Medical Reports: Goodbye to Reading Glasses

WSVN -- Looks great and works even better! Rick Timmerman's 20/50 vision is now 20/20. For the first time in ten years this physician's assistant is reading without glasses!

Rick Timmerman, Had Lens Implanted: "I was in the Navy doing suturing and stuff, that's when I really noticed I couldn't tie a knot. couldn't see the end of a knot."

It happens to most people by age 45, the lens in the eye becomes stiff and unable to focus. Now doctors hope they can bring back that near vision with this tiny implantable lens.

Dr. Thomas Tooma, TLC Laser Eye Centers: "We're starting with the laser".

During a 10 minute surgery the doctor uses a laser to make a flap in the cornea. The donut shaped lens, thinner than a human hair is then placed underneath the flap.

Dr. Thomas Tooma: "That looks perfect."

While lasik surgery can restore a person's distance vision, this procedure restores sight up-close. The implant blocks unfocused light and a small opening allows focused light to enter improving the range of vision and making it easier to see clearly up close.

Dr. Thomas Tooma: "It's the first time that we're able to see beautifully at distance and at near out of the same eye."

In a European study 81 percent of patients achieved 20/20 vision after one year. Rick is one of the first to test the experimental lens so far he likes what he sees.

Rick Timmerman: "I was helping a friend the other day in his garage putting a cabinet together and he was looking for a screw and he wears glasses and he couldn't find it. I was like, right there. There it is."

Rick's not tossing his glasses just yet, but he's not relying on them nearly as often.

The Acu Focus Corneal Implant is in clinical trials for adults ages 45 to 60. The lens is expected to hit the market in two years or less.

Thomas S. Tooma, MD
TLC Laser Eye Centers
Newport Beach, CA
Tel: (949) 854-7400