Q&A: Early research findings and clinical experiences with a new multifocal IOL

In mid-June, Johnson & Johnson launched the presbyopia-correcting Tecnis Odyssey IOL in Europe, the Middle East and Canada. The lens was initially launched, in the United States, in October 2024. The full vision range IOL is engineered to provide higher contrast in low lighting using advanced optics and proprietary materials, according to Johnson & Johnson.

Frank Kerkhoff, MD, PhD

Following the European launch, Ophthalmology Times Europe spoke with Frank Kerkhoff, MD, PhD, who is the medical director and co-owner of FYEO, the largest eye care clinic in the Netherlands. He specialises in complex eye surgeries and refractive treatments. Dr Kerkhoff shared his clinical experiences using the Tecnis Odyssey and detailed early findings from research on the lens’s performance.

The patient base

Hattie Hayes, Ophthalmology Times Europe: In your early experience of this lens, who is receiving it, and how is it being used?

Frank Kerkhoff, MD: During the pilot phase, the Tecnis Odyssey was used unilaterally, bilaterally and in combination with the Tecnis PureSee in clients as a mix-and-match approach. After the initial phase, we observed a trend towards bilateral use of the Odyssey as clients, partly due to good preoperative counseling, do not experience halos as bothersome.

The chosen solution is tailored to the individual and depends, besides the ophthalmological factors, on several personal factors. Those include reading habits, their use of intermediate and near distances. Do they have an “active” or “dynamic” viewing style–do they often change between different viewing distances–or do they often look at a fixed distance, a more “static” style? How critical are they? We assess their driving behavior, both during day and night, as well as their body stature. A tall person, with longer arms, will have a reading distance that is further away compared to a short person, where the reading distance is closer.

OTE: What are the top treatment goals among patients with presbyopia, in your experience?

FK: For patients with presbyopia, the primary treatment goals often include achieving spectacle independence. However, it’s evident that other factors are also important, such as the reduction of dysphotopsia. Patients aim for a visual solution that minimises distracting visual artifacts while maximising clarity at all distances, which continues to shape our approach to lens selection.

Overall, to achieve the best result for each unique client, in addition to spectacle independence, attention should also be given to the extent of halos someone can and is willing to tolerate. The treatment advice is a shared decision.
True satisfaction comes when the chosen solution is tailored to the individual. This not only depends on the degree of customisation, but also on the number of adverse effects, the likelihood of needing follow-up treatments and how forgiving the chosen lens option is.

Since we started to use Tecnis Odyssey we have seen a great decrease in post-implantation enhancement.With Tecnis Odyssey we have only performed one enhancement out of 156 eyes (0.64%). This subject had a history of refractive laser, but no file with information about this treatment left. We have treated several patients with a history of refractive laser surgery. With the exception of this one patient’s experience, the rest have no objectionable residual power.

Close-up on lens design

OTE: I’m interested in patients’ response to the lens design, which is crafted for continuous visual acuity. What have patients said about their visual field experience with this lens?

FK: Patients have expressed positive feedback regarding their visual field experience with the Odyssey lens. Notably, in the first 160 eyes observed, the lens's wide landing zone provides greater forgiveness for minor residual refractive errors, enhancing visual acuity across near, intermediate and distance activities. Clinical data indicates that the lens design results in fewer halos and less glare compared to its predecessor, which suggests an improvement in patient satisfaction and overall visual experience.

OTE: Can you tell me about the clinical data surrounding lens performance in varying lighting conditions?

FK: The clinical data surrounding the Odyssey lens's performance in varying lighting conditions shows promising results. Patients report better tolerance to changes in light, with fewer instances of glare or halos, which is critical for activities conducted both during the day and at night. This performance is a significant consideration in our lens options, aiming to meet the diverse visual demands of patients.

Our first in-depth analysis was conducted in March 2025, including 52 patients (54 eyes) who had already been treated and 16 patients who were scheduled to be treated in the short term (68 patients in total). At the time of analysis, 35 out of these 52 patients had completed their 3-month follow-up visit.

Below, the numbersfrom the first in-depth analysis are presented per topic:

1. Preoperative characteristics
   1. Age
      Data from the first analysis, March 2025 (Fig 1)
      Mean age: 57.5 years on the day of treatment (± 8.2 years)
      Median: 55.9 years on the day of treatment
2. Preoperative refractive status
   1. Hyperopes (45.6%), myopes (42.6%)band emmetropes (11.8%) were included (Fig 2)
3. Visual acuity results
   1. Distance: mean UCDVA was 1.04 (decimals) at 3 months post-op (Fig 3)
   2. Intermediate: mean UCIVA was 0.84 (decimals) at 3 months post-op (Fig 4)
   3. Near: mean UCNVA was 0.74 (decimals) at 3 months post-op (Fig 5)

At a later stage, the data were re-analysed in June 2025, now including 147 patients (156 eyes). During this analysis, data on the following variables were not yet included:

• Age
• Gender
• UCIVA
• UCNVA

I am still awaiting a broader data extraction from our electronic patient records for these variables; the data are expected shortly.The analysis performed on the 147 patients showed comparable outcomes to those of the 52 patients.