I
INNOVATIONS IN LENSES
N FOCUS
106 | EYEWORLD | APRIL 2019
by Liz Hillman
EyeWorld Senior Staff Writer
Contact
information
Thompson: vance.thompson@
vancethompsonvision.com
Trindade: claudio.trindade@me.com
Vukich: javukich@gmail.com
Waltz: kwaltz56@gmail.com
S
mall aperture use to increase depth
of focus in vision is nothing new, but
bringing that pinhole effect to the IOL
plane is an innovation in Europe that is
beginning its journey in the U.S.
The concept is simple: Place a
small-aperture diaphragm at the IOL
plane during cataract surgery to get quality dis-
tance and near vision with natural transitions.
Research also shows this concept's utility in
treating difficult corneal irregularities, such as
post-RK, keratoconus, and scarring.
So far, two companies are developing such
technology, albeit with different primary aims.
The IC-8 IOL (AcuFocus), CE marked in Europe
as of 2014 and currently in an FDA-monitored
Phase 3 clinical trial in the U.S., is a single-piece,
hydrophobic, acrylic lens with refractive power.
XtraFocus (Morcher, developed with Claudio
Trindade, MD) is a foldable, hydrophobic, acrylic,
piggyback, sulcus-based implant with no refrac-
tive power; it earned the CE mark in 2016.
IC-8 IOL
The IC-8's primary goal is to provide extended
depth of focus to patients seeking spectacle inde-
pendence at the time of cataract surgery. Enroll-
ment for the prospective, multicenter trial with
the goal of comparing the extended depth of
focus achieved with the IC-8 to a monofocal IOL
is going well, according to Kevin Waltz, OD, MD,
medical monitor for AcuFocus. Dr. Waltz, who
used earlier iterations of the IC-8 overseas since
2009, said experience has shown the concept has
Bringing small aperture
optics to the IOL plane
The IC-8 IOL is primarily indicated to extend patients' depth of focus.
Source: Gabriel Quesada, MD, and Rodrigo Quesada, MD
At a glance
• Bringing small-aperture
diaphragms to the IOL plane
is showing promise for
presbyopia correction by
providing increased depth
of focus and treatment for
corneal irregularities.
• The IC-8 is CE marked in
Europe and under an FDA-ap-
proved clinical trial. XtraFocus
also earned the CE mark and
is hoping to enter a clinical
trial in the U.S. within the next
year.
• The IC-8 is primarily indicated
for presbyopia correction.
• XtraFocus is indicated for the
treatment of irregular corneal
astigmatism.
