The Synchrony Lens
Chicago, Illinois
During the recent American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting, I had the opportunity to evaluate the Synchrony intraocular lens. The Synchrony lens is the second entry into the new accommodating (focus-changing) intraocular lens market and is produced by Abbot Medical Optics as a treatment for cataracts and refractive disorders like presbyopia. Unlike the Crystalens by Bausch & Lomb, which has a single lens that flexes to focus up close, the Synchrony lens has two lenses which move closer or further apart to change focus. This appears to be a huge advantage for focusing power. The Crystalens has a poor record of function, while the Synchrony lens has been shown to move within the original lens capsule and provide the focusing power needed.
Advantages of the Synchrony Lens
Unlike multifocal implants such as the ReStor, ReZoom, and Technis multifocal intraocular lenses, there is no loss of the quality of vision with the Synchrony lens. Multifocal lenses—as their name suggests—have more than one point of focus, which requires splitting the image. With all multifocal lenses, there is some degradation in visual quality and many patients complain of glare. The brain must sort out multiple images to determine whether you need to see up close or far away.
Neither the Crystalens nor the Synchrony lens have the problem of multiple images and therefore offer a much higher quality of vision. Internationally, the Synchrony lens has been placed in nearly 1400 eyes in addition to those placed for the FDA review process in the United States.
Scientific Evidence for the Synchrony Lens
In one study of lenses 4 years after placement, researchers found that patients’ distance-corrected near vision was 20/25 or better, and UVM imaging showed that the forward axial movement of the forward optic did not change over the 4 year period, yet there was good movement of the posterior optic.
The accommodation (ability to change focus) of the Synchrony lens was measured up to nearly 3 diopters, but may be as little as 1.75 diopters. The lower level would allow at least for good computer vision, though some individuals could have difficulty reading small print. On the other hand, the Crystalens has never been shown to accommodate much more than 1.5 to 2 diopters of gain in near vision, and this tends to decrease with time if there is any movement of the lens.
With positive results for 7 years, the Synchrony lens has already received the CE Mark approving its use in Europe and is commonly used in South America and Australia. New advances in cataract surgery may further improve the quality of results from the Synchrony lens.
Dr. Mark Golden of Doctors for Visual Freedom Laser Centers in Chicago says that this is the first lens that he would want implanted in his own eye because it gives good near and far vision. Once the Synchrony lens receives FDA approval, Dr. Golden looks forward to recommending the Synchrony lens to his patients.
To learn more about intraocular lenses and other vision correction strategies, please contact Doctors for Visual Freedom of Chicago, Illinois today.
Two Locations:
Doctors for Visual Freedom Laser Center
875 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 1550
Chicago, IL 60611 | Doctors for Visual Freedom Laser Center
2010 S Arlington Heights Rd, Suite 121
Arlington Heights, IL 60005 |
