FDA approves AMO's Tecnis Multifocal IOL
January 19, 2009
Advanced Medical Optics (AMO) announced last week that its Tecnis Multifocal IOL has received FDA approval for use in cataract surgery performed in the United States.
The new implantable intraocular lens (IOL) gives cataract patients superior near vision and reading speed compared to other presbyopia-correcting IOLs, according to the company.
Tecnis Multifocal IOL: Features and benefits
In a press release published January 16 on the company's website, AMO lists these additional features and benefits of the Tecnis Multifocal IOL:
- High-quality vision at all distances, day or night
- A design that performs well regardless of the patient's pupil size
- The ability to correct higher-order aberrations (spherical and chromatic abberation) for sharper vision
- A patient satisfaction rating of 95 percent &mdash the highest of any presbyopia-correcting IOL
Endorsements by eye surgeons
According to Ralph Chu, MD, founder and director of the Chu Vision Institute (Bloomington, MN), the Tecnis Multifocal IOL provides excellent surgical outcomes.
"The Tecnis Multifocal IOL delivers a predictable and consistent full range of vision," said Dr. Chu in the press release issued by AMO. "The U.S. clinical study shows that more than 94 percent of patients function comfortably without glasses for all distances, including intermediate. More importantly, my own patients are highly satisfied with the results."
Manfred Tetz, MD, professor of ophthalmology and director of Eye-Center-Spreebogen (Berlin, Germany) also has high praise for the new lens.
"The full diffractive surface of the Tecnis Multifocal IOL provides high-quality vision largely independent of pupil size and reduces chromatic aberration for better image quality," said Dr. Tetz in the AMO press release. "I have been implanting the Tecnis Multifocal IOL since 2003 because of the high-quality visual results that I can provide for my patients, who report being extremely satisfied with their vision."
Available soon in the U.S.
After several years of successful use in Europe, the Tecnis Multifocal IOL can now be used by cataract surgeons in the United States to treat patients who want greater independence from eyeglasses after cataract surgery.
AMO plans to ship the Tecnis Multifocal IOL to U.S. eye surgeons in early 2009.