The Ophthalmic Outlook Group (OOG) Survey was launched on February 2024. The survey included 157 questions developed and reviewed with the OOG leadership board. The survey questions explored doctors’ understanding and current practice patterns across a number of areas of ophthalmic care, including presbyopia, astigmatism, corneal disease, eyelid margin disease, glaucoma, corneal- and lens-based refractive surgery, and retina. Nearly 200 optometrists responded to the survey, which was closed in mid-May 2024.

The survey asked respondents about their usage of phakic IOLs and remarkably 85% of respondents were either implanting or planning to implant phakic IOL. When averaged out across the pool of respondents this respresented and average of 13 phakic IOL implants per year.

We asked Dr. Morgan Micheletti, a refractive surgery specialist and an OOG Board member who helped shape the survey, what he thinks of this data. He was encouraged by the widespread interest in adoption of the procedure, and noted that the relatively small number of high-volume phakic IOL surgeons in the U.S. limits the number of respondents reporting large procedural volumes.

In addition to the widespread adoption, 61% of respondents anticipate increasing their use of phakic lenses over the next 5 years. Dr. Micheletti believes that factors likely contributing to the projected growth include increased awareness of the procedure, expanded phakic IOLs options, improved safety profiles, and greater patient knowledge. On that last point, he believes that when patients actively inquire about phakic IOLs it encourages more surgeons to embrace the procedure.

Dr. Micheletti discussed other results from the phakick IOL section of the OOG survey, including, perceived advantages and disadvantages of the procedure, as well as strategies for overcoming the learning curve.

To read the rest of the report on phakic IOLs or read reports on other topics featuring commentary from the OOG expert panel please visit the knowledge center on tfgeducation.com.