eyeonics, Inc. Highlights Clinical Presentations At 2006 American Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgery Symposium

ALISO VIEJO, Calif., March 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- eyeonics, inc., the developer and manufacturer of the crystalens(R), the first and only FDA approved accommodating intraocular lens, today announced the presentation of several independent clinical studies of the crystalens and its accommodative function at the 2006 American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery Symposium. In addition to the data presented during the Symposium's general session, a large group of ophthalmic surgeons attended eyeonics' seminar, Breakfast With Champions: Understanding Accommodative Mechanism of Action of the crystalens, before the ASCRS Symposium on Saturday, March 18.

"The crystalens and its accommodative function were featured prominently at ASCRS this year, reflecting ophthalmic surgeons' heightened understanding of this singular technology and the great results it delivers for patients," said J. Andy Corley, Chairman and CEO of eyeonics. "We were particularly excited by the evidence of accommodation presented by Drs. Dell and Waltz, and the superior outcomes compared with the ReSTOR(R), ReZoom(TM), and Array(R) multifocals shown by Dr. Lindstrom. With crystalenses having been implanted in more than 40,000 eyes worldwide, we believe the marketplace has cast its vote as well. crystalens is a popular and clinically proven option for cataract patients with presbyopia."

General Session Presentations

In a presentation titled, Alternative Options to Provide Full-Spectrum Vision, author Richard Lindstrom, M.D., founder of the Minnesota Eye Institute and Adjunct Professor Emeritus at the University of Minnesota, surveyed the premium IOLs presently in the marketplace. His investigation shows that crystalens implants provide better than 20/40 vision in 100 percent of patients, and J3 vision in 98 percent of patients, and that crystalens results in the distribution of 100 percent of light rays for near, intermediate and distance vision. These results surpassed those for all competing premium IOLs, and Dr. Lindstrom concluded that crystalens is the best intraocular lens for blended vision.

In another presentation, Potential Additional Mechanisms of Accommodation with the crystalens IOL, Steven J. Dell, M.D., Medical Director of Dell Laser Consultants, Austin, Texas, and a well known author and speaker in ophthalmology, examined why some patients with crystalens have better near vision than should be expected for their particular diopter power, since this level of visual acuity cannot be explained by the translational movement of the optic alone. Dr. Dell concluded that optic tilt or flexure may play a role in near acuity and that this tilt or flexure increases depth of focus. This explains why some crystalens patients have better near visual acuity than anticipated given the degree of forward movement of the optic.

In addition, Kevin Waltz, M.D., presented Accommodative Arching of the Natural Lens and the crystalens IOL, in which he presented his findings from his Tracey wavefront analysis of accommodative arching or optic flexure. He demonstrated comparisons of wavefront tracings for near and distance vision for the natural lens and the crystalens, and showed similar patterns for both. Dr. Waltz concluded that the crystalens works in nearly the same way as the eye's natural crystalline lens.

About crystalens

The crystalens is the result of more than 14 years of research and development by J. Stuart Cumming, M.D., F.A.C.S., and was approved by the FDA in November 2003. More than 40,000 lenses have been implanted worldwide. During clinical trials, all of the patients who received the crystalens greatly reduced their need for corrective lenses or eyeglasses. The patented crystalens technology is designed to allow the lens to move in the eye in a manner similar to the natural lens. By using the eye's muscle to move the lens back and forwards naturally, patients can focus through a continuous range of vision including near, far and everywhere in between. All other intraocular lenses are designed to remain fixed in the eye. For more information about the crystalens go to www.crystalens.com.

About eyeonics, inc.(TM)

eyeonics is a privately held medical device company headquartered in Aliso Viejo, California, founded in 1998. eyeonics is committed to developing a new class of visual enhancement systems that will enable patients to see up close, far away and all distances in between. For more information about eyeonics, inc. and the crystalens go to www.eyeonics.com or www.crystalens.com.

eyeonics, inc.

CONTACT: Steven J. Naber, Chief Financial Officer of eyeonics, inc.,+1-949-389-1783; or Doug Sherk or Jennifer Buegelmans, both of EVC Group,Inc., +1-415-896-6820; or Steve DiMattia, +1-646-277-8706, for eyeonics,inc.

Back to news