Ophthalmic Implants

Implants have become commonplace medical devices. We can implant joint replacements, pacemakers, and teeth. But you may not ordinarily think of implanting devices into the eye. There are three ophthalmic implants that you should know about: intraocular lens implants, glaucoma implants, and punctal implants (see individual articles).What’s in the future for ocular implants? Research is being done on a microchip that could be implanted in the retina (light-receiving, inner lining of the eye) to help people with retinitis pigmentosa. This exciting development is surely just the beginning of such vision-restoring capabilities. In addition, the FDA has recently approved a time-released medication implant that is inserted into the back segment of the eye. Work is moving ahead on a similar device for the front half of the eye. Where ophthalmic implants are concerned, you could say the eye’s the limit!