Alcon, a Novartis subsidiary, has gained CE Mark certification for its AcrySof IQ PanOptix trifocal intraocular lens for patients undergoing cataract surgery.
The lens is designed to reduce dependence on glasses as many older patients require additional vision correction following surgery. The product is indicated for adult patients, with or without presbyopia, for near, intermediate and distance vision needs.
"The AcrySof IQ PanOptix trifocal IOL is a significant innovation which further augments Alcon’s presbyopia correcting portfolio, leveraging Alcon’s AcrySof IQ IOL platform," said Franck Leveiller, head of Research and Development for Alcon’s Surgical franchise. "It is designed to provide exceptional functional vision from near to intermediate, in addition to providing excellent distance vision."
Company executives said some patients may experience visual disturbances or have difficulty seeing with the AcrySof IQ PanOptix, particularly in dim lighting, due to the product's multifocal lens design.
More than three million cataract surgeries are performed each year in Europe.1 Without presbyopia-correcting intra-ocular lenses IOL (IOLs), most patients undergoing cataract surgery experience compromised near vision, often requiring post-procedure vision correction such as reading glasses or contact lenses."Today’s patients undergoing cataract surgery are more likely to seek vision correction options to address various lifestyle tasks such as reading books, using electronic tablets, working on computers and performing outdoor activities without the need for glasses or contact lenses," said Richard Packard, M.D., F.R.C.S., FRCOphth, director and senior ophthalmologist at Arnott Eye Associates in London, United Kingdom. "The AcrySof IQ PanOptix trifocal IOL is an option that should provide these patients with a full range of vision and thus significantly reduced dependence on glasses."
A cataract is a clouding of the natural lens of the eye that affects vision. As a cataract develops, the eye’s lens gradually becomes harder and cloudy, consequently scattering light rays and allowing less light to pass through it, thus reducing the patient’s ability to see clearly. The vast majority of cataracts occur as part of normal aging but radiation exposure, steroid use, diabetes, and eye trauma can accelerate cataract development. Moreover, cataracts can be hereditary and congenital, and can develop shortly after birth.2
Cataracts are the most common age-related eye condition and the leading cause of preventable blindness in adults 55 and older.3 Cataracts are treated by surgically removing the eye’s cloudy natural lens and replacing it with an IOL. More than 98 percent of cataract surgeries are considered successful and patients usually can return to their normal routines very soon after surgery.4
Presbyopia is an eye condition triggered by the natural aging process in which the lens loses its ability to change shape to focus on close objects, such as smart phones, computers, books and menus.5 The first signs of presbyopia are eyestrain, difficulty seeing up close in dim light and problems focusing on small objects and/or fine print. The condition usually manifests itself after age 40, forcing patients to seek such remedies as reading glasses or multifocal contact lenses.6
Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis develops generic pharmaceuticals and eye care technologies. In 2014, the company grossed $58 billion in net sales, and spent $9.9 billion on research and development. Novartis Group companies employ roughly 120,000 full-time workers and its products are available in more than 180 countries worldwide.
References
1. Market Scope, 2014 Comprehensive Report on The Global IOL Market, May 20142. NIH, NEI, Facts About Cataracts, September 2009.
3. National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Eye Institute (NEI), Eye Health Needs of Older Adults Literature Review, 2007.
4. Eye Surgery Education Council, Cataract Surgery, accessed August 2013.
5. Mayo Clinic, Presbyopia, (accessed July 1, 2014).
6. Market Scope, Global Presbyopia-Correcting Surgery Market Report, April 2012.