Unmet Need / Invention Novelty: 17 M people are blind and 83.5 M have moderate-to-severe visual impairment due to cataracts, which disproportionately affect individuals in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The current gold standard, phacoemulsification, requires significant initial capital expense and equipment and recurring costs for consumables and maintenance. It may not be the procedure of choice for late-stage cataracts often found in underserved populations. Manual small incision cataract surgery (MSICS) does not require capital equipment or high initial expenditures, is more time- and cost-efficient than phacoemulsification, and can treat mature cataracts. Thus, MSICS, in which the whole cataract nucleus is manually removed through a large incision, is often used for underserved patients. However, the larger incision required limits post-operative recovery and visual acuity outcomes. There is a strong need for an improved cataract treatment that provides a globally effective, cost-efficient solution.
Technical Details: Researchers at Johns Hopkins developed a handheld, manual device that enables surgeons to conduct MSICS procedures through a small, phacoemulsification-sized incision, while maintaining the time- and cost-efficiency of conventional procedures. The device is applicable to all grades of cataract surgery and fits within the existing cataract surgery workflow, minimizing the need for additional training or skill. Importantly, by reducing the size of the incision, this device has the potential to simplify the procedure and improve post-operative outcomes, enabling equity in eye care outcomes for all patients.
Value Proposition:
· Handheld device provides global eye care systems a time- and cost-efficient cataract treatment with potential to achieve gold standard visual outcomes.
· Patient oriented, as it is capable of treating advanced cataracts while minimizing recovery time.
· May reduce the need for expensive, astigmatism-correcting glasses.
· May shorten the post-operative recovery period in comparison to MSICS.
Stage of Development: Prototyping/proof of concept.
Data Availability: Prototype available.
