Enhanced surgical technique optimizes safety and efficacy of corneal inlay
WARSAW, Poland — A new surgical technique for insertion of the Icolens corneal inlay proved safe and effective in a series of patients, according to one speaker.
“The procedure is performed under topical anesthesia and involves two stages. Stage one is creation of the corneal pocket using the Femto LDV laser (Ziemer Ophthalmics), and stage two involves insertion of the hydrogel inlay using a unique preloaded deployment device,” Sarah Moran, MD, said at the winter meeting of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons.
The Icolens corneal inlay (Neoptics) is a 3-mm bifocal microlens with a central zone for distance and a peripheral positive refractive zone for near. It is made of a copolymer of HEMA and MMA and has a central hole of 0.15 mm to facilitate nutrient flow.
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Sarah Moran
“The combination of femtosecond laser and dedicated inserter significantly improves accuracy in depth and centration, which are key to the safety and efficacy of the lens,” Moran said.
Implantation in 52 eyes of emmetropic presbyopic patients showed improvement in near vision with little sacrifice of distance vision, well compensated binocularly. Reported glare was minimal.
However, about 10% of the patients required explantation, maybe due to poor neuroadaptation.
“Though explanting or exchanging the inlay is relatively easy and safe, we need to further investigate the causes of poor results in some of the patients,” Moran said.
Disclosure: Moran has no relevant financial disclosures.