“My vision is for every human being to have superlative eyesight under all viewing conditions”. These words are reflective of the passion and motivation of lead scientist and founder of the Bionic Lens, Dr Garth Webb. I had the opportunity to speak recently with this BC optometrist and long-time colleague about the current status of this innovative lens. His work gained international interest last spring, after media release of his research in developing a lens that could provide “3X better than 20/20 vision” and remediate the need for glasses at all distances.
My question at the outset of our discussion; “where lies the paradigm shift between a mere improvement in current technology and true, transformative change?” Dr Webb, perpetually discontented with the status quo, challenged himself over 10 years ago, to provide this change in the area of vision correction.
The Bionic Lens is an intra-ocular lens, a group of lenses which are surgically inserted into a patient’s eye, usually after cataract removal, to restore sight. Now patented world-wide, the Bionic Lens is designed to replace the eye’s natural lens, before cataract development, a refractive procedure currently known as refractive lens exchange (RLE). By imparting customized modifications to each lens, not just the prescription but ‘higher order aberrations’ can be corrected, allowing the full potential of a healthy visual system to be realized.
Media interest has understandably focused on the superior distance vision this lens promises. However, the true transformation will lay in the ability to successfully allow dynamic changes in vision from “optical infinity to 1 inch away in less than ¼ sec”, as he purports. This is where, to date, any other procedure has fallen short of even approaching this claim. In May, Dr. Webb and his Harvard appointed, medical advisory team will present initial animal study results at a conference of cataract and refractive surgeons in New Orleans. What will certainly spark greater interest is, a demonstration of how the Bionic lens can be successfully folded and injected into the eye via a small, suture-less incision, an accomplishment which was 8 years in the making. To date, Dr Webb remains optimistic that in Canada and several other interested countries, approval for some level of use may occur in 2017
Over the last 25 years my partners and I have observed the scientific path of this optometrist/researcher as well as the evolution and passage of numerous refractive procedures. It is with great interest that we await to see where these 2 vectors shall ultimately intersect…in the future of vision
How much will the procedure cost and where will it be available in Canada. As well can I be put on a waiting list??
Hi Mike,
The procedure is estimated to cost approximately $3,000 per eye which is inclusive of surgical fees. I would expect that, if successful in it’s ambitions and pending regulatory approval, most cataract/refractive surgeons in Canada would be eager to offer this as an intra-ocular lens option. As Dr. Webb is just completing animal trials, the lens has not progressed to human clinical trials as yet but Dr. Webb has assured me that interested patients can refer to his website at http://www.ocumetics.com to obtain on-going updates.
Thank you dr.garth Webb can’t wait .u can begin trials using me.