Alcon, the global leader in eye care and a division of Novartis, has received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its AcrySof IQ ReSTOR +2.5 Multifocal Toric intraocular lens (IOL) with Activefocus optical design for patients undergoing cataract surgery who choose to address their astigmatism and presbyopia at the same time. The unique optical design of the Activefocus toric lens delivers both crisp, clear distance vision and a range of vision for patients who desire less dependence on glasses. The Activefocus toric IOL is the only multifocal toric IOL in which the central portion is 100 percent dedicated to distance vision. Previous presbyopia-correcting IOL designs tend to compromise on distance vision in order to provide patients with a range of vision.
"Presbyopic cataract patients with astigmatism have had limited options in the past," said Sergio Duplan, region president, North America for Alcon. "Alcon's Activefocus toric IOL is a breakthrough for these patients, correcting astigmatism and allowing them to achieve uncompromised distance vision with an increased range of vision at the same time."
The Activefocus toric IOL is also engineered for stability. Toric IOLs perform optimally if they stay on axis to correct the astigmatism. In a retrospective study of IOL orientation data, the AcrySof IQ toric IOL platform was 2.5 times less likely to rotate than the leading competitor lens. Additionally, the AcrySof IQ toric platform is the market leader with cataract surgeons implanting more than 1.7 million AcrySof IQ toric IOLs to date.
"The Activefocus toric IOL is the marriage of the design features of my two go-to IOLs for patients wanting outstanding distance vision and less dependence on glasses after cataract surgery," said Bret L. Fisher, M.D., medical director, Eye Center of North Florida. "By combining the unique optical properties of the Activefocus design with the unparalleled rotational stability of the AcrySof IQ toric platform, I can now offer a range of vision to more patients."
Nearly four million cataract surgeries are performed each year in the US, and more than 50 percent of those patients have treatable levels of astigmatism that could be addressed with AcrySof IQ toric IOLs, including the new Activefocus toric IOL. Astigmatism occurs when the cornea is misshapen, causing blurry vision and distorted images at all distances. Presbyopia occurs in most people over the age of 40 and results in needing vision correction such as reading glasses.
Alcon plans to commercialize the Activefocus toric IOL in the US beginning in mid-2017.