A new trifocal corneal inlay for presbyopia

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology and Vision Science
• Biomedical Engineering
• Optical Design

Background:

• Presbyopia, the age-related loss of accommodation, significantly impacts near and intermediate vision.
• Corneal inlays (CIs) offer a minimally invasive surgical option for presbyopia correction, distinct from cataract surgery.
• Existing CI designs (small aperture, refractive) have limitations in simultaneously providing optimal vision at multiple distances.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and evaluate the first trifocal corneal inlay (CI) design for presbyopia.
• To achieve simultaneous good vision at far, intermediate, and near distances in presbyopic eyes.
• To offer a personalized treatment option for presbyopia.

Main Methods:

• Utilized optical design software to compare the proposed trifocal CI with a commercially available CI.
• Employed an adaptive optics-based optical simulator to experimentally validate the image-forming capabilities of the new inlay.
• Investigated the potential for personalization through variable design parameters.

Main Results:

• The proposed trifocal CI demonstrated superior optical performance compared to a current commercial CI.
• Experimental validation confirmed the inlay's capability to form clear images at far, intermediate, and near visual ranges.
• The design allows for parameter variation, suggesting potential for personalized trifocal CIs.

Conclusions:

• The novel trifocal corneal inlay represents a significant advancement in presbyopia treatment.
• This design overcomes the limitations of current CIs by providing simultaneous multi-distance visual acuity.
• The development opens new possibilities for personalized, minimally invasive presbyopia correction.