The KAMRA inlay is a small inlay that is placed in the cornea to combat presbyopia, or the gradual decline in near vision that most adults experience in middle age. It is intended to reduce reliance on reading glasses by enhancing vision at a close range, while also preserving sight at a distance.
What is presbyopia?
When light enters the pupil through the cornea, the lens focuses the light so that it can be sensed by the light-sensitive receptors in the retinas, which then communicate via electric impulses to the brain, producing the images we see. In young adulthood, our natural lenses are flexible and adjust easily – these adjustments allow us to shift our focus from objects that are directly in front of us to those that are farther away, and vice versa. We do it so quickly and continuously that we hardly notice it.
However, as we get older, lenses begin to lose their elasticity. As they continue to stiffen, they gradually lose the ability to bend into the necessary shapes to produce the full range of vision, and it becomes more and more difficult to see objects up close. This acquired farsightedness affects all adults as they age, and causes many of them to rely on reading glasses to perform even everyday tasks.
How the KAMRA Inlay Works
The KAMRA inlay is a small ring, smaller and thinner than a contact lens, that is set in the cornea, or the outermost layers of the eye. A tiny pinhole at the inlay’s center focuses the light coming in through the cornea, so that only focused light enters the eye, improving vision. The inlay is set into only one eye, so that the eye can see close objects with clarity, while distance vision is preserved in both eyes. By focusing the light entering the eye, the KAMRA inlay compensates for the natural lens’ increasing stiffness, minimizing the farsightedness associated with presbyopia.
Could KAMRA be the answer for your vision problems?
Presbyopia is a natural part of aging that affects different people at different degrees. It can affect people who have struggled with poor vision their whole lives, as well as those who enjoyed perfect vision into middle age. Fortunately, KAMRA is a viable solution for most adults suffering from presbyopia. It is even an approved intervention for individuals who have already had LASIK or PRK surgery earlier in life and enjoyed improved sight, only to find with time that near vision was diminishing. LASIK, PRK, and other similar interventions improve sight, but do not combat, eliminate, or prevent the presbyopia that KAMRA is designed to treat.
Some patients with mild forms of presbyopia find it to be little trouble – they may only need to pull out their reading glasses to read the fine print on a menu, or to perform an intricate task for long periods of time. However, since farsightedness is caused by the loss of elasticity in the lens, the condition worsens with time with people eventually needing to depend upon glasses throughout the day. If you’re tired of needing to use your reading glasses multiple times every day, then the KAMRA inlay could be the solution for you.
Talk to Your Eye Doctor Today
Only your doctor can help you decide if the KAMRA inlay will solve your close vision problems. It is a simple outpatient procedure, and most patients return to regular activity within 24 to 48 hours after surgery is complete. How rapidly results appear will vary from patient to patient. If for any reason you are unsatisfied with the inlay’s performance, it can be safely removed and the procedure effectively reversed.
