Near vision procedure promising

Heidelberg, Germany-Analyses of data from a German CE study show femtosecond laser-based intrastromal correction of presbyopia (INTRACOR, Technolas Perfect Vision) results in significant improvement in near vision and high patient satisfaction with stable refractive outcomes for at least 2 years, said Mike P. Holzer, MD, FEBO.

"In our study, most patients are achieving a 4- to 5-line improvement in near vision and about 80% are able to read without glasses under good lighting conditions," he said. "Safety has been good without any evidence that the procedure causes weakening of the cornea. However, it is important to select patients carefully and to recognize there are limited re-treatment possibilities at the present time."

The German CE study enrolled 63 patients at four centers. In addition to Dr. Holzer, the study investigators include Mark Tomalla, MD, Duisburg; Tobias H. Neuhann, MD, Munich; and Michael C. Knorz, MD, Mannheim.

Patients were treated in the nondominant eye and were followed at 1 day, 1 week, and 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after surgery with measurement of manifest refraction, near uncorrected visual acuity (UCNVA), distance-corrected near visual acuity (DCNVA), distance BCVA (BCDVA) and UCVA (UCDVA), and defocus curves. The enrolled patients had a mean age of 55 years, were slightly hyperopic (mean sphere +0.74 ± 0.37 D) with minimal astigmatism (mean cylinder –0.29 ± 0.24 D). Fifty-eight eyes (92%) were seen at the 12-month visit and 51 eyes (81%) had 24-month data.