(NAPSA)—A remarkable advance in cataract treatment is designed to approximate the eye’s natural ability to filter highenergy wavelengths of the blue light spectrum, whichis lost following cataract surgery. Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in June, it’s the world’s first foldable intraocular lens (IOL) for cataract surgery patients specifically designed to filter high-energy wavelengths of the blue light spectrum, in addition to absorbing ultraviolet (UV) light. When a cataract is removed, an artificial intraocular lens is inserted. Until the availability of this lens, IOLs were less effective than the eye’s natural ability to filter blue light. “A growing body of evidence shows increased exposure to blue light maylead to retinal damage,” said Robert Cionni, MD, Medical Director, Cincinnati Eye Institute and clinical investigator of the new lens. “The AcrySof Natural IOL filters this potentially dangerous blue light without negative visual consequences.” Research suggests blue light may be one of the risk factors in the progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). AMDis a leading cause of blindness in the developed world. An irreversible, progressive disease, AMD is a degeneration of the macula, the light-sensitive region of the retina. The disease impacts central vision, and may limit patients’ abilities to read, drive and perform activities that require fine, sharp vision. The long-term effects of filtering blue light and the clinical efficacy of that filtering on the retina have not been conclusively established. “With this new IOL, we will be able to offer patients the im- a! proved quality of life afforded by cataract surgery, plus the potential benefit of filtering blue light,” Dr. Cionnisaid. As we age, the eye’s natural lens becomes increasingly yellow, which may provide a defense against potentially damaging high-energy wavelengths of the blue light spectrum. When a cataract develops requiring the natural lens to be removed, this potential defenseis lost. In addition to a UV lightabsorbing chromophore, the new AcrySof Natural IOL features a proprietary yellow, blue-light absorbing chromophoreintegrated into the lens material to safely and effectively filter blue light. Results from the clinical study show while the lens provides increased blue-light filtration, it does not alter color perception. The lens is a product of Alcon, Inc., the world’s leading eye care company. Alcon, which has been dedicated to the ophthalmic industry for over 50 years, develops, manufactures and markets pharmaceuticals, surgical equipment and devices, contact lens solutions and other vision care products that treat diseases, disorders and other conditionsof the eye.
