The VERUS™ Capsulorhexis Device designed to perform safer, more effective cataract surgery is scheduled to go on the market soon following a licensing agreement between the University of Colorado, Denver www.ucdenver.edu and Mile High Ophthalmics LLC at www.milehighophthalmics.com
Today, in the U.S. alone, cataracts impact over 24 million adults over 40 with this number expected to double by 2020. By age 80, more than half of all Americans will have cataracts with direct medical treatment costs estimated at $6.8 billion per year.
Mild cataracts won’t require treatment, but as the cataract advances the clouded lens must be replaced with an artificial implant. Surgeons will than remove a circular part of the capsule surrounding the lens but complications can occur.
Now a research team led by Malik Y. Kahook MD Professor of Ophthalmology School of Medicine at the University of Colorado has developed a ring-shaped device to help the surgeon complete a perfectly round and centered opening in the capsule during surgery. The ring is micro-patterned to help adhere to the capsule and remain in place during surgery.
Dr. Kahook explains, “There have been many attempts over the past few decades to make the opening of the anterior capsule safer and more reproducible by cataract surgeons of all skill sets and training levels.”
He adds, “Past devices have included very expensive lasers or devices that failed to provide the needed outcome. The VERUS device is cost effective and can be seamlessly incorporated into standard cataract surgery without adding extensive time or a long learning curve.”
James Dennewill CEO of Mile High Ophthalmics hopes the device will improve the visual outcomes for cataract surgery patients by optimizing the capsulotomy part of the procedure and pricing the device so that all patients and surgeons will have access to it.