Alcon apodized diffractive IOL approved for cataract patients with, without presbyopia

April 19 - Washington, DC - Alcon Laboratories Inc. introduced the newest addition to its IOL family during a press conference Monday. The AcrySof ReSTOR apodized diffractive IOL recently received FDA approval for cataract surgery in patients with or without presbyopia.

Cary Rayment, president and chief executive officer of Alcon Laboratories, said the company's scientists began work on this lens technology more than 10 years ago. Their objective was to develop a safe and effective IOL that provided patients with a full range of vision, reducing either the need or dependency on glasses. They also aimed to minimize visual disturbances such as glare and halo and to incorporate this optical technology on the AcrySof acrylic platform.

Stuart Raetzman, vice president of sales and marketing, surgical cataract group for Alcon, explained the technology behind the lens. The ReSTOR uses a combination of three complementary technologies: apodization, diffraction, and refraction.

Richard Mackool, MD, a clinical investigator for the AcrySof ReSTOR IOL, presented trial outcomes. Eighty percent of patients who received the apodized diffractive lens reported that they "never" needed glasses or bifocals following bilateral cataract surgery compared with 8% in the monofocal control group, he said.

In terms of patient satisfaction with the lens, nearly 94% of patients said they "would do it again," Dr. Mackool said. He also is director of the Mackool Eye Institute and senior attending surgeon at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary.

In addition, Susan Byrne spoke on her experience with the new product from a patient's perspective.

"The results were amazing and immediate," said Byrne, who also is Dr. Mackool's surgical scheduling coordinator. "The experience has given me back the sight I had when I was younger."