Posted by: Carolinas Center for Sight in Near Vision Correction
When we are in our 20’s and 30’s, our eye’s natural lens is elastic and flexible. It works like a camera lens to automatically adjust and focus our vision. This lets us automatically switch our gaze from something near to something far away. Over time, the natural lens in your eye begins to stiffen. It can’t bend into the right shapes to bring close objects into focus. To compensate, you end up moving objects further away at just the right distance to focus. This is presbyopia (prez-bee-OH-pee-ah) and it continues to progress over time. It is estimated that 114 million people in the United States are struggling with this frustratingly natural eye condition.
In our 40’s and 50’s, we begin to notice that our near vision is getting blurry. The everyday vision we always took for granted just isn’t there anymore. Presbyopia eventually affects all of us, even if we never needed vision correction before. For example, someone who is 45 may only notice it when trying to read tiny print in low light. However, someone who is 55 may need to use reading glasses many times throughout the day to read a newspaper, see the computer screen or to send a text message.
The KAMRA Inlay treatment is an eye procedure that restores near vision and frees you from the constant frustrations of reading glasses. The inlay sits in the first few layers of the eye known as the cornea. Smaller and thinner than a contact lens, the KAMRA Inlay is a mini-ring with a pinhole opening in the center. The inlay uses this pinhole to focus light coming into the eye. This restores near vision while maintaining distance vision. There may be times when additional magnification is needed to read small print in dim light or to perform a near task for an extended period of time.
The entire KAMRA Inlay procedure will typically take less than 20 minutes. You will be awake and alert from start to finish. Your doctor will ask you to lie on your back and focus on a light above your eye. Remaining still and focusing on this light will help you achieve the best possible results. Numbing drops will be put in your eye to ensure your comfort throughout the procedure. The KAMRA Inlay will be placed in one of your eyes. The other eye will be left untouched.
Following surgery, both of your eyes will work together to provide a full range of vision, from near to far. Using a laser, the doctor will create a small pocket in the first few layers of your cornea. You may feel slight pressure on your eye during this part of the procedure. The doctor will then insert the KAMRA Inlay into the pocket and center it over your pupil. Your near vision will be restored while you will maintain distance vision. The KAMRA Inlay offers a long-term solution that will help you enjoy clear near vision over time.
As with any eye surgery, healing from KAMRA Inlay surgery is a process. Adhering to your doctor’s recovery instructions will accelerate your progress. It is important to remember that the amount and pace of near vision improve-ment varies by individual. While some patients see an improvement within the first week to a month, others may require additional time to heal. Most patients resume normal activities and return to work within 24-48 hours. It is typical to experience some fluctuations in your vision in the first three to six months after KAMRA Inlay surgery. This is often a sign of dry eye or your brain adapting to the new vision. These will likely stabilize. The keys to success are to be patient with the recovery process and diligent in following your doctor’s instructions.
Call Carolinas Centers for Sight, P.C. today at 843-664-9393 to schedule an evaluation to find out if you are a candidate for KAMRA Inlay.
