Alicante Hospital Pioneers Presbyopia Correction with AI-Designed Lenses

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is now an integral part of modern healthcare. One of the fields where it shows its potential is ophthalmology, specifically in correcting conditions such as presbyopia. In fact, a network of hospitals with a presence in Alicante uses this technology to design intraocular lenses to correct this defect, also known as farsightedness.

This pioneering technique is applied in the two hospitals that the Vithas group operates in Alicante's capital. Unlike the lenses commonly used, this new technology features a spiral optical design, offering a more natural vision without light variation at each position on the defocus curve, allowing for a smooth, continuous range of vision (far, intermediate, and near) without abrupt transitions. Additionally, it reduces dysphotopsias (halos, glare, etc.) and light loss due to diffraction.

"These new intraocular lenses created by artificial intelligence offer a new approach to presbyopia surgery and provide a higher quality solution for patients," explains Dr. Alfonso Arias, head of Ophthalmology at Vithas Arturo Soria, Alicante, and Medimar hospitals, and a specialist with over 40 years of experience. "At Vithas, we are pioneers in incorporating this innovative technology into our service portfolio for the correction of presbyopia, an eye condition affecting a third of the population in Spain."

Presbyopia (or farsightedness) is a visual problem that occurs as a result of the natural aging of the lens, the eye's natural lens that allows focusing on objects at different distances.

Over the years, the lens becomes rigid and less flexible, losing its primary focusing function, leading to symptoms such as blurred vision, eye strain, light flashes, or headaches. Presbyopia is the most common visual defect among the population and typically begins to develop after the age of 40. In fact, it is estimated that in Spain, 17 million people (a third of the population) suffer from farsightedness.

Therefore, from the age of 40, it is advisable to have an annual ophthalmological check-up. Although presbyopia cannot be stopped or reversed, it can be corrected with intraocular lenses through surgery, allowing for the recovery of visual quality with stable results in a quick and single intervention, guided by a specialized medical team and the use of the latest technology.