Two-Year Results of Scleral Implants for Presbyopia Treatment
Narrative Responses:
Purpose
To describe the two-year results of the Refocus Procedure as a treatment for presbyopia in near emmetropic patients.
Methods
Forty-eight presbyopic subjects (95 eyes) with near emmetropia underwent the Refocus Procedure (insertion of the Refocus Scleral Implant circumferentially in the four oblique quadrants of the sclera, just posterior to the calculated lens equator.). Pre- operative and post-operative measurements (at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months) of uncorrected and distance corrected near visual acuity (UCNVA and DCNVA), as well as manifest and cycloplegic refraction were compared.
Results
At 6, 12, 18 and 24 months post-op, 79% (n=91), 82% (n=84), 86% (n=69), and 94% (n=62), respectively, reached 20/40 or better DCNVA, and the mean number of lines of improvement were 2.3, 2.2, 2.6, and 2.9 lines respectively. Distance visual acuity was not affected and the benefit of improved near vision appears to be functionally significant. There were no significant adverse reactions noted in the cohort of subjects.
Conclusion
The Refocus Procedure using the Refocus Scleral Implant shows potential as an effective solution for presbyopia in near emmetropic eyes. Key benefits include the procedure being extraocular and outside of visual axis.