Rayner’s pioneering experience in paediatric cataract surgery comes into focus at a lunchtime Symposium at ESCRS Vienna 2011

Rayner’s Satellite Symposium at the XXIX ESCRS Congress in Vienna was focused on the Company’s pioneering work in paediatric cataract surgery. A distinguished line-up of speakers from around the world addressed a full auditorium for the hour-long session.

Moderated by Dr Charles Claoué, the Symposium opened with a presentation from Dr Mark Packer on the first Rayner paediatric IOL. The Ridley lens was implanted in 1952 and is still in excellent condition in the left eye of the now 71 year old patient, arguably, one of the oldest implants in a living person.

Dr Jamal Bleik’s presentation detailed his use of Rayner’s large optic Superflex® in the paediatric eye. Dr Bleik has had 10 years’ experience with Rayner lenses and currently has 57 eyes in a study group with children ranging from 6 months to 13 years of age.

Dr Keiki Mehta followed, with his experience of multifocality in infancy and his successful use of the Rayner M-flex® to allow the highest degree possible of spectacle independence in very young children.

Professor Michael Amon spoke on the Sulcoflex® DUET technique in children; the planned, sequential implantation of a capsular bag IOL and a sulcus-fixated supplementary lens in the same session. Highlighting the easy reversibility or “deconversion” of the eye with the Sulcoflex® lens, Professor Amon demonstrated how dynamic changes of refraction in the growing eye can be successfully managed, long term.

Dr William Astle reflected on the challenges of the paediatric eye; both its structure and the difficulty of predicting the myopic shift and ensuing choice of primary IOL power. Dr Astle has used Sulcoflex® supplementary lenses to deal with refractive surprises in complex paediatric cases and to manage the changing refraction of the growing eye, with excellent results.

Please click on the icons to the right to access the presentations.