FDA-Approved Raindrop Near Vision Inlay Corrects Blurry Reading Vision -- Now Available in Utah for the First Time

Print 01 September 2016
Yahoo Finance

SALT LAKE CITY, UT--(Marketwired - Aug 30, 2016) - Most people begin to notice a decline in their near vision in their early 40s and 50s, which typically occurs as a result of a frustrating but inevitable age-related change in vision called presbyopia. Fortunately, recent advancements in technology provide surgical options to improve near vision and offer patients restored visual independence. On June 29, 2016, The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the Raindrop® Near Vision Inlay -- a surgical implant produced by ReVision Optics, Inc. -- used to help improve near vision in patients between the ages of 45-65 years old who suffer from presbyopia.

The Eye Institute of Utah, a comprehensive Salt Lake City eye surgery and vision care center, will be the first practice to offer this revolutionary technology in the state of Utah, and it is actively seeking qualified patients who would benefit from the freedom provided by the Raindrop® Near Vision Inlay. To determine candidacy, people need to have their vision and eyes thoroughly evaluated in a free consultation offered at The Eye Institute of Utah.

The Raindrop® Near Vision Inlay is implanted in the cornea (front surface of the eye) in the patient's non-dominant eye during a 10 to 15-minute outpatient procedure. Once implanted, the inlay is designed to reshape the surface of the cornea to more strongly focus light and improve the patient's near and intermediate vision. The Raindrop® inlay is smaller than a pinhead, thinner than a human hair, and is composed of a water-based, hydrogel material that is virtually invisible to the naked eye.

The Raindrop® inlay is the second corneal inlay to receive FDA approval in the U.S. to correct presbyopia -- the first being the AcuFocus KAMRA™ corneal inlay. Both inlays can achieve improved near vision by implanting the inlay in the non-dominant eye, but instead of reshaping the cornea to correct vision, the KAMRA™ inlay uses an opaque mini-ring to create a pin-hole effect. A thorough examination with an experiencedrefractive surgeon is needed to determine candidacy for the Raindrop® or KAMRA™ inlays.

"Prior to the FDA approvals of both the Raindrop® and KAMRA™ inlays, there were few solutions, other than reading glasses, for people who were frustrated with blurry near vision due to presbyopia," explained Dr. Robert J. Cionni, Medical Director at The Eye Institute of Utah. "We are thrilled to be able to provide these surgical advances to our patients and to be one of the first practices in the country to offer the Raindrop® inlay."

The FDA approval was supported by the success of a clinical trial studying the safety and effectiveness of the Raindrop® inlay. Results indicated that, of the 373 people that had the Raindrop® implanted in the study, 92% had achieved 20/40 near vision or better.

About The Eye Institute of Utah
Established in 1980, The Eye Institute of Utah is one of the leaders and pioneers in clinical and surgical eye care in Utah. The team of Salt Lake City eye doctorsspecialize in refractive surgeries including LASIK, PRK, ICL, KAMRA™ and Raindrop® corneal inlays, and refractive lens exchange. In addition, they offer advanced treatment of cataracts, corneal and retinal disease, glaucoma, and advanced dry eye. Patients are referred from all over the world to The Eye Institute's team of experienced and respected surgeons. The practice is committed to superior patient care and continued innovation and excellence in eye care. The Eye Institute of Utah surgeons are available for interview upon request.

To learn more about The Eye Institute of Utah, please visit theeyeinstitute.com or facebook.com/theeyeinstitute.

To view the original source of this press release, click here:
https://www.theeyeinstitute.com/news-room/fda-approved-raindrop-near-vision-inlay-corrects-blurry-reading-vision-now-available-in-utah-for-the-first-time

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