Innovations in eye lens technology will continue to focus on improving patient’s functioning, with further progress being made in optimizing the cataract surgery process, said Raj Rajpal, MD, chief medical officer, global head of clinical medical affairs, Johnson & Johnson (J&J) Vision.

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Where do you see eye lens technology going in the next 5 to 10 years?

Certainly continuing to develop technology that continues to improve patient’s functioning. We are hoping to continue to be able to provide options that patients can then choose, to minimize their need for glasses after cataract surgery.

We are also continuing to develop the instruments and the technology that’s used in cataract surgery. We introduced at J&J Vision this year the VERITAS system, which is the phacoemulsification, or ultrasound system, that actually breaks apart the cataract during surgery.

So, as I was mentioning earlier, during cataract surgery, we make this microscopic incision, and then we use this phacoemulsification equipment, such as VERITAS, to break apart the hard lens. Just like in kidney stones, ultrasound is used to break apart the kidney stone. Then after we’ve removed all of the cataract, that’s when we put the lens implant in place.

As I mentioned earlier, we also have developed and are continuing to develop advances in laser technology that also assist in that cataract surgery process in the operating room.