While there are some existing treatments that attempt to apply the technology approved for older cataract patients in order to also treat presbyopia, the Flexivue Microlens® solution is one of the few surgical procedures specifically targeted for the treatment of presbyopia. In addition, most current alternative procedures for treating presbyopia are cosmetically unappealing, more invasive, and are not reversible.
Using a femtosecond laser to create a pocket in the cornea, the Flexivue Microlens® is implanted using Presbia’s proprietary insertion tool. This tiny lens is only 3 mm in diameter, approximately 15 microns in edge thickness, and is barely discernible when placed within the corneal stroma. The lens is made of a hydrophilic polymer, similar to the kind that has been used to make intraocular lenses (IOLs) for over 20 years. The Flexivue Microlens® is easily removable and the process is reversible.
Corneal inlays are less invasive and offer much greater patient satisfaction than other types of current or proposed treatments for presbyopia. Most patients with presbyopia use reading glasses as a treatment but are unsatisfied with this option. Other surgical treatments may eliminate the need for reading glasses, but they have side effects which create monovision—not an optimal solution for many patients.
The Flexivue Microlens® is easy to implant and, in most cases, the procedure takes less than 10 minutes. The Flexivue Microlens® is removable and replaceable if the patient needs additional power later since visual acuity predictably changes with aging.
