Hoopes Vision surgeon implants first light adjustable intraocular artificial lens

On September 4th Dr. Phillip C. Hoopes, Jr., a surgeon at Hoopes Vision, successfully placed a light adjustable intraocular lens implant in a cataract patient as part of a new FDA clinical study. The surgery, which took place at Hoopes Vision's on-site surgery center, EyeSurg of Utah, was the first of its kind to take place in Utah. Dr. Hoopes said, "It was an honor to be the first in our state to implant this revolutionary new lens. At Hoopes Vision, we always strive to bring the newest and most promising technology to patients here in Utah, and this lens may change the way cataracts are treated."

The Light Adjustable Lens (LAL®) is designed to be the world's first and only intraocular lens that allows surgeons to change the power of the lens after it has been implanted in the patient's eye during a cataract surgery procedure.

Cataract development is a normal part of aging and typically results in a clouding of the natural lens of the eye, thereby negatively affecting vision. This problem is solved by removing the cataract via a surgical procedure in which the cataract is replaced by a clear synthetic lens, referred to as an intraocular lens. Currently, no commercially available lens in the world has the ability to be adjusted after implantation in the eye, and therefore, many patients still need glasses after surgery for optimal vision. The LAL is designed to give patients excellent distance vision without the need for glasses.

The LAL is currently commercially available in Europe and Mexico. However, before the LAL can be made available to patients in the U.S. it must be approved for sale by the FDA. This requires completion of a series of clinical studies, the third and final phase of which has recently commenced. The study involves the treatment of 600 eyes at 15 investigative sites across the country.

Hoopes Vision is excited to be one of these exclusive sites currently enrolling patients for the phase III study and welcomes interest in participation from prospective patients. If you'd like more information and to determine if you might qualify for the study, please contact the Hoopes Vision Clinical Research Center at (801) 988-7342.