Life-Changing Advance for Iris Repair
When I was asked recently to comment on a game-changing technology, my mind first went to fancy new technology like femtosecond lasers, three-dimensional imaging, intraoperative aberrometry, and the like. The more I thought about it, the more it appeared to me that these technologies may have advanced cataract surgery, but cataract surgery is still cataract surgery, just better. In my opinion, the single game-changing device is the iris prosthesis.
IRIS REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT
Iris repair and replacement have been a passion of mine for as long as I can remember having an interest in ophthalmology. Iris repair can be a tedious surgery with mixed results. Some pupils may end up too big, too small, or misshapen. If enough of the iris has been damaged or lost, repair may not be an option at all. In cases where there is not enough iris to repair, replacement is a better option. The problem with replacement is that there is no FDA-approved iris prosthesis. With a lot of paperwork to gain FDA and investigational review board approval, compassionate use of a variety of devices may be possible, but it can be a long and frustrating process. Many of the prosthetic devices have a limited color range, making it difficult to match the contralateral iris, or the colors may look very artificial in ambient light.
During the past year, I have had the privilege of being a part of the HumanOptics Artificial Iris-001 (HO AI-001) FDA trial. In this trial, we are examining the effectiveness and safety of a silicone color-matched iris prosthesis for partial and complete aniridia (Figures 1-6). The device is a silicone iris that has the look and feel of an actual iris. Pictures of the unaffected iris (sometimes there is not one in aniridia) are taken, and painstaking efforts are made to try to match the color and texture. The implant can be placed in the capsular bag or sulcus or sutured to the scleral wall. The ability to use this iris prosthesis is definitely a game changer for me.
CONCLUSION
Not only is the artificial iris a major advance for the surgeon, it is a game changer for the patient and, in some cases, even a life changer. It is not often I see patients shed tears of joy after surgery. Their tears are not a result of their improvement in vision; they reflect that the patients finally feel whole again. They are no longer self-conscious or worried about people’s asking questions. They now have what many doctors told them they could never have: a new iris and a new outlook on life.
The HumanOptics CustomFlex Artificial Iris device is investigational and not yet approved by the FDA.
Brandon D. Ayres, MD, is a surgeon in the Cornea Service at Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia. He was a clinical investigator in the HO AI-001 FDA trial Dr. Ayres may be reached at (484) 434-2700; bayres@willseye.org.
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