Posted by: Carolinas Center for Sight in Near Vision Correction

Carolinas Centers for Sight, P.C., offers a surgical procedure to help patients restore their near vision and reduce the need for reading glasses.

Dr. Howard Greene, refractive surgeon at Carolinas Centers for Sight, P.C., is one of five surgeons in the Carolinas who can perform the surgery, called KAMRA Inlay.

“You can bring it down to one thought:  If somebody over 40 really is wanting to get out of glasses or contacts, this is a viable way to do it,” Greene said.

About 114 million people in the U.S. have presbyopia, a natural eye condition that occurs in people over 40.  Presbyopia reduces the ability of the eye to focus on near objects.

The KAMRA Inlay procedure takes less than 15 minutes.  The inlay is a ring with an opening in the center.  It looks like a paper hole punch reinforcement, only black to match the pupil.

Phyllis Larrimore had the KAMRA Inlay procedure.  As a hair-stylist, Larrimore said, she was constantly taking her reading glasses on and off while working.  Now, she said, she can see like a teenager.

“I cannot think of one cosmetic surgery that I could have had that I love any better than this,” Larrimore said.

Greene said the procedure does not compromise distance vision.  KAMRA Inlay will remain unchanged unless the cornea changes or cataracts develop.

It is not covered by insurance.  However, since the procedure is fairly permanent, Larrimore said, the cost is worth it.

Larrimore no longer pays for an eye exam, new glasses and new sunglasses every year.  She said that within two years, she is saving money by having KAMRA Inlay.

“The price I paid was nothing to me,” Larrimore said.  “I would have paid 10 times that much to be able to see the way I see now.  “It’s a gift.”

Approximately 40,000 KAMRA Inlay procedures have been performed worldwide, Greene stated.  He said it is becoming more and more popular in the United States.

“My perspective is, when someone comes into our refractive surgery clinic, I don’t want to have to say, ‘It’s done somewhere, but we can’t help you,” Greene said.  “I want to be able to do enough things that I can help almost anyone that comes in.”

Greene said that if cataracts need to be taken out, it is still possible to get KAMRA Inlay afterward.  Also, cataract surgery can often be done with the KAMRA Inlay in place.

This article was written by Rebecca Cross and was featured in The Morning News.