Dr. Barbara Bowers of Paducah is the first doctor in western Kentucky who can implant a new type of intra-ocular lens (IOL) called Symfony when performing cataract surgery. The manufacturer, Abbot Laboratories, says it is the first and only IOL with extended depth of focus, meaning patients can have higher-quality vision at all distances and may not need to wear glasses as often.
Since the FDA approved Symfony this summer, Dr. Bowers is only the second ophthalmologist in Kentucky to perform these implantations, and has done approximately 100 since September at her office, Innovative Ophthalmology on Lone Oak Road.
Presbyopia is farsightedness caused by loss of elasticity in the eye, and it usually occurs in middle and old age. Patients who deal with this condition typically cope with it by using "cheaters" or reading glasses to see up close.
Another new option for patients with this condition is the Raindrop near vision inlay, made by Revision Optics. It is a small transparent disc about the size of a pinhead and one-half the thickness of a human hair. The inlay helps reshape the front of a patient's eye so they can see up close again. Results can be seen in as little as a week, with dramatic improvement reported over 24 months. This product was also approved by the FDA over the summer.
Dr. Bowers will be the first in Kentucky to perform these implant procedures, which are similar to LASIK surgery and typically take about 10 minutes. She has five patients scheduled for December 20.
On the Net:
Information on SymfonyInformation on Raindrop
