Visco-free preloaded disposable IOL injector unveiled

A new preloaded disposable intraocular lens (IOL) injector that uses no viscoelastic was unveiled at the Asia-Pacific Association of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons meeting held, this year, in Vietnam.

Kimiya Shimizu discussed the development of the injector, which uses balanced salt solution irrigation in place of visocelastics.

Injectable IOLs represent a significant advance in cataract surgery by allowing surgeons to use much smaller incision sizes, which reduce astigmatism and speed-up visual recovery. In addition to these benefits, the injectable IOLs create a cleaner environment, which helps prevent endophthalmitis.

The new injector uses saline irrigation instead of viscoelastic to inject the IOL, which means that the capsular bag is formed more deeply and uniformly. The only additional step required is that the surgeon needs to connect the irrigation tube to the injector.

Dr Shimizu believes that the visco-free injector will also help prevent pressure rise in glaucomatous patients.