How the AcuFocus Corneal Inlay works

If you are over the age of 40, you've probably noticed near objects are beginning to appear fuzzy and out of focus. You may be experiencing a condition called presbyopia, which happens to all of us somewhere in our 40's or 50's. With presbyopia, the natural lens of the eye, the crystalline lens, has lost its flexibility. The lens is to stiff to change its focus from distance to near. As a result, near objects are blurry.

The AcuFocus corneal inlay is an investigational device. This research study will determine if the corneal inlay will make near objects appear more clearly for presbyopic subjects.

Smaller than a contact lens, the AcuFocus Corneal Inlay looks like a black ring.  There is a tiny aperture or hole in the center of the inlay.  This hole helps improve vision in two ways.

1. Creates a pinhole effect so near objects appear more clearly.
2. Blocks unfocused light and only allows focused light to reach the retina.  When light rays are focused, you may see a wider range of vision – near, intermediate (computer) and distance.

The AcuFocus Corneal Inlay is
1/10th the thickness of a standard sheet
of a paper and smaller than a contact lens.

AcuFocus Corneal inlay in profile.

Near Vision

The AcuFocus Corneal Inlay is implanted during an out-patient procedure. The eye surgeon inserts the corneal inlay and centers it over the pupil. From start to finish, the procedure takes less than thirty minutes. Research study participants have reported minimal discomfort or downtime. Participants in the present research study will be tested for improvement in functional near vision. Reading vision, if improved, may continue to improve over the next six to twelve months. However, everyone heals differently, so visual results may vary.

Unlike other presbyopic treatments, the AcuFocus Corneal Inlay can be removed.

The illustration above compares the range of vision of a young adult (young eye), a 40 something (presbyopia) and a corneal inlay patient.

Notice in this illustration the range of vision is increased with the inlay. The small "E" of the inlay is much clearer than the presbyopia "E", but not as clear as the young "E". However, this improvement in near vision cannot be guaranteed.