On June 8th, Lawrence Piazza, MD became the first eye surgeon in Maine to implant the revolutionary new ReSTOR® multifocal lens in a cataract patient. The lens is the first of its kind to provide both near and distant vision, greatly decreasing or eliminating the dependency on reading glasses or bifocals for patients.
Dr. Piazza of Coastal Eye Care in Ellsworth was one of three Maine ophthalmologists selected by Alcon, manufacturer of the AcrySof® ReSTOR® lens, to be trained in the use of this new multifocal lens and to formally introduce this ground-breaking technology to Downeast Maine.
"The vast majority of patients who undergo cataract surgery today receive monofocal lenses, which typically require them to use reading glasses or bifocals for near vision following surgery," explained Dr. Piazza. "With the new ReSTOR® lens, patients have the potential to reduce or eliminate their reliance on glasses."
This range of vision is achieved through the optical properties of the lens. The ReSTOR® is a foldable lens and represents innovative technology because of its unique, patented optic design, which allows patients to experience the highest level of freedom from glasses ever achieved in clinical trials. Eighty percent of patients receiving this lens reported "never" wearing reading glasses or bifocals following cataract surgery on both eyes.
According to Dr. Piazza, "This lens uses a combination of three complimentary technologies: apodization, diffraction, and refraction, to allow patients to experience a full range of high quality vision without the need for reading glasses or bifocals."
The ReSTOR® lens received approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in March 2005. Clinical trials were conducted in the United States and Europe to establish the safety and effectiveness of this lens. Since its introduction outside the U.S. in 2003, more than 11,000 ReSTOR® lenses have been implanted in patients by more than 1,000 surgeons in Europe and other countries.
Dr. Piazza is among the first group of U.S. ophthalmologists to be trained in the use of this lens. He has implanted the ReSTOR IOL in more than 8 patients to date with 10 additional patients scheduled to receive this lens in the next 2 months.
"The arrival of the AcrySof® ReSTOR® multifocal lens implant is a quantum leap forward in restoring functional vision independent of spectacles for near and distant tasks in the overwhelming majority of patients receiving this innovative technology," states Dr. Piazza. "I am excited about what this lens can offer to patients who look forward to active and fulfilling lives after cataract surgery!"
Dr. Piazza, a board-certified ophthalmologist, established Coastal Eye Care, PA in 1994 and has been providing surgical and medical ophthalmic care to patients in Hancock, Penobscot and Washington counties since 1992. He is on the medical staff at all three Hancock County Hospitals.
Although Dr. Piazza has provided comprehensive eye care for the past 13 years, he has always had a concentrated interest in small-incision cataract surgery with the goal of providing the best possible outcomes for his patients by decreasing dependency of glasses after cataract extraction. He has performed over 6000 cataract surgeries in Maine.
"This new multifocal lens is a breakthrough in corrective lens surgery that I am proud and excited to offer my patients undergoing cataract surgery." |
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