R+D CSIC

Researchers develop an accommodative lens to imitate the crystalline in order to correct the presbyopia

Scientists at the Instituto de Óptica have developed a new intraocular lens, which changes shape to focus on distant and near objects in order to imitate the crystalline lens function. It is the result of the Presbyopia project, funded by the European Research Council (ERC).

Presbyopia is a condition associated with the aging, in which the crystalline becomes stiff, therefore losing its ability to focus on objects dynamically. A team led by Susana Marcos, at the Instituto de Óptica “Daza de Valdés” (IO-CSIC) in Madrid, has developed an accommodative intraocular and permanent lens to correct this condition. The design of the lens has been computationally proved, through finite element models. The experiment tested the prototype in a motorised system that emulates the radial forces of the ciliary muscle.

The accommodative intraocular lens is the definite correction of presbyopia

As Susana Marcos explains, “the new lens has two elements: one refractive to correct the long-sightedness linked to an adaptive element, with haptics (peripheral branches of the lens) that apprehends the forces of the ciliary muscle, responsible for changing the lens’ shape to focus”.

According to Andrés de la Hoz, a scientist at the IO-CSIC, “the lens reproduces the behaviour of the crystalline lens, reducing its thickness". Although other accommodative lenses have been proposed, “this lens developed at the CSIC has proven to be very efficient”, as de la Hoz explains.

The lens could be applied “for people suffering of cataract and for transparent crystalline lens surgery”, says Susana Marcos about the cases in which it could be implanted. She adds: “it requires a surgery similar to the cataracts one, with an additional step activated by laser, which allows the anchoring of the lens and the capture of the ciliary muscle forces”.

CSIC Comunicación / Unidad de Comunicación - Delegación del CSIC en Cataluña

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