Hugo Higa, M.D. Among the First Eye Surgeons in Hawaii to Use the New Tecnis Symfony Intraocular Lenses for His Cataract Patients

    HONOLULU, HI, September 24, 2016 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Hugo Higa, M.D., a dual-trained Ophthalmologist and Oculoplastic Surgeon based in Honolulu, is pleased to announce that he is among the first eye surgeons in Hawaii to implant the exciting new Tecnis Symfony Intraocular Lens into one of his cataract patient's eyes during a procedure earlier this month.

Cataracts are a common condition, with almost 4 million cataract surgeries performed each year. In cataract surgery, the lens inside your eye that has become cloudy is removed and replaced with an artificial lens (called an intraocular lens, or IOL) to restore clear vision. By age 80, more than half of all Americans either have a cataract or have had cataract surgery. However, cataracts do not just impact seniors. In 2016, it is estimated that nearly one in four cataract surgeries will be performed on people younger than 65.

Marilyn, age 61, was diagnosed with a very high far-sighted vision of +8.00. Dr. Higa inserted the Symfony lens into her eye and she was tested at 20/30 vision immediately after the procedure. Marilyn is thrilled with her "new eyes" and reported being able to see far and read without glasses for the first time in many years.

"The Tecnis Symfony Intraocular Lens is the first lens that allows people with or without astigmatism to enjoy clear vision at near, intermediate and distance," said Dr. Higa. "Originally, monovision lenses were the only choice for cataract patients, then multifocal lenses were introduced for both near and distance. Now, with the new Symfony Lens, there is a continuous near-to-far high-quality vision following cataract surgery, so this technology is really ground-breaking. Most of us live in an intermediate world with our computers and TVs. The Symfony Lens may reduce the need for prescription glasses throughout your day."

Many people who have cataracts also experience other problems with their vision, such as presbyopia and astigmatism, which the Symfony lenses also address. Presbyopia, which affects most people over age 40, means people have lost the ability to focus on objects up close and often require glasses to perform near visual tasks. Astigmatism is when the cornea is misshapen, which causes blurry or distorted vision.

"I would like to stress that the Symfony is the only FDA approved multifocal IOL that can also correct astigmatism," added Dr. Higa. "Astigmatism becomes a more common condition as we age, so this is an important feature of the new lens."

The Symfony lens is approved in more than 50 countries around the world, and has been widely studied, with data from numerous clinical studies involving over 2,000 eyes.

In clinical studies, the Symfony lens:
- Provided seamless, day-to-night vision. Patients could see objects sharply and clearly at near, intermediate and far away distances, and points in between.
- Provided high-quality vision. Some IOLs may leave patients with an inability to focus clearly due to competing wavelengths of light passing through the lens at different angles (known as chromatic aberration), or with vision that is not completely focused because of the shape of the lens (known as spherical aberration). The Symfony lens has been engineered to correct these issues.
- Demonstrated a low incidence of halo and glare, which may be perceived as rings or blurring around bright lights. Glare and halo can sometimes affect an individual's ability to drive at night or to perform other visual tasks.

Price-wise, the Tecnis Symfony Intraocular Lens is comparable to current multifocal lenses. Cataract procedures are covered by insurance and Medicare. However, the price of the multi-focal or the new Symfony lens is not covered.

The official national launch for the Symfony lens is on October 1, 2016.

DISCLAIMER
INDICATIONS AND IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION FOR TECNIS SYMFONY AND TECNIS SYMFONY TORIC EXTENDED RANGE OF VISION IOLs
CAUTION: Federal law restricts this device to sale by or on the order of a physician.

INDICATIONS FOR USE: The TECNIS Symfony IOL, Model ZXR00, is indicated for primary implantation for the visual correction of aphakia in adult patients with less than 1 diopter of pre-existing corneal astigmatism in whom a cataractous lens has been removed. The lens mitigates the effects of presbyopia by providing an extended depth of focus. Compared to an aspheric monofocal IOL, the lens provides improved intermediate and near visual acuity while maintaining comparable distance visual acuity. The Model ZXR00 IOL is intended for capsular bag placement only.

The TECNIS Symfony Toric IOLs, Models ZXT150, ZXT225, ZXT300 and ZXT375, are indicated for primary implantation for the visual correction of aphakia and for reduction of residual refractive astigmatism in adult patients with greater than or equal to 1 diopter of preoperative corneal astigmatism in whom a cataractous lens has been removed. The lens mitigates the effects of presbyopia by providing an extended depth of focus. Compared to an aspheric monofocal IOL, the lens provides improved intermediate and near visual acuity while maintaining comparable distance visual acuity. The Model Series ZXT IOLs are intended for capsular bag placement only.

CONTRAINDICATIONS: None.

RISKS: Routine cataract surgery risks, irrelevant to lens selection, could be minor, temporary, or affect patients' vision permanently. Rare complications are worsening of vision, bleeding, or infection. Risks related to use of this lens include a slight loss in vision sharpness with decreased use of glasses. Even with glasses, loss of sharpness may worsen under poor visibility conditions such as dim light or fog. This may lead to driving difficulties, and not detecting road hazards as quickly at night or in fog. Patients may also notice halos, starbursts, glare, and other visual symptoms with extended range of vision IOLs. This may impact patients when there are bright lights at night. Patients should discuss all risks and benefits with their eye doctor before surgery.

WARNINGS: A small number of patients may want their TECNIS Symfony IOL removed because of lens-related optical/visual symptoms. Patients with pre-existing diseases or conditions (i.e., diabetes and heart disease) may have higher risk of experiencing complications (e.g., more difficult recovery) after routine cataract surgery. Patients should not receive this lens if they have had previous trauma to their eye. Not evaluated for use in children.

PRECAUTIONS: If the patient's eye is unhealthy (including glaucoma), vision may not be good even after cataract removal; patients may not get full benefit of the TECNIS IOL. Before surgery, the eye doctor will check for any eye diseases. Patients' vision with the TECNIS Symfony IOL may not be good enough to perform detailed 'up-close' work without glasses, and rarely, may make some types of retinal treatment (e.g., retinal tear repair) more difficult. Patients should take all prescribed medicines and apply eye drops as instructed to avoid inflammation and infection. Patients should avoid bending down and playing sports, which can harm the eye during recovery. The eye doctor will tell patients what activities to avoid.

SERIOUS ADVERSE EVENTS: Serious adverse events observed during the TECNIS Symfony clinical trial were not related to the lenses. These events included swelling of the retina, inflammation and secondary surgeries.

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ABOUT HUGO HIGA, M.D.
Dr. Hugo Higa is a dual-trained Ophthalmologist and Oculoplastic Surgeon, practicing in Honolulu for almost 20 years. He received his B.S. in Biology at UCLA, and completed his M.D. Degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Following his internship year at the University of Hawaii, he returned to Madison where he completed his Ophthalmology studies. He then traveled to Australia where he completed his fellowship training in Corneal Surgery/External Diseases and Oculoplastic/Orbital Surgery at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital in Melbourne, Victoria.

In 1998, Dr. Higa returned to Hawaii where he worked with another Ophthalmologist. He opened a satellite office at the Pali Momi Medical Center in 2000, which has since expanded to a larger space, to serve his patients on the Leeward side of Oahu. In 2004, he opened another office in the Ala Moana Building, specializing in both the aesthetic and vision needs of his patients. In 2012, Dr. Higa moved his main offices to a larger space on the ground level of the Pan Am Building to better serve his patients and expand his practice to include additional cosmetic procedures, a full-time Optometrist, a full-service Optical Shop, as well as a Medi-Spa. And, in 2015, he built a state-of-the-art surgery center in the new Hale Pawaa building in Honolulu to provide a more convenient surgery location for his Honolulu patients.

Dr. Higa has steadily built his reputation over the years and is one of the most recognized and trusted names in Ophthalmology, Optometry, and Cosmetic Surgery.

He was recognized by Honolulu Star-Advertiser readers as one of "Hawaii's Best" in 2013, 2014 and 2015.

Dr. Higa is also a dedicated member of the Kamehameha Lions Club and actively collects, cleans, and sorts glasses for donation to needy communities around the world. He also often participates in community talks, health fairs, and seminars on aging eye health and cosmetic procedures. He holds regular seminars for the education of local optometrists.

HUGO HIGA, M.D.
Tel. (808) 947-2020
www.hugohigamd.com
FB: Hugo Higa, M.D.

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