Medical Monday: Newly approved trifocal cataract lens available in Panama City

The FDA just approved a trifocal cataract replacement lens that makes 20/20 vision possible for near, intermediate and distance vision. It's called the PanOptix Trifocal Intraocular Lens. This lens is available to patients in the Panama City area.

Dr. Bret Fisher from the Eye Center of Northwest Florida was involved in the clinical investigations for the lens, and is one of the first physicians in the U.S. to offer it to patients.

"We were actually one of the 12 clinical sites in the U.S. that did the FDA research on this lens several years ago. It was just amazing how well our patients did, how good the data was, and so we're excited to now be using it again now that it's commercially available and approved by the FDA for use in the U.S.," explained Fisher.

Dr. Fisher says the surgery is not painful and patients essentially have no down time. A laser is used to make proper measurements, the cataract is removed, and the trifocal lens is placed into the eye. This is different from the bifocal lenses that were used in the past.

According to Dr. Fisher, a bifocal lens "had two primary focus points, and the vision could dip off a little bit around the sides. This one has three focus points, so we get great distance vision, great mid-range, and we get great close-up reading."

There is an out-of-pocket cost for the upgraded lens. Dr. Fisher told us the lens runs about $3,200 for each eye.