What is Raindrop?
Published by on February 7, 2017
What is the Raindrop Procedure?
The Raindrop Near Vision Inlay is the world’s first inlay to change the shape of the cornea, which is the clear, front part of the eye, to improve near vision. Raindrop is designed to reduce or eliminate the need for reading glasses. This procedure takes about 10-minutes, and patients are able to resume most normal activities the very next day.
The Raindrop inlay is:
- incredibly small – about the size of a pinhead and less than half the thickness of a human hair.
- bioengineered to mimic the natural cornea.
- is made of a soft, biocompatible material similar to a soft contact lens, comprising of approximately 80 percent water.
Who should consider the Raindrop Near Vision Inlay?
Age related near vision changes or DLS Stage 1, also known as presbyopia, is the condition that leaves many of us reaching for reading glasses in our 40s and early 50s. Anybody who needs reading glasses for daily tasks such as using mobile phones, reading a menu, fine print or doing close-up work may be a good candidate for the procedure.
How common is DLS Stage 1?
DLS Stage 1, the condition that decreases your eyes’ ability to focus on near objects, affects more than a billion people in the world, according to the Archives of Ophthalmology. Everyone eventually will be affected, most people begin to notice the vision changes in their 40s and early 50s. It occurs when the natural lens inside the eye loses its flexibility to focus on near objects.
How does the procedure work?
The Raindrop procedure works by gently changing the shape of the cornea. One inlay is placed in the cornea of the non-dominant eye. After the Raindrop inlay procedure, both eyes work together to create one image. The near vision is improved in the Raindrop eye, while the distance is slightly affected. With both eyes working together distance vision is not compromised and patients have a significant improvement in near vision.
What is the Raindrop procedure like?
The procedure is over quickly, taking only about 10-minutes. Patients should be driven home after the procedure and should take it easy the rest of the day. Most patients return to normal activity the very next day. Most people who have had the Raindrop near vision inlay implanted see an improvement in their near vision by one week and their vision continues to improve for several weeks.1 Patients will need to use eye drops for several months for comfort and healing.
How effective is the Raindrop Near Vision Inlay procedure?
In the FDA clinical study, within one week after the procedure patients on average gained 5 lines of near vision on an eye chart without the need for reading glasses. Their vision continued to improve over the next several weeks and months.1
Have Additional Questions?
If you have additional questions about your near vision changes and how this procedure may help, or to find out if you’re a Raindrop candidate, please call us at 402.558.2211.
Reference:
- Raindrop Near Vision Inlay Prescribing Label, ReVision Optics, Inc.
Please see Professional Use Information and/or Patient Information Brochure for a complete list of Potential Risks, Warnings and Precautions. www.raindropinlay.com
Lance Kugler, MD, is a specialist in LASIK and vision correction surgery and CEO of Kugler Vision. A proud Omaha native, he is passionate about improving lives through clear vision. Dr. Kugler serves on several national boards, and his practice is recognized internationally as a center of excellence. Dr. Kugler is one of the original founders of the Refractive Surgery Alliance, an international organization comprised of over 350 of the world’s leading vision correction surgeons; he also served as its first president. In 2019, Dr. Kugler was selected as a TEDx speaker, and delivered a talk in Omaha about the worldwide epidemic of nearsightedness and refractive solutions. Dr. Kugler is an Associate Professor of Refractive Surgery at the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Truhlsen Eye Institute, has been published in many medical journals, and participates in numerous clinical studies to advance the field of vision correction surgery. Additionally, Dr. Kugler is proud to be a Board Certified Fellow of the World College of Refractive Surgery & Visual Sciences. Dr. Kugler and his wife are proud parents to five active kids. When he has a spare moment, he enjoys skiing, tennis, travel, and fine coffee.
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