Monovision is an attempt to provide acceptable distance and near vision that eliminates the need for spectacle wear by optimizing one eye for near vision, typically the non-dominant eye, and optimizing the other eye, typically the dominant eye, for distance vision. This is known as conventional monovision. Alternatively, optimizing the non-dominant eye for monovision is termed crossed monovision. Contact lens wear has been used to achieve monovision with a success rate of 76% [13].

Refractive surgery to induce permanent monovision has been extensively studied. In 2001, Jain et al. analyzed outcomes of 42 patients who had undergone photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), photoablative astigmatic refractive keratectomy (PARK), or laser in situ keratomileusis and PARK (LASIK-PARK) in one or both eyes with the goal of achieving conventional monovision, in which the non-dominant eye is corrected for near vision, or crossed monovision, in which the dominant eye is corrected for near vision [14]. They reported a satisfaction rate of 88%, suggesting that patient satisfaction after refractive surgery monovision is higher than that after contact lens monovision. Other studies have reported similar satisfaction rates, ranging from 85-98% (Table 1). While this is an encouraging outcome in the quest to eliminate spectacle or contact lens dependence, other studies suggested worse outcomes following LASIK with increasing age [15-21]. In 2007, Ghanem et al. evaluated LASIK outcomes in 511 myopic eyes and 199 hyperopic eyes subdivided into three groups of varying age (40-49 years old, 50-59 years old, and 60-69 years old) [22]. They found that while older patients had a trend toward worse final best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA) and higher retreatment rates, these differences were not statistically significant, suggesting LASIK is a reasonably safe and efficacious procedure in the presbyopic age group.

While monovision has proven to be a successful method of treating presbyopia, it does carry the risk of inducing anisometropia and reducing binocular visual acuity and stereopsis, which should be discussed pre-operatively [13].

Accommodation is a dynamic, active process that is dependent on the elastic properties of the lens. The cornea, in comparison, is a static tissue that does not alter its shape to influence refractive power. Relative to the elastic lens, it has a low depth of field. Naturally, alterations in the cornea to enhance its depth of field may serve as a potential solution for presbyopia. This has led to recent interest in the development of a multifocal cornea via laser ablation for this purpose. LASIK has garnered more attention as the procedure of choice for corneal multifocality, as it avoids the potential problem of suboptimal epithelium growth over the ablated areas [23].The various techniques to create a multifocal cornea have been named presbyLASIK techniques, of which there are three: transitional multifocality, peripheral presbyLASIK, and central presbyLASIK. The creation of a transitional multifocal cornea has been associated with significant vertical coma and has limited the popularity of this technique [23].

In peripheral presbyLASIK, peripheral cornea is ablated for near (Fig. (1), b= near vision) and the center is left for distance (Fig. (1), a= distance vision). In myopes undergoing peripheral presbyLasik, a significant amount of corneal tissue must be removed to create a hyper-negative ablation profile. Thus, peripheral presbyLASIK is typically performed in presbyopic hyperopes or presbyopic low myopes. In 2009, Uy et al. evaluated outcomes of presbyLASIK in 195 eyes with myopic presbyopia and 119 eyes with emmetropic or hyperopic presbyopia. 83% of the myopic presbyopes achieved both 20/30 or better uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) and J3 or better uncorrected near visual acuity (UNVA) at three-month follow-up [24]. 87% of the emmetropic or hyperopic presbyopes achieved the same outcome. In a study evaluating monocular presbyLASIK in the non-dominant eye and monofocal refraction-based LASIK in the dominant eye in 75 presbyopic myopes and 28 presbyopic hyperopes, Epstein et al. reported complete spectacle independence in 92% of the myopes and 89% of the hyperopes at mean follow-up of 27.4 months [25]. These findings lend support to the use of peripheral presbyLASIK for presbyopic correction, particularly in hyperopes and low myopes.

Fig. (1). Central/Peripheral PresbyLASIK.

In central presbyLASIK, the center of the cornea is corrected for near (Fig. (1), a= near vision) while the peripheral cornea (Fig. (1), b= distance vision) is left for distance. This technique is associated with only minimal corneal excision, thus it is suitable for both myopes and hyperopes. A study by Alio et al. in 2006 evaluated central presbyLasik in a hyperopic population and found that 64% of patients achieved UDVA of 20/20 or better, and 72% achieved UNVA of 20/40 or better at 6-month follow-up; however, 20% lost two lines of BSCVA, contrast sensitivity was reduced, the coefficients for coma increased, and the coefficients for spherical aberrations decreased [26]. In 2008, Jung et al. reported UDVA of 0.8 (20/25) or better and UNVA of 0.65 (J2 approx.) or better in 64.3% (9/14 patients) of hyperopic presbyopes who received central presbyLASIK treatment; no significant changes were found in contrast sensitivity or total higher order aberrations [27]. Another study of 26 eyes reported an improvement in mean UNVA from 0.15 (J11 approx.) to 0.68 (J2 approx.) following central PresbyLASIK; mean UDVA improved from 0.35 (20/60 approx.) to 0.8 (20/25) [28].

These studies validate central presbyLASIK as a technique to improve functional near vision, however the possibility of reduced quality of vision does exist. Satisfaction rates of presbyLASIK have ranged from 76% - 100% (Table 2).

In 1964, Barraquer introduced keratophakia, a procedure in which a lamellar incision is made through the corneal stroma, and a lenticule is placed to augment the cornea’s refractive power, as a treatment for hyperopia and presbyopia [29]. While this procedure resulted in unpredictable results and has been largely abandoned, it led to the development of other intra-corneal inlays, some of which have also been met with unfortunate outcomes, including corneal necrosis and opacification [30-33]. In this article, we will be discussing the following four inlay designs.

1. Kamra Inlay

The Kamra inlay is a corneal inlay manufactured by AcuFocus Inc., in Irvine, California, for the treatment of presbyopia (Fig. 2). It is likely the most well-studied corneal inlay and as of April 2015, has earned approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the surgical treatment of presbyopia in the U.S patients 45-60 years old who do not require distance correction, have not undergone cataract surgery, and require a near correction of +1.00 to +2.50 diopters. The Kamra corneal inlay, model ACI7000 in the studies mentioned below, is 10 uM thick, composed of polyvinylidene fluoride, with an outer diameter of 3.8 mm and a central aperture of 1.6 mm. The inlay has 1600 micro-perforations, each 25 uM in diameter, allowing nutrient flow through the cornea. The central aperture allows for an increased depth of focus to improve near and intermediate visual acuity, with minimal effects on distance visual acuity. The model of the Kamra inlay that is currently available is ACI7000PDT. It is thinner than the previous model, with a thickness of 5 uM, and has 8400 smaller micro-perforations ranging in size from 5 to 11 uM, which allow an average light transmission of 6.7%, a decrease from 7.1%; these changes are thought to reduce some of the visual symptoms experienced with the inlay, such as glare.

Fig. (2). Kamra inlay. Permission for use of this image was obtained from AcuFocus, Inc. Photocredits Dr Minoru Tomita.

A study evaluating the long-term outcomes of monocular Kamra implantation in emmetropic presbyopes reported an improvement in mean binocular UNVA from J6 to J2 and an improvement in mean uncorrected intermediate visual acuity (UIVA) from 20/32 to 20/25 at 60 months of follow-up [34]. Mean UDVA decreased slightly from 20/12.5 to 20/16. 74.2% of patients had UNVA of J3 or better, 87.1% had UIVA or 20/32 or better, and 93.5% had UDVA of 20/20 or better. Out of 32 inlays, one was removed due to patient dissatisfaction from a hyperopic shift in the operative eye; there was no loss of CDVA or CNVA 2 years after the removal. In a similar study that evaluated the long-term visual results of the Acufocus ACl7000 (now Kamra) intra-corneal inlay in 39 presbyopic emmetropic (naturally or post-LASIK) phakic patients, all 22 patients who presented for the 4-year follow-up visit gained at least 2 lines in UNVA with no significant loss in distance vision, with a final mean UNVA of J1 in the operative eye [35]. The mean gain in UNVA was 3.8 lines. The UDVA was 20/40 or better in all eyes at the 4-year follow-up visit, with a slight, statistically insignificant decrease from a mean UDVA of 20/20 pre-operatively to a mean UDVA of 20/25 postoperatively. Four inlays underwent explantation: one at six weeks due to a buttonhole flap, two due to refractive shifts (one myopic, -2.00D, and one hyperopic, +3.00D) with significant glare and halos, and one due to a thin flap of 58 uM that was not noticed during surgery. All four eyes that underwent explantation returned to within ±1.00D of the preoperative refraction.

Other studies have reported encouraging results of Kamra implantation following Lasik surgery as well as in combination with Lasik surgery, with highest patient satisfaction reported in older patients; occasional postoperative symptoms include dry eyes, halo, and glare [36-38].

2. Raindrop Inlay

The Raindrop near vision inlay is a corneal inlay manufactured by Revision Optics in Lake Forest, California, that aims to alter the shape of the cornea to modify its refractive power. It has a 2.0 mm diameter with a central thickness of 32 to 36 uM (Fig. 3). It is made of permeable hydrogel material that has the same refractive index as the cornea, but is thicker in the center and thinner at the edges. It is placed in the stromal bed underneath a keratotomy flap. A study of 20 emmetropic presbyopes who underwent monocular implantation of the Raindrop inlay in the non-dominant eye reported at least 20/40 UNVA in all eyes that underwent treatment at one-year follow-up [39]. There was minimal effect on UDVA, however one patient was dissatisfied with the resulting vision and underwent explantation of the inlay. Simultaneous monocular hydrogel inlay implantation in the non-dominant eye and bilateral Lasik treatment in hyperopic presbyopes also yielded positive results, with all eyes with the inlay achieving UNVA of 20/32 or better at one-year follow-up [40]. Mean binocular UDVA improved from 20/53 preoperatively to 20/19 postoperatively. Out of 16 inlays, one was explanted due to recurrent haze. Of the 14 patients analyzed at one-year follow-up, all reported being satisfied or very satisfied with near, distance, and overall vision.

Fig. (3). Raindrop inlay, courtesy of Pf. Choun-Ki Joo, MD, PhD.JPG.

3. Flexivue Inlay

The Flexivue Microlens is a 3.0 mm diameter corneal inlay with a thickness of 15 uM, manufactured by Presbia Cooperatief in Amsterdam, Netherlands (Figs. 4 and 5). In a study of 47 emmetropic presbyopes who received the inlay in the non-dominant eye underneath a femtosecond laser flap, UNVA was 20/32 or better in 75% of operative eyes and UDVA decreased significantly from a mean of 20/20 to 20/50 at one-year follow-up [41]. 36% (17/47) of patients lost one line of CDVA in the operated eye, and there was an increase in higher order aberrations as well as a decrease in contrast sensitivity in the operated eye.

Fig. (4). Flexivue Lens. Permission for use of this image was obtained from Presbia Cooperatief, with courtesy Dr Crewe Brown.

Fig. (5). Flexivue Lens. Permission for use of this image was obtained from Presbia Cooperatief, with courtesy Dr Prof Ioannis Pallikaris, Greece.

Conductive keratoplasty (CK) is a non-ablative technique that uses radiofrequency energy to reshape the cornea, approved by the U.S FDA in 2002 for the treatment of previously untreated, low levels of spherical hyperopia (+0.75 to +3.00 diopters). A series of 8 to 32 spots are applied in up to three rings in the peripheral cornea stroma, resulting in shrinking of collagen between the spots and subsequent steepening of the central cornea. It is similar in concept to laser thermal keratoplasty (LTK), which uses a holmium:YAG laser to mechanically steepen the cornea. While LTK gained significant attention in the 1990s, long-term studies showed suboptimal stability of effect [42]. It was hypothesized that the high amount of regression following LTK was due partly to its suboptimal penetration in corneal tissue. Approximately 350 uM of water, which accounts for 75% of the cornea’s stromal mass, is penetrated by the holmium:YAG laser [43]. Based on a corneal thickness of 540 uM, this leads to approximately 65% penetration of corneal depth. CK, on the other hand, penetrates approximately 80% of the cornea’s depth based on histology studies [44].

While CK has proven to be an effective procedure for the treatment of hyperopia, its effects are not permanent. Studies have shown a significant amount of regression in long-term follow-up [45, 46]. One study reported a change in the manifest spherical equivalent from +1.45D pre-operatively, to +0.295D at the 23-month follow-up visit, to +1.394D at mean final follow-up of 73 months; no eye lost more than 1 line of BSCVA [47].

Naturally, the use of CK as an effective, safe, although temporary, treatment for hyperopia led to the investigation of its use as a treatment for presbyopia. A prospective, multicenter, FDA clinical phase III trial evaluating CK’s safety and efficacy in both emmetropic and hyperopic presbyopes found that 66% of the eyes treated for near had a manifest refractive spherical equivalent (MRSE) within 0.5D of the intended correction, 89% were within 1.0D, and 100% were within 2.0D at the six-month follow-up visit [48]. The MRSE mean change was 0.04D per month between months 1 and 3, and 0.06D per month between months 3 and 6. 76% of patients reported being satisfied or very satisfied with the procedure. The results of this study as well as others on the use of CK in the treatment of presbyopia are summarized in Table 4. In 2004, the U.S FDA granted approval for the use of CK in the treatment of presbyopia in non-dominant eyes with a goal target manifest refraction of -1.00 to -2.00D. While CK has a role in the treatment of presbyopia, the long-term stability of its effects in presbyopic eyes is uncertain. Given the well-documented regression of effect in hyperopic eyes treated with CK, it is likely that a similar effect is observed in presbyopic eyes. CK likely affords an efficacious yet temporary solution to presbyopia.

The total numbers of patients in all the studies included in this review article are shown in (Graph 1). Graph (2) shows the post-operative spectacle independence as a percentage of patients. Four studies in the LASIK/PRK group, four studies in the presbyLASIK group, seven studies in the corneal inlays group and two studies in the conductive keratoplasty group reported post-operative spectacle independence. In the LASIK/PRK group, an average of 84% of patients achieved post-operative spectacle independence with a standard deviation of ±13.35 (68%-97% range) and an average follow-up of 12 months. In the presbyLASIK group, 85% ±9.85 (72-91% range) achieved spectacle independence with an average follow-up of 13 months. In the corneal inlay group 48% ±42.2 (2.5-98% range, mean follow-up 16 months) achieved spectacle independence, showing a large amount of variability in the data. In the conductive keratoplasty group, 80% ±3.16 (77-81.5% range) achieved spectacle independence with an average follow-up of 24 months.

Graph (1). Total Number of Patients Based on Literature Review.

Graph (2). Patients Achieving Spectacle Independence and Standard Deviation (Mean follow-up 16 months).

The percentage of patients satisfied with the respective procedures is shown in (Graph 3). Nine studies in the LASIK/PRK group, four studies in the presbyLASIK group, eight studies in the corneal inlays group, two studies in the conductive keratoplasty group and four studies in the INTRACOR group reported post-operative patient satisfaction. In the LASIK/PRK group, an average of 91% of patients with a standard deviation ±5.2(80-94% range) were satisfied with the procedure and average follow-up was 8 months. In the presbyLASIK group, 82% ±11.58 (76-100% range) were satisfied with the procedure and average follow-up was 7.5 months. In the corneal inlays group, 86% ±7.9 (75-100% range) were satisfied with the procedure and average follow-up was 23 months. In the conductive keratoplasty group, 77% ±3.9 (76-81.5% range) were satisfied post-operatively and average follow-up was 9 months. In the INTRACOR group, 85% ±11 (71-98% range) were satisfied with the procedure and average follow-up was 16 months.

Graph (3). Patient Satisfaction After Surgery (Mean follow-up 14.5 months).