Single-use IOL implantation system is safe and sterile

Key Points

The components of the system are made of a lightweight polymer material; the system has a cartridge that contains a preloaded IOL, he explained.

"The device is fully disposable, the IOL is preloaded, and the delivery of the lens into the eye is completely planar even with three-piece, haptic-type IOLs," said Dr. Steinert, vice chairman of clinical ophthalmology, director of refractive, cornea and cataract surgery, and professor of ophthalmology and professor of biomedical engineering, University of California Irvine, Irvine. "The device can be advanced either with a plunge or with a twist screw mechanism. The device is inserted through a 2.8-mm incision."

The IOL has a haptic made of polyimide, which is a tougher material than polymethylmethacrylate when using this new type of injector.

"This material is particularly useful because there is no worry about damaging a kinking haptic," he said.

"My clinical impression after having used this system in the laboratory is that the preparation is very straightforward, it is comfortable to hold, and provides ease of surgical use, and it is disposable. There is no contact with the implant during the preparation," Dr. Steinert continued.

"These features, therefore, afford several advantages. The loading is extremely reliable and because there is no contact with the IOL the sources of sterile and infectious endophthalmitis are reduced. Removing any contact of the implant with the external environment is critical," he concluded.

This implantation system is in the prerelease phase in Europe and will be available later in the United States.