Why We Don’t Do KAMRA Inlay
One procedure that seems to offer vision correction to certain farsighted patients is a corneal inlay, like RaindropTM, or KAMRA InlayTM. The procedure seems to be a way for farsighted patients, or patients who might be a little bit older than ideal for LASIK, to still achieve vision correction. At Laser Eye Institute, we do not perform this procedure, but to explain why we don’t. Let’s first take a look at the procedure.
A corneal inlay is an implantable device that can be used to block unfocused rays of light in order to improve near vision1. It operates like a pinhole camera. Some doctors believe that this overcompensates for the patient’s farsightedness, and makes the eye intentionally nearsighted. It does not change the patient’s corneal topography2, making it less effective for most patients.
Implanting a Raindrop or KAMRA inlay is a laser-assisted procedure. It has similar risks to other types of laser vision correction. Unfortunately, that is where the similarities to Lasik end. Raindrop and KAMRA have additional risks associated with the eye healing improperly around the inlay. There is a danger of vision loss if the patient has the procedure reversed. The longest follow-up study of patients with this implant is only 5 years. We have little evidence about long-term patient satisfaction with this procedure.
The biggest problem with Raindrop and KAMRA inlays, though, is they are not designed to help patients with cataracts, or patients who would like a multifocal lens experience. This narrows the group of candidates to a very small amount, who would often need further correction upon developing cataracts in a decade or less following their Raindrop or KAMRA procedure.
So Why Don’t We Do It?
The bottom line is, we pride ourselves on patient satisfaction at Laser Eye Institute. Many patients who are nearsighted, farsighted, or have astigmatism can benefit from Advanced CustomVue technology that we provide in office. Patients who aren’t LASIK candidates due to age or cataracts are often great candidates for other procedures.
Sources:
1https://www.fda.gov/newsevents/newsroom/pressannouncements/ucm443471.htm
2https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40123-017-0085-7
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Posted by Amanda Zellar
Amanda helps patients improve their lives through the power of LASIK. A patient coordinator at Laser Eye Institute, Amanda assists patients through every step in their start-to-vision journey.