Breakthrough in Lens Technology Offers Independence from Glasses

New AcrySof® ReSTOR® intraocular lens (IOL) enables vision correction at near and distance

A revolutionary advance in cataract surgery is now available following approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Surgeons at the Michigan Eye Institute (MEI) are the first in the area certified to offer the AcrySof® ReSTOR® intraocular lens (IOL) for cataract patients with and without presbyopia. This innovative lens uses a revolutionary apodized diffractive technology to give patients a full range of quality vision (near, intermediate and distance), greatly increasing their independence from glasses after surgery. Clinical studies submitted to the FDA showed that 80 percent of patients who received the new multivision lens implant did not use glasses for any activities following cataract surgery.

Clinical results also revealed that 84 percent of patients receiving the AcrySof® ReSTOR® lens in both eyes achieved distance visual acuity of 20/25 or better and near visual acuity of 20/32 or better without glasses or contact lenses.  Only 23 percent of the conventional implant control group achieved this level. Near visual acuity of 20/32, or J2, means patients can read the very small stock quotes in the newspaper.

"The AcrySof® ReSTOR® lens is a significant advance in cataract and vision correction surgery.  With this new intraocular lens, we are able to offer patients the improved quality of life afforded by cataract surgery, plus the benefit of functional vision for both reading and distance work without glasses,” said Gary Keoleian, M.D., MEI Cataract & Glaucoma specialist.  “Other vision correction procedures offer either distance correction or near correction, but not both.”

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Michigan Eye Institute is a leading regional eye care center, offering complete optical, medical and surgical eye services in Flint, Fenton, Lapeer and Oxford.  All Physicians are Board-Certified.  State-of-the-art facilities accomadate every aspect of primary and specialty eye care.

Alcon, Inc. is the world's leading eye care company with sales exceeding $3.9 billion in 2004. Global sales of its intraocular lenses, primarily the AcrySof® family of lenses, totaled more than $580 million in 2004. The AcrySof® brand of IOLs is the most frequently implanted lens in the world, with more than 21 million implants since its introduction in the early 1990s. Alcon, which has been dedicated to the ophthalmic industry for over 50 years, develops, manufactures and markets pharmaceuticals, surgical equipment and devices, contact lens solutions and other vision care products that treat diseases, disorders and other conditions of the eye.