New intraocular lens has ability to restore sight accommodation

Oct. 9, 2013

New research presented at the International Society of Presbyopia 5th Annual Conference on October 4, 2013, demonstrates the ability of the FluidVision foldable intraocular lens (IOL) from PowerVision to restore accommodation—the eye's ability to adjust to see across a range of distances.

New research presented at the International Society of Presbyopia 5th Annual Conference (Amsterdam, The Netherlands) on October 4, 2013, demonstrates the ability of the FluidVision foldable intraocular lens (IOL) from PowerVision (Belmont, CA) to restore accommodationâthe eye's ability to adjust to see across a range of distances. Pilot clinical study results were presented by principal investigator Dr. Frik J. Potgieter, FRCS, founder and director of the Optimed Eye and Laser Clinic (Pretoria, South Africa).

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Various conditions of the eye, including cataracts and presbyopia, result in the loss of accommodative abilityâand conventional IOLs lack the ability to accommodate. The FluidVision accommodating IOL utilizes natural forces within the eye to displace fluid in the lens through internal channels, changing its shape and increasing or decreasing the power of the lens.

The pilot study included 20 patients who were candidates for cataract surgery and underwent unilateral implantation of the FluidVision lens. Initial results showed excellent distance visual acuity, averaging better than 20/20 at six-month follow-up. Near visual acuity was also excellent at six months, approximately 20/30 when tested unilaterally, a level allowing patients to read without glasses. Near acuity is expected to improve further upon bilateral implantation, which is typical of cataract treatment. At six-month follow-up, all patients showed at least 3 diopters of accommodation, as measured by the defocus method, with an average of 4.4 diopters. An accommodation range of 3 or more diopters should allow patients to see at all distance ranges without glasses.

The study was conducted at the Optimed Eye and Laser Clinic by Dr. Potgieter and his colleague, Dr. Paul Roux. Eight patients in the study have reached the six-month follow-up point, and 12 have reached at least the three-month follow-up.

Barry Cheskin, PowerVision president, CEO, and co-founder, notes that the company plans to initiate a multi-center study in Germany and South Africa, which they expect will lead to European CE Mark approval and lay the groundwork for further studies in the U.S.

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