Surgeon’s IOL of choice

“For me, the
platform has
worked phenome nally well
”
Bradley C. Black, M.D.

The AcrySof family of aspheric IOLs

Bradley C. Black, M.D., Dr. Brad Black’s Eye Associates, Jeffersonville, Ind., was one of the first surgeons to use AcrySof IOLs (Alcon, Fort Worth, Texas) outside of FDA clinical trials. Over the past decade, he has tried other acrylic IOLs as well as newer-generation silicone lenses. “I had some success with some other options, but now I am back to using AcrySof IOLs exclusively,” he said. “For me, the platform has worked phenomenally well.”
Dr. Black described the AcrySof family of IOLs as versatile but durable and stable. “We’ve been able to easily and consistently implant them through smaller and smaller cataract surgery incisions. The highest index of refraction allows for a thinner lens profile, yet the material is not so thin as to be easily bent or torn or unstable in the eye, causing post-op refractive errors.”
The AcrySof IOL acrylic material was developed specifically for the eye, which makes it highly biocompatible, Dr. Black said. In addition to biocompatibility, Dr. Black cited how AcrySof IOLs handle intraoperatively as an advantage over other lenses. “They open slowly in the eye, allowing for precise positioning, and the one-piece design is great in terms of centration. The lenses center consistently, so situations such as late decentration caused by asymmetric capsule fibrosis are seldom if ever seen.” What some surgeons describe as a “tacky” feel with the AcrySof IOL material, Dr. Black sees as a benefit. “I can rotate the lens in the bag without worrying about tearing
it, but once the lens is in position itstays put. This is helpful on a daily basis but also, for example, in multifocal implant cases where the visual axis may not be the same as the center of the capsular bag. I can nudge the lens in the direction I need it to be and it holds that centration. The material also fosters a shrink-wrap effect, yet when a YAG is required the capsule is easy to open with a minimum amount of energy.”
The unique features of the AcrySof IOL platform have made it a solid basis for ongoing innovations in optics, such as asphericity, toricity, and multifocality. The fact that the advanced optics are equipped with a blue light-filtering chromophore is also a plus for Dr. Black. “I approached the use of blue light filtering with some trepidation at first, but I have seen zero down sides. For me the theoretical disadvantages are a moot point. The chromophore is designed to filter light just like the eye’s natural lens, so I feel a sense of security that I’m offering patients some protection against potential retinal damage, especially those who are already showing age-related macular
changes.”
Dr. Black said he is looking for ward to seeing future advances tied to the AcrySof platform. “The marriage of the Toric with the ReSTOR presbyopia-correcting IOL would be a tremendous advantage for patients, and the platform supports that. I would love to see the lenses come pre-loaded for implantation, which would negate any concerns related to handling IOLs in the OR. I can also see the biocompatibility of the material playing a big part in
any future phakic design.”

Contact information

Black: 812-284-0660; drbradblack@aol.com