What is the Kamra™ Corneal Inlay?
The Kamra™ corneal inlay is made of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) which has been used in the haptics portion of certain intraocular lenses. It measures 3.8mm in diameter with a 1.6mm clear central aperture. The corneal inlay is 5µ thick. The corneal inlay has a 2.2 mm opaque periphery which is laser-etched with 8,400 micro-perforations of varying sizes to optimize nutrient flow without compromising optical quality.
The Kamra™ Corneal Inlay is Designed for Presbyopia Correction
Presbyopia is the medical term used for when the eye is unable to focus at near. As one enters their 40s, the lens inside the eye that focuses for us begins to lose its ability to focus at near. This gradually worsens over the next 15 to 20 years. People then need to wear reading glasses or bifocals in order to see up close unless they are near sighted. The design of the Kamra™ corneal inlay incorporates small aperture technology (1.6mm aperture) and micro-perforations to maximize near and intermediate vision while maintaining distance vision. This is similar to how the disposable cameras work by using a small aperture opening (pinhole camera) to maximize the depth of focus with a single lens.
Patients Who are Candidates for the Kamra™ Corneal Inlay
Ametropic presbyopia– People who have myopia, hyperopia, and/or astigmatism
Emmetropic presbyopia– People who have clear distance vision but need reading glasses
Post laser vision correction presbyopia– People who need reading glasses after their surgery
Pseudophakia– People who have good distance vision after cataract surgery or clear lensectomy and need reading glasses
How is the Kamra™ Corneal Inlay Inserted?
The Kamra™ corneal inlay is implanted into a pocket at a depth of 210µ in the cornea (clear portion of the eye) centered in the visual axis of the eye. This pocket is performed by a femtosecond laser. It is inserted into the cornea of the patient’s non-dominant eye. In a combined LASIK and Kamra™ procedure, the inlay is placed under the LASIK flap of 200µ after the laser is completed.
FDA Status
The Kamra™ corneal inlay is available outside of the United States. It has not completed its FDA study as of now. The data outside of the United States has shown excellent results. The average results have been an uncorrected vision at near or 20/30 and the distance vision has remained within 2 or 3 letters on the line of an eye chart of the pre-surgical testing.
Summary
The Kamra™ corneal inlay is a new method for correcting presbyopia. The inlay uses the concept of pinhole technology just like the disposable cameras. It provides good vision at distance, intermediate, and near.
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