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The innovative AcuFocus Corneal Inlay offers those over 40 a treatment option for improving functional near vision and reducing dependency on reading glasses. Singapore National Eye Centre now offers a truly complete and effective one-stop solution for myopia and presbyopia. |
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SNEC celebrates its 18th Anniversary with International Ophthalmology Meeting featuring the latest developments. |
1) AcuFocus Corneal Inlay (ACI)
35 patients from the Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC) are now experiencing improved functional near vision after having their presbyopia treated with the use of the AcuFocus ACI 7000TM Corneal Inlay, which is in a worldwide multi-centre clinical evaluation involving top research institutions with Singapore Eye Research Institute (SERI) and SNEC being the exclusive site in Asia.
Presbyopia, a condition that comes with the normal aging process, affects people aged 40 years and beyond. It reduces the ability of the eye to focus on near objects. Traditionally, reading glasses are prescribed to improve vision. Other options such as LASIK for presbyopia do not provide satisfactory results.
The new treatment option involves the use of the ACI Corneal Inlay which is implanted in the cornea under a LASIK flap in a brief, 5 minutes ambulatory procedure. The procedure does not involve tissue removal. The Corneal Inlay may be removed if necessary. Improved functional near vision is attained almost immediately as experienced by our patients, but visual quality continues to improve further with time.
"This exciting and groundbreaking technique to treat presbyopia will be a tremendous boon to adults over the age of 40, many of whom find it increasingly difficult to read small print and have to turn to the aid of reading glasses. From the initial handful who participated in the clinical evaluation trial conducted by SERI and SNEC to the 35 patients now, they have benefited from the implant and are enjoying their new found reading vision," said Dr Chan Wing Kwong, Senior Consultant and Head of Refractive Surgery, Singapore National Eye Centre.
SNEC is the only centre in Asia to offer this innovative treatment for presbyopia under clinical trial settings. Earlier trials have thus far shown promising results.
"The AcuFocus implant is a revolutionary and new way to correct presbyopia. It works unlike any other methods by the "pinhole effect" to increase the depth of field of the eye. It is implanted in the cornea of one eye in a 5 minute day surgery procedure. Ongoing SNEC/SERI trial has shown it to be effective and safe with high patient satisfaction. It may prove to be the best and most effective surgical option for the correction of presbyopia," Dr Chan added
2) SNEC 18th Anniversary International Meeting – "The Practical Ophthalmologist"
The SNEC faculty of 50 ophthalmologists will present to more than 500 ophthalmologists from the region and beyond a comprehensive programme of sub-specialty teaching courses, skills transfer course, wet-lab, live surgery, symposia and plenary lectures that cover the complete spectrum of eye care.
The high quality courses have also been presented at internationally renowned ophthalmology meetings like the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons Meeting (ASCRS) and the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) which receives thousands of delegates from all around the world each year.
Programme highlights include “courses designed specially with an Asian perspective for local and regional ophthalmologists,” said Dr Ronald Yeoh, organising chairman of the Singapore National Eye Centre’s 18th Anniversary International Meeting. These include:
- Commonly missed diagnoses in inflammation of the eye that can adversely affect the patient’s sight and threaten life;
- New strategies for management of common age related conditions such at Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD);
- Ophthalmic Imaging. Newer treatments of ophthalmic diseases require the use of imaging techniques for diagnosis and follow-up. These techniques have now increased the understanding of the vitreous and the retina.
- 3-Dimension High Definition (3D-HD) live-surgery that vastly enhances ophthalmic surgical teaching. What is significant is that the enhanced technology now allows for the 3D-HD screens to be compact, table–top, like computer monitors where in the past they needed big projection screens. This is featured at the Exhibition segment of this Conference at Suntec. The live surgery programme will be held on Monday, 17 March, 8.30am at the SNEC.
"The teaching courses are now run mainly by the SNEC faculty of ophthalmologists with some assistance from overseas experts, not the other way round," Dr Yeoh pointed out.
Singapore National Eye Centre receives 250, 000 outpatient visits and performs more than 28,000 major surgeries and laser procedures annually.
Press Release by Singapore National Eye Centre
Media contact
Ravi Chandran
Corporate Communications
Singapore National Eye Centre
Email: ravi.chandran@snec.com.sg
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