LENS IMPLANT SAVES VISION
Even after surgery, most cataract patients still need glasses for short or long distances. But a new lens implant is changing that and could also help millions of other americans see big improvements in their vision.
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For 15 years, Jean Brekke was on the road to vision loss. When cataracts finally clouded her eyesight, she looked into surgery.
Jean Brekke
Has cataracts
"It was just getting more difficult all the time to see well."
Like many cataract patients, Jean knew she'd still need glasses for reading even if she did have surgery.
But her ophthalmologist gave Jean another option: a new implant called the crystalens, which is so similar to a natural lens that the eye can still focus at most distances without glasses. Doctors simply take out the eye's natural cloudy lens but leave its outer pouch intact and attached to the eye's focusing muscles. Then, they replace it with the crystalens -- much like putting a new letter in an old envelope.
Mark Sczepanski, M.D.
Ophthalmologist
North Dakota Eye Clinic
Grand Forks, ND
"They can have their natural lens removed, have the Crystalens put in, and regain their distance vision as well as their reading vision. And that's probably part of the most exciting, the biggest reason this lens is so exciting at this point."
That could also make the crystalens a permanent fix for near- or far-sighted patients who are not candidates for the ever-popular lasik surgery.
Mark Sczepanski, M.D.
"You feel like you're giving them some years back. After 45, we're not supposed to see up-close anymore, and we're sort of cheating nature, and it's exciting to see that."
It worked for Jean. She now has 20/20 vision.
Jean Brekke
"I can read pretty much all of the small print. It's getting much, much better every day."
A turnaround that's put her back in the driver's seat.
The crystalens is currently FDA approved for people over age 50. About 300 doctors nationwide are trained to use this implant.
BACKGROUND: A cataract is a clouding of the normally clear lens of the eye, which is similar to looking through a fogged-up window. This makes it difficult to perform even the most simple, everyday tasks, like pouring a cup of coffee or reading a menu. The lenses in the eyes consist of water and protein fibers. With aging, the structure of the protein in the lens breaks down. As this breakdown occurs, clouding begins, which scatters the incoming light, preventing clear images from reaching the retina. Cataracts affect as many at 70 percent of Americans older than age 75.
TREATMENT: Typically, standard surgery consists of removing the cataract and replacing it with a clear lens implant. Local anesthesia is usually used because it is not generally required to put the patient completely to sleep. Healing occurs rather quickly, and the patient usually sees an improvement in his or her vision within a few days. However, with today's modern techniques, patients still are required to wear glasses after surgery because they have difficultly with seeing objects close up, far away, or both.
NEW TREATMENT: Mark Sczepanski M.D., an ophthalmologist with the North Dakota Eye Clinic, says there is a better solution. Instead of having to live with difficultly in eyesight after surgery, he says that a new implant called Crystalens can reduce many of the problems associated with traditional lens implantation. The crystalens hinges and contracts on a muscle inside the eyes called the ciliary muscle, whereas the old type of implant was rigid and would not focus or move with this muscle. About two years ago, the FDA approved crystalens for adults older than 50 years. Today, about 300 surgeons nationwide use it in their practice.
RESULTS: Dr. Sczepanski says, so far, results are exceeding expectations. All 10 of his patients are able to see without glasses and feel they are getting back a piece of their youth. According to the two-year study conducted by the FDA, 92 percent of participants could see 20/25 or better at distance, and 96 percent could see 20/20 at arm's length. Also, 98 percent could read the telephone book or newspaper without glasses or contact lenses.
CANDIDACY: Most patients who have healthy eyes other than their cataracts would be potential candidates for this surgery. It is FDA-approved for patients older than 50 years and can be used off-label for younger patients. Patients who are too near-sighted or far-sighted for LASIK surgery are likely candidates for crystalens.
Ross Gonitzke
Administration
North Dakota Eye Clinic
3035 Demers Ave.
Grand Forks, ND 58201
(701) 775-3151
Copyright © 2005 Ivanhoe Broadcast News, Inc.
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