Dr.Soosan Jacob
This video shows a new technique described by Dr. Soosan Jacob for treating presbyopia. The acronym PEARL stands for PrEsbyopic Allogenic Refractive Lenticule. The technique utilizes a lenticule of suitable thickness obtained by Small Incision Lenticule Extraction (SMILE). This lenticule is marked, trephined to 1mm and implanted in the cornea on the coaxially sighted light reflex under a 120 micron femtosecond cap in the non-dominant eye of a presbyope. The PEARL inlay acts as a shape change inlay, increasing the central radius of curvature, resulting in a hyperprolate central cornea. The inlay is allogenic allowing unhindered passage of oxygen and nutrients in the cornea with less inflammation unlike synthetic implants. It ensures a stable cornea, decreases risk of corneal necrosis, is biocompatible, with good integration into the cornea. Preservation of good uncorrected distance visual acuity and no loss of lines in the operated eye is another major advantage of this technique.