Corneal inlay helps functional vision in presbyopic patients

The intracorneal lens is constructed of a proprietary hydrogel material that has the same index of refraction as the cornea. It is designed to be placed under a corneal flap, and the material was specifically engineered to be chemically and physically biocompatible in the cornea.

Promising technique

"This corneal inlay represents a very promising technique for enhancing functional vision in presbyopic patients undergoing hyperopic or myopic LASIK, but it can also be used to treat presbyopia in patients who are emmetropic or have had previous LASIK. Experience so far indicates the inlay procedure is simple, safe, and minimally invasive, and in contrast to excimer laser-based approaches to presbyopic treatment, this additive technology has the advantage of being removable and exchangeable. Therefore, it is able to address changes in vision that occur as presbyopia progresses," said Dr. Chayet, director, Codet Aris Laser Vision Institute, Tijuana, Mexico.

In the paired-eye study, mean preoperative MRSE was –3.29 D in eyes that underwent LASIK and received the inlay and –3.14 D in the LASIK-only eyes. For eyes that received the inlay, mean UCVA improved from 20/170 to 20/41 at distance, from 20/78 to 20/24 at intermediate, and from 20/43 to 20/28 at near. In the LASIK eyes, mean preoperative UCVA values were similar at distance, intermediate, and near. Distance UCVA was better postoperatively in the LASIK only eyes than in the eyes with the inlay (postoperative mean, 20/22), but with LASIK only there was less improvement in intermediate vision (postoperative mean, 20/41), and UCVA at near worsened to a mean of 20/75.

Safety with the inlay technology has been excellent.