Published on: April 25, 2023
SightMD NJ Surgeon Performs First IntraOcular Lens Implantation
SightMD NJ Surgeon performs first implantation of this revolutionary intraocular lens in New Jersey
HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. (PRWEB) APRIL 25, 2023
A dramatically New design IntraOcular Lens called the Apthera IC-8 was approved by the FDA and released in Jan of 2023 and we are excited to announce that the first implantation of this revolutionary intraocular lens in New Jersey was performed by SightMD Ophthalmic Surgeon Omar F. Almallah, MD last week.
The first approved small aperture IOL designed to provide extended depth of focus. The IC-8 Apthera Intraocular Lens (IOL) is an artificial lens implanted in the eye of adult patients. The lens is intended to provide vision correction after the eye’s natural lens is removed because it has become cloudy (cataract). The IC-8 Apthera IOL is the first small aperture lens that delivers extended depth of focus through its distinctive wavefront-filtering design. The IC-8 Apthera IOL works by bending light rays to allow them to focus on the back surface of the eye (retina). The IC-8 Apthera lens is an extended depth of focus intraocular lens. It focuses light through a small hole (pinhole optics) in the lens which allows the user to focus on objects close up (intermediate and near vision) while maintaining the ability to focus on objects far away (distance vision), which is the intended purpose of standard (monofocal) IOLs.
“I’m thrilled to be one of the first surgeons to provide this surgery to those in need. It is extremely gratifying to be able to treat a patient’s irregular astigmatism in this way and allow improvement in clarity of vision” said Dr Almallah
The IC-8 Apthera IOL is used in adults who have cataracts, need eye surgery, and have only a small amount (1.5 diopters or less) of abnormal curve to the cornea (astigmatism). “This the first approved small aperture IOL in the United States to provide extended depth of focus” said Dr Almallah. It is implanted in the non-dominant eye only after the dominant eye has undergone successful implantation of a monofocal or monofocal toric intraocular lens targeted for distance vision (emmetropia). This unique feature offers new hope for patients with irregular astigmatism where traditional toric astigmatism correcting implants fall short. “For the lens to work properly, it has to be perfectly centered, and femto laser cataract surgery allows the precision to do that,” said Dr Almallah.
The IC-8 Apthera IOL improves near and intermediate vision compared to conventional monofocal lenses that provide improved vision at far distances only. For his first patient, Dr. Almallah chose a patient he had treated 20 years ago for a traumatic penetrating steel wire injury, damaging the patient’s cornea and resulting in irregular astigmatism. The vision could only be corrected with a scleral contact lens, which was very difficult and uncomfortable for the patient to use on a daily basis. Twenty years after his initial injury, his cataract had matured and was ready for surgery. He was implanted with the Apthera small aperture implant.
In addition to treating patients with irregular astigmatism, the Aphera IOL will be offered to patients who wish to have a continuous range of vision and extended depth of focus, free from blurry zones and very low halos and glare. Excellent results were achieved in studies in eyes with as much as 1.5 diopters of corneal astigmatism. The Apthera small aperture implant is an exciting new tool for helping patients overcome their visual challenges.
Dr. Omar Almallah is a board-certified ophthalmologist who is devoted to premium quality eye surgery, and has been practicing in Toms River and the surrounding communities for over 30 years. He is an internationally recognized refractive ocular surgeon and is recognized by his peers as one of the finest and most skilled eye surgeons in the world. In fact, patients have traveled from England, Germany, Korea, Saudi Arabia, India, Turkey, and across the United States to have their eye surgery performed by Dr. Almallah.
About SightMD
SightMD is a rapidly-growing integrated ophthalmic provider group, offering patients access to over 80 eye care providers through the convenience of 40 locations across New York. SightMD’s track record of providing clinically-excellent care spans over 50 years, and its services include general eye exams, laser cataract surgery and lens implantation, glaucoma management, retinal disorder treatment, corneal services, neuro-ophthalmology, LASIK laser vision correction, oculoplastic surgery, pediatric ophthalmology, and audiology. Sight Growth Partners is the administrative services provider for SightMD as well as SightMD Connecticut, SightMD New Jersey, and SightMD Pennsylvania.