gauge instruments seems the most reasonable approach. It is true that it takes longer than regular coaxial surgery, and that you have a lower followability, but, on the other hand, you have good anterior chamber stability, you can treat any kind of nucleus, you don’t need to enlarge the incision, and the technique is perfectly compatible with ‘gold standard’ IOLs,” Dr. Lohmann said.

The surgical instruments include a precalibrated knife for paracentesis (1.6 mm) and phaco mini-incision (2.2 mm), reusable rhexis forceps for 2.2-mm incision, a 21-gauge phaco tip, a disposable injection kit and a reusable injector with silicone tip and cartridge.

“Surgery will be completely safe, nonaggressive but efficient, and with IDEA’Lens you’ll have the opportunity to implant a gold standard 13-mm IOL with a 6-mm optic, square edge, best design for stability and centration through an incision of 2.2 mm. Despite its fairly large diameter, the lens is easily injected through such a small incision, and unfolds and sets into position in a much less aggressive way than other lenses, which makes it suitable for even narrow pupils,” Dr. Lohmann said.

“With well-balanced parameter settings, you can increase the followability, prevent occlusion and also reduce surgical time to a duration similar to that of regular coaxial,” he added.

For Your Information:
  • Chris P. Lohmann, MD, can be reached at Augenklinik, Ismaninger Strasse 22, 81675 Munich, Germany; 49-89-4140-2320; fax: 49-89-4140-4858; e-mail: chrislohmanneye@aol.com.
  • Xcelens, maker of the IDEA’Lens, can be reached at Chemin des Aulx, 18, 1228 Plan-les-Ouates, Switzerland; 41-22-884-83-49; fax: 41-22-79466-65; e-mail: info@xcelens.net; Web site: www.xcelens.net.
  • Michela Cimberle is an OSN Correspondent based in Treviso, Italy.