Implant Approved for Near Vision

Keeping track of reading glasses can be frustrating, they never seem to be handy when you need them, but a new corneal implant that was recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration may be a solution.  The device received approval from Health Canada in September 2012 and the FDA followed in April, 2015.

The KAMRA inlay, a device which is implanted in the corner of one eye may improve near vision for adults over 45 who suffer from presbyopia; the loss of the ability to change the focusing power of the eye, generally seen with normal aging.

Candidates for the implant would not require glasses for distance vision, not have had cataract surgery and need reading glasses between +1.00 and +2.50 diopter of power.  According to an FDA press release, the device works by blocking unfocused light rays entering the eye to help improve near vision.   Peripheral light is blocked while allowing central light rays to pass through a small opening in the center of the ring-shaped device.  Near objects and small print become less blurry.

Patients can’t expect 20/20 vision with this surgery but 83.5 per cent of participants in clinical studies found their vision improved to 20/40 or better at 12 months. For more information about the device, visit the FDA website at:  http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm443471.htm .