Intracorneal lenses for the treatment of presbyopia using femtosecond laser: visual outcomes and safety

Abstract

Abstract Purpose To investigate the visual outcomes and safety of Intracorneal lenses (Flexivue Micro‐Lens, Presbia, CA)) for the treatment of presbyopia. Methods This was a prospective clinical study. An intrastromal corneal tunnel was created using femtosecond laser (Intralase 150, AMO , CA). The lens was inserted within the cornea tunnel of the non‐dominant eye of 10 presbiopian patients. Mean age was 51,23 years old ± 3,11 (5 males and 5 females). The follow‐up was up to 12 months. Results In the operated eye, mean uncorrected visual acuity for distance (UVA‐D) preoperatively, one day, one week one month, three months and six months, and 1 year after surgery was 20/20, 20/40, 20/40, 20/32, 20/32, 20/32 and 20/32 respectively, whereas for near (UVA‐N) was 20/50, 20/40, 20/30, 20/30, 20/25, 20/25 and 20/30. Binocular far vision was not altered. No tissue alterations of the cornea were found using corneal confocal microscopy. No intra or post‐operative complications were demonstrated up to one year after surgery. Conclusion Intracorneal lenses for the correction of presbyopia using femtosecond laser seems to be a safe and effective method to correct presbyopia in patients aged between 45 to 55 years old; a target group which is considered too old for refractive laser surgery and too young for clear lens extraction. Longer follow‐up and a larger population are necessary in order to draw more significant results of this new surgical approach for the treatment of presbyopia. Commercial interest