Corneal Inlay

When you enter your 40s and you begin to experience the onset of DLS, the lens in your eye is undergoing a series of gradual changes. We categorize these changes into three stages:

• Stage 1 – This is the beginning of DLS and is commonly referred to as presbyopia. In stage 1, the lens of your eye begins to harden and lose its flexibility. This rigidness makes it difficult for you to focus on things up close, and is the reason you may start to need reading glasses or bifocals. This stage usually begins in your early to mid-40s. A corneal inlay can be a good solution for active people in stage 1 DLS who have good distance vision but wish to reduce or eliminate their dependence on reading glasses. Laser vision correction such as LASIK may also still be a viable option for some patients.
• Stage 2 – With stage 2 DLS, the lens of the eye has started the gradual process of yellowing. This affects the amount of light the lens can filter, which in turn reduces the clarity of your vision, both near and far. Symptoms of stage 2 most often begin in your late 40s to mid-50s. For patients in DLS  stage 2, we often recommend a lens replacement procedure instead of laser vision correction, and replace the dysfunctional lens with a technologically advanced lens. We call this procedure Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE).
• Stage 3 – This is what’s known as a cataract. With cataracts, the lens of your eye has become cloudy enough that it is significantly affecting your vision, and you need treatment to restore the quality of your sight. In the United States, the average age of people who get cataract surgery is 73. For patients in DLS stage 3, we often recommend a lens replacement procedure instead of laser vision correction, and replace the dysfunctional lens with a technologically advanced lens or laser cataract surgery.

At Kugler Vision in Omaha, Nebraska, we offer a corneal inlay procedure – the KAMRA inlay. Corneal inlay eye procedures restore near vision and can free you from the constant frustrations of reading glasses. It is ideal for active people who don’t want to depend on reading glasses or contact lenses for their everyday up-close activities.

Most people are not a candidate for both options, but rather are better suited for one of the specific technologies. At your consultation, we will determine which option, if any, is right for you. Discover your options by taking our 60-second self-test below.

The Corneal Inlay:

• Improves everyday vision, so you can see text messages, a computer screen, a restaurant menu, or the time on your wrist watch, without the frustration of reading glasses
• Provides a broader, more natural range of vision – from near to far, without blurry zones
• Offers a long-term solution that will help you enjoy clear near vision over time

Life Before a Corneal Inlay: When the natural focusing ability of the eye diminishes, it creates blurry near vision. The images you see are focused behind the retina instead of onto it, resulting in a blurry image as you try to read things up close.

The corneal inlay procedure offered at Kugler Vision restores near vision to free you from the constant frustrations of reading glasses.

KAMRA Inlay – The KAMRA inlay sits in the first few layers of the eye, known as the cornea. Smaller and thinner than a contact lens, the KAMRA inlay is a mini-ring with an opening  – or pinhole – in the center. The inlay uses this pinhole to focus light coming into the eye, restoring near vision while maintaining distance vision.  

Anyone who needs reading glasses for daily tasks such as using mobile phones, reading a menu, looking at fine print, or doing close-up work may be a good candidate for a corneal inlay. Find out if you’re a good candidate by contacting us for a consultation to see if the KAMRA inlay would be right for you.