Kentucky Patent of the Month – April 2023
Cataract surgery is one of the most frequently performed surgical procedures in the U.S. In fact, there are currently millions of these procedures performed each year, and most with successful outcomes. There is also an increasing proportion of the population reaching their retirement years, which has resulted in an expected doubling of the demand for cataract surgery. With the increasing demand for cataract surgery and the rise of patient expectations, there is a pressing need for innovations that can improve surgical outcomes and minimize refractive unpredictability.
Omega Ophthalmics LLC has recently introduced a revolutionary prosthetic capsular bag that is set to change the game of cataract surgery. 50% of current cataract patients are still unable to see well without glasses after surgery. Inspired by this statistic, the company has committed their expertise to design proprietary lenses and solutions to increase the number of “glasses free” post-surgery patients to over 90%.
The eye anatomy includes a lens capsule which is a thin membrane around the eye’s natural lens. Modern cataract operations generate a capsular bag, which comprises a proportion of anterior capsule and the entire posterior capsule. Omega Ophthalmics’ Perfect Prosthetic Lenticular Capsule or “PPL-C” is a prosthetic capsular bag designed to maintain the volume of the natural capsular bag, stabilize the effective lens position of the intraocular lens (IOL), and improve refractive outcomes.
One of the major problems that leads to refractive unpredictability is the volumetric difference between the cataract, natural capsular bag, and IOL. By providing an integrated refractive surface, the PPL-C offers a means for experimentally determining the effective lens position prior to inserting an IOL.
In this method, the PPL-C is inserted into the patient’s eye. Analyses are then performed to determine the position of the refractive surface, an intraocular lens is selected based on this position, and the IOL is inserted into the prosthetic capsular bag.
The PPL-C has the potential to revolutionize cataract surgery by improving refractive outcomes, reducing the need for follow-up refractive surgical enhancements or glasses, and minimizing the variability of the effective lens position. It offers a promising solution to a long-standing problem in the field of ophthalmology and is a testament to the power of innovation and technology in improving patient outcomes.
Omega Ophthalmics is poised to make a significant impact in the medical device industry with its groundbreaking invention. As the demand for cataract surgery continues to grow, the PPL-C offers a much-needed solution that can improve the lives of millions of patients.
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