By: Roger M. Kaldawy, M.D.

Milford Franklin Eye Center

Cataract surgery has evolved dramatically over the past few decades, moving from a simple removal of the clouded natural lens to a transformative procedure that can restore full-spectrum vision. The introduction of advanced intraocular lenses (IOLs) has redefined the standard of care, allowing many patients to regain sharp vision at multiple distances without the ongoing need for glasses.

Now, a new generation of lens technology is poised to elevate outcomes even further: the Clareon® PanOptix® Pro Trifocal IOL. Alcon recently announced the official U.S. launch of this lens, with commercial availability starting in May 2025. I’m honored to share that I will be performing the first PanOptix Pro implantation in Massachusetts, bringing this groundbreaking innovation to our community.

What Is the Clareon® PanOptix® Pro IOL?

The Clareon PanOptix Pro is Alcon’s latest trifocal intraocular lens designed for use during cataract surgery. It builds on the success of the original PanOptix® IOL, which was the first trifocal lens approved by the FDA in the United States. This new version offers enhanced optics, improved light management, and a more seamless range of vision.

This lens features ENLIGHTEN® NXT optical technology, a refinement that allows for 94% light utilization — the highest reported light transmission of any trifocal IOL on the market today. Compared to its predecessor, PanOptix Pro also boasts a 16% increase in contrast between intermediate and distance vision, delivering a sharper, more comfortable visual experience across the entire range.

Additionally, targeted diffractive refinements help redirect 50% of light previously lost to scatter toward useful focal points, greatly enhancing image clarity and reducing glare.

Why It’s Better Than the Original PanOptix

The original PanOptix lens already offered excellent outcomes, allowing patients to see clearly at near (reading), intermediate (computer), and distance (driving) ranges. However, some patients experienced visual disturbances like halos or glare, especially in low-light settings. The Clareon PanOptix Pro addresses these concerns with:

• Improved contrast sensitivity

• Reduced light scatter

• More uninterrupted light distribution

• Enhanced optical image sharpness

These refinements translate to better night vision, clearer contrast, and greater patient satisfaction, especially in visually demanding environments.

Another major improvement is the Clareon AutonoMe® preloaded delivery system, which allows for more precise, consistent lens placement during surgery — a benefit for both surgeons and patients.

Key Benefits for Patients

• Seamless vision across distances — from reading a phone to driving at night

• Reduced dependence on glasses

• Brighter, sharper vision

• Low-light confidence, such as in restaurants or while driving at night

• Built-in UV and blue light filtering for retinal protection

Risks and Considerations

While the PanOptix Pro IOL offers impressive advantages, it’s important to remember that no intraocular lens is perfect for every patient. Some individuals may still experience mild visual disturbances such as glare or halos, particularly in the first weeks after surgery. The brain also requires time to adapt to trifocal optics, and some patients may need a short adjustment period.

The lens is not recommended for those with significant macular disease, irregular astigmatism, or certain other ocular conditions. A comprehensive preoperative consultation is critical to determine candidacy.

Alternatives to the PanOptix Pro

For patients not suited to trifocal lenses, several other IOL options exist:

• Monofocal IOLs: Provide clear vision at one distance, typically requiring glasses for near or intermediate tasks

• Multifocal IOLs: Offer multiple focal points, though with a more limited range than trifocals

• Extended Depth of Focus (EDOF) IOLs: Improve intermediate and distance vision with reduced halos, though near vision may still need support

Choosing the right IOL is highly individualized and should be guided by lifestyle, eye health, and visual expectations.

A First for Massachusetts

Bringing the Clareon PanOptix Pro to Massachusetts is a milestone I’m proud to be part of. Our practice has always embraced cutting-edge technology to enhance patient outcomes, and this next-generation lens is no exception. Performing the first PanOptix Pro implant in the Commonwealth underscores our ongoing commitment to innovation, excellence, and personalized care.

We believe our patients deserve access to the latest proven technologies — not just to restore vision, but to improve how they live, work, and experience the world.

Why Milford Franklin Eye Center?

Cataract surgery is all about better precision, more safety, and excellent outcomes. At Milford Franklin Eye Center, I am proud to have been the first surgeon in the area and among the first in Massachusetts to offer bladeless laser-assisted cataract surgery — and the first in Greater Boston to implant the original PanOptix lens. We are now excited to bring the PanOptix Pro to our community.

The top five teaching hospitals in the nation offer bladeless laser cataract surgery — and so do we. All surgeries are performed at our state-of-the-art surgery center in Milford using advanced laser technology and premium lenses that correct for distance, near, and everything in between. Many cases of astigmatism are now fully correctable with these modern lens implants.

Our complication rates are among the lowest in the nation. One hundred percent of surgeries are performed under topical anesthesia — meaning no needles, no shots around or behind the eye, no stitches, and no scalpels. It’s truly no knife, no shots, no stitch surgery.

We have anesthesiologists present for all cases and we never perform surgery in an office space, unlike some other practices. We also do not charge additional fees for use of the operating room — another key difference. There is no longer any need to travel hours for your cataract surgery. The most advanced care is already here, close to home.

It’s Time to Be Pro Panoptimistic!

The Clareon PanOptix Pro IOL is more than just an upgrade — it’s a significant leap forward in cataract surgery outcomes. With its groundbreaking light utilization, refined optics, and proven range of vision, it stands to become the new gold standard for patients seeking independence from glasses and sharp, vibrant vision at all distances.  Experience cataract surgery results second to none — here, closer to home, at the Milford Franklin Eye Center.

For more details, see our ad on page 15.

Sponsored articles are submitted by our advertisers. The advertiser is solely responsible for the content of this article.