Will a Corneal Insert Replace Reading Glasses? Maybe

"A thin ring inserted into the eye could soon offer a reading glasses-free remedy for presbyopia, the blurriness in near vision experienced by many people over the age of 40, according to a study released at AAO 2014, the 118th annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology," reports Science Daily. "A corneal inlay device currently undergoing clinical review in the United States improved near vision well enough for 80 percent of the participating patients to read a newspaper without disturbing far distance vision needed for daily activities like driving. ...One of the devices is the Kamra inlay, a thin, flexible doughnut-shaped ring that measures 3.8 millimeters in diameter, with a 1.6 millimeter hole in the middle. When dropped into a small pocket in the cornea covering the front of the eye, the device acts like a camera aperture, adjusting the depth of field so that the viewer can see near and far. The procedure to insert the implant is relatively quick, lasting about 10 minutes, and requires only topical anesthesia." Read more.

Health Canada Approves Corneal Inlay for Presbyopia

AcuFocus, Inc. (www.AcuFocus.com), maker of a corneal inlay for the treatment of near vision loss (presbyopia), has received approval from Health Canada to market and sell the Kamra inlay within Canada. They announced further that they have received a certificate of free sale, which will now open up additional markets such as Argentina, Russian Federation, Venezuela, Peru, Mexico, India and Colombia. The inlay uses small aperture optics to restore near and intermediate vision.

Kamra Surgery Gaining with Presbyops

Dr. Francesco Carones, medical director of Centro Oftalmo-Chirugico Carones, an eye care clinic in Milan, claims that "Kamra laser reading vision," a surgurical treatment for presbyopia, is gaining significant popularity in his practice. He notes that Gian Giacomo Ferraris, CEO of Versace, and Thierry Andretta, CEO of Lanvin, chose the treatment. Today, Ferraris and Andretta reportedly enjoy quality, natural near vision without corrected vision.Read more.