|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
| Home > Healthy People > January 2004 |
|
|
|
Winter 2004
St. John’s Eye Specialists among first in U.S. to
use new cataract lens
 Wendell Scott. M.D.,
James Gessler, M.D.,
Craig
Peterson, M.D., and
Ronald Swendris, M.D.at St. John’s Clinic – Eye
Specialists have helped introduce a revolutionary advance in cataract
surgery. The AcrySof Natural intraocular lens is the first foldable lens
for cataract surgery patients that are specifically designed to filter
blue light. Research suggests that blue light may be a factor in causing
the onset of age-related macular degeneration, one of the leading causes
of blindness in the world.
IMPROVED QUALITY OF LIFE
When an eye surgeon removes a cataract, he or she inserts an artificial
intraocular lens. The new lens approximates the natural defense of the
human eye and effectively filters blue light. The foldable nature of the
lens allows insertion through a small incision.
“With this new intraocular lens, we are able to offer patients the
improved quality of life afforded by cataract surgery, plus the added
benefit of filtering blue light,” says Gessler, St. John’s ophthalmology
section chair.
Cataracts and age-related macular degeneration are medical conditions
often found in the aging population. Cataract surgery is the most common
surgery performed at St. John’s, Scott says.
“People with the advanced stages of macular degeneration cannot focus,
read, tell time, see faces, drive, write checks or do other close-up work.
It is an irreversible, progressive disease. Smoking, hypertension, diet
and genetics also serve as risk factors for age-related macular
degeneration,” he adds.
While many conditions contribute to cataracts and macular degeneration and
no one solution represents a cure, the blue-light filtering characteristic
of the lens may address one potential risk factor – the lens features a
yellow, blue-light absorbing chromophore bound in the implant material to
safely and effectively filter high-energy blue light, in addition to a UV
light-absorbing chromophore. While this lens provides increased blue-light
filtration, it does not alter color vision, or the ability to see under
dim light conditions.
“A growing body of evidence shows high-frequency blue light may cause
retinal damage,” says Robert Cionni, M.D., medical director of the
Cincinnati Eye Institute and clinical investigator of the AcrySof Natural
lens.
He added that the lens filters out this potentially dangerous light
without negative visual consequences.
“I plan on using this lens as my standard implant,” Scott explains. “It’s
going to provide better long-term protection and is one of those easy
issues, because there are no added side effects for the patient – only
more protection and better benefits."
|
|
|