advanced medical technologies

Source: MedMarket Diligence report #G125, "Worldwide Ophthalmology."

Advances in intraocular lenses have made it possible for phakic intraocular lenses (PIOLs) to compete at some level with refractive surgery.   Further advances in materials and implant technologies are making it possible to achieve clear vision at multiple focal points with multifocal and accommodating lenses.  Innovations in this segment have created significant opportunities for new entrants and have begun to challenge long time market leaders in IOLs.

About one third of practicing ophthalmologists perform cataract surgery, making it the most commonly performed ophthalmic surgical procedure in the world.  And until recently, the placement of IOLs was a well defined surgical technique that began with removing the patient’s clouded native lens and ended with the insertion of a synthetic lens to restore vision.  Remaining visual aberrations were corrected with eyeglasses or contact lenses and follow-on care was principally the domain of the optometrist.

With the advent of refractive surgery and PIOLs, however, there are more options than ever before for treating vision disorders after cataract surgery.  Today, residual vision aberrations can be managed with traditional eyewear or lenses or refractive surgery.  The availability of new therapies has the potential to redefine how optometrists think about partnerships with ophthalmologists and to critically evaluate the kind of services that they make available to their patients.