Tackling presbyopia with an inlay

Take-home message: An investigational corneal inlay for presbyopia called the Raindrop had good near visual acuity results and patient satisfaction in a group of active patients.

 

By Vanessa Caceres; Reviewed by Jeffrey Whitman, MD

Dallas-The Raindrop Near Vision Inlay (ReVision Optics) to treat presbyopia provided good near visual acuity without glasses in a study conducted and presented by Jeffrey Whitman, MD.

The inlay, which is still an investigational device in the U.S., is inserted under a LASIK flap. It is a microscopic hydrogel inlay that creates a central steepening of the cornea to give a greater depth of focus, said Dr. Whitman, Key-Whitman Eye Center, Dallas.

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“It’s an easy procedure for anyone who knows how to make a flap for LASIK surgery,” he said.

Dr. Whitman’s study included 81 patients and focused on quality of vision and patient satisfaction after a yearlong follow up. He collected visual acuity information at one week and other follow-ups at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months.

Patients reported information on visual symptoms, visual task performance, and patient satisfaction with the use of National Eye Institute Refractive Error Quality of Life questionnaire.

At 1 year binocularly, 98% of patients had 20/20 or better uncorrected near visual acuity (UNVA), and 100% had 20/20 uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA). In the Raindrop Eye, 98% had 20/25 or better UNVA, and 96% had 20/32 or better UDVA.

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Dr. Whitman found few moderate or worse visual symptoms after Raindrop Inlay implantation. There were no reports of glare, and only 2% of patients had halos at 1 year. There was no increased difficulty for driving at night. Six percent of patients reported dryness.

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