Breakthrough micro-lens treatment for presbyopia

The Flexivue System, a breakthrough implantable micro-lens treatment for presbyopia from Presbia Coöperatief was unveiled at the show and it is keenly anticipated that it will be in clinical trials in several European countries by the end of the year.

Presbia has established a medical advisory board, which is headed by Prof. Ioannis Pallikaris of the Institute of Vision and Optics of the University of Crete. Dr. Pallikaris, widely regarded as the 'father' of LASIK surgery, has agreed to oversee trials of the Flexivue lens and to conduct training sessions for surgeons at his Institute. Other members of the panel are to be named shortly.
Prof. Pallikaris said: “Presbia offers a unique technology that provides the patient with correction for nearsightedness while allowing the dominant eye to continue to provide effective distance vision. Most importantly, this is a very simple and reversible procedure. Long-term research and follow-up has proven the highest level of bio-compatibility of this miniature intracorneal lens.”

The surgery involves the placement of the Flexivue lens, which is 3 mm in diameter and less than 20 microns in edge thickness, within the corneal stroma. The lens is made of hydrophilic polymer, similar to that used for the manufacture of intraocular lenses for the past 20 years. The lens is placed in a ‘pocket’ created in the cornea by the same kind of laser routinely used for LASIK surgery. The eye surgeon inserts the lens into the pocket using a special device developed by Presbia. The pocket then seals itself, holding the lens in place in the centre of the pupil. The lens can stay in place permanently, or can be easily and safely removed if, for example, the patient's presbyopia advances and a stronger prescription is required. The procedure typically takes less than 10 minutes, is performed on the non-dominant eye, and does not require anesthesia.

As the Flexivue lens is implanted using standard LASIK lasers, the procedure requires no additional capital investment from the surgeon's practice.