This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
New accommodating IOL technologies set to expand presbyopia-correction options
 John A. Hovanesian |
KAANAPALI, Hawaii — In addition to currently available accommodating IOLs on the U.S. market, there are a number of new accommodating IOL technologies awaiting approval or in development that will improve presbyopia-correcting options, according to a speaker here.
Ocular Surgery News Editorial Board member John A. Hovanesian, MD, FACS, presented data on new accommodating lenses at Hawaiian Eye 2011.
"Current multifocal designs are excellent and can achieve greater than 90% spectacle independence for patients, but in an ideal world, it wouldn't be necessary to split light, which limits these lenses," Dr. Hovanesian said.
He also cited the risks of using multifocal implants in patients with prior refractive surgery, mild maculopathy and moderate glaucoma. "In each of these cases, patients have reduced contrast sensitivity. It's therefore very risky to use an implant that reduces contrast further."
Beyond the current Crystalens AO (Bausch + Lomb), which yields 1.5 D of accommodation in more than 80% of patients, newer, not-yet-approved implants such as the dual-optic Synchrony (Abbott Medical Optics) IOL will eventually give surgeons and patients more options, Dr. Hovanesian said.
Other technologies either awaiting U.S. approval or under development that show promise, according to Dr. Hovanesian, are the Lenstec Tetraflex, the HumanOptics 1CU, the NuLens and the Fluid Vision lens from Power Vision.
"Accommodating implants like these will certainly eventually become the standard of care among presbyopia-correcting IOLs," Dr. Hovanesian said. "Now is the time to gain some experience with accommodating implants, so you're ready for the future."
- Disclosure: Dr. Hovanesian is a consultant for Abbott Medical Optics, Bausch + Lomb and Revision Optics.
Hawaiian Eye and Retina 2012 will be held January 15-20 at the Grand Wailea Resort & Spa in Maui. Learn more at OSNHawaiianEye.com or RetinaMeeting.com.