"It's crystal clear vision and it's like having high definition vision in your eye," Kate Cramblett told Ivanhoe.
The concept that brings TV to life is also helping people like Cramblett see a whole new world.
"You do see things sharper," Sheri Rowen, M.D., Director of Ophthalmology at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, Md., said.
Cramblett has always been nearsighted and then developed cataracts. She had surgery to implant a new HD lens. It uses her eye's own muscles to focus and improves near vision without compromising intermediate or distance vision. It can be used to fix cataracts or help someone who just wants to get rid of their glasses. Cramblett no longer needs glasses or contacts.
"It's like opening a present that's something you've wanted all your life," Cramblett explained. "It's the gift of sight, and it's something that I never thought I would ever have."
Another eyesight advancement is a new corneal implant that's being tested to help people see the fine print. Rick Timmerman's 20-50 vision is now 20-20.
Ophthalmologists implanted the experimental donut-shaped lens, called AcuFocus, underneath a flap in his cornea. It blocks unfocused light, allowing focused light to enter, making it easier to see clearly up close.
"It's the first time that we're able to see beautifully at distance and at near out of the same eye," Thomas S. Tooma, M.D., Medical Director at TLC Laser Eye Centers in Newport Beach, Calif. said.
In a European study, 81 percent of patients achieved 20-20 vision after one year with the corneal implant.
Two lenses helping baby boomers erase the blur from their lives.
The HD lens is FDA approved, but the implant rick has is still in clinical trials. Doctors say the artificial HD lens may be a better option than Lasik surgery for some patients -- particularly if the person is over 50. If the patient has the lens implanted only to correct vision, they also receive the benefits of never developing cataracts later in life.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Dan Collins, Marketing and Media Relations
Mercy Medical Center
Baltimore, MD
(410) 332-9714
dcollins@mdmercy.com
