Beyond Expectations with Alcon’s Clareon Presbyopia-Correcting IOLs (PC-IOLs)

Sponsored by Alcon

The early bird gets the worm – or in this case, early risers got the latest insights into PC-IOLs at ESCRS 2025.

During Alcon’s PC-IOL breakfast meeting, titled Beyond Expectations in PC IOLs: The Clareon^® Edge in the early morning of Sept. 13, experts shared their experience and recommendations based on a philosophy that goes beyond simply matching the right IOL to the right patient — that Alcon PC-IOLs are designed to work like how surgeons think: intuitive, precise and uncompromising.

Exploring evidence-based classifications

The meeting kicked off with a welcome from moderator Dr. Dagny Zhu (USA), who shared that Alcon’s PC-IOLs go beyond meeting industry expectations — they are engineered to exceed them.

Alcon’s PC-IOLs not only meet ANSI standards for EDOF lenses, as demonstrated by Clareon Vivity^®, but also fulfill ISO criteria, the only two accepted global standards — backed by robust clinical evidence. In addition, the Clareon IOL family aligns with the evidence-based classification framework proposed by the ESCRS Functional Vision Working Group.

This classification is based on two key clinical outcomes:

Range of the depth of field (RoF) of monocular best-corrected defocus from 0.0 D to the crossing point of 0.2 logMAR values
Difference in visual acuity from intermediate to near distance

According to the data presented, their PC-IOLs meet the following classifications:

Clareon Monofocal is “Partial Range of Field – Enhance”
Clareon Vivity is “Partial Range of Field – Extend”
Clareon PanOptix^® is “Full Range of Field – Continuous”

Dr. Zhu concluded her opening remarks by addressing this confluence of data and rigorous classification standards: “We have a large body of data showing where each of these lenses fit into global systems of classification.”

Clareon is a high-performance platform

First up was Prof. Kazuno Negishi (Japan), presenting on Alcon Clareon Collection – Designed to Deliver. She began by explaining that Alcon’s Clareon collection — from monofocal to presbyopia-correcting IOLs — is based on a high-performance platform which delivers predictability and surgeon confidence.^1-6‡

Building on the trusted AcrySof^® material, Clareon is glistening-free and enhances optical clarity.^4-6‡† Clareon monofocal features a fully usable 6 mm optic zone.^1,2,7** It also offers an exceptionally smooth surface from precision molding, and manufacturing tolerances tighter than ISO standards^6¥ — ensuring excellent refractive accuracy.^8-10§

Also according to Dr. Negishi, the clinical results of Clareon Toric confirm minimal post-operative rotation: “Study showed a mean absolute rotation of 1.33 ± 1.99° with an even lower median of 0.96° from EoS month to 6 months postoperatively. In 125 eyes, 1.6% IOLs rotated more than 5° from its initial axis.”

Prof. Negishi has clinical experience in Japan with Clareon Vivity preloaded in the AutonoMe^® injector. She highlighted the AutonoMe injection system further enhances her consistency and control through single-handed, automated IOL delivery.

“This system enables a highly reproducible IOL implantation procedure that supports safety and is less dependent on surgical skill,” she said.

Ultimately, for Dr. Negishi, it’s the trifecta of desirable material properties that make Clareon family IOLs her clinical choice in a majority of cases. “Clareon delivers proven clarity, stability^6,11,12† and ease of implantation^13,14 — making it a globally validated, surgeon-friendly choice for modern cataract and presbyopia correction,” Dr. Negishi concluded.

Real-world comparative data shows Vivity’s advantages

Next Dr. Jiwon Jeong (South Korea) provided key comparative insights into the real-world performance of EDOF IOLs he uses during his presentation (study not published yet).²⁸

He began by calling out the key factors that significantly impact patient satisfaction in an EDOF lens: “Selection requires careful evaluation of visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, visual disturbances and lens stability.”

Dr. Jeong shared his preference for Clareon Vivity, which offers presbyopia correction with a consistent monofocal visual disturbance profile.^15,16*** This preference was established while comparing results in his patients.

“Clareon Vivity offers high quality distance and intermediate vision, with high contrast sensitivity,”¹⁵ said Dr. Jeong. “Clareon Vivity also provides decentration tolerance, making it a trustworthy choice for my patients.”

Real-world practice combines Vivity and PanOptix

Two experts, Dr. Mercè Guarro (Spain) and Prof. Giacomo Savini (Italy) presented on A New Benchmark: Clareon Vivity – EU Surgeons’ Real-World Insights.

Dr. Guarro shared her practice feedback on Vivity’s consistency across a broader patient population, including high patient satisfaction and predictable outcomes.¹⁷ She presented results from a multicenter U.S. study comparing Clareon Vivity and Vivity Toric EDOF IOLs with Clareon monofocal and toric lenses.¹⁸

In 145 patients (72 EDOF, 73 Monofocal), Clareon Vivity matched monofocals for distance vision while delivering significantly better intermediate and near vision. Both groups reported a similarly low percentage of bothersome visual disturbances.

“We have 6 years of proven experience with Vivity, including proven results in groups of patients with different pathologies,” said Dr. Guarro. “The wavefront technology expands the possibilities for presbyopic patients — we found, overall, that Clareon Vivity has a monofocal-like visual disturbance profile.”

Based on these results, Dr. Guarro concluded that Clareon Vivity combines the clarity of Clareon material with the proven nondiffractive EDOF design, offering enhanced contrast sensitivity,^19∂ superior functional vision^◦ and predictability,¹⁷ thus reinforcing its clinical value in real-world practice.

Then Prof. Savini presented how the introduction of Clareon Vivity in his practice has enabled him to expand treatment options to more patients through his Clareon Custom Match approach with Clareon PanOptix IOLs. By implanting Vivity in the dominant eye and PanOptix in the non-dominant eye of select patients, he notes that this combination may offer an even more favorable defocus curve, balancing extended range of vision with minimal visual disturbances.

“This approach leverages the Vivity monofocal visual disturbance profile^15,16,20*** with PanOptix full-range of vision^21,22 on the same Clareon platform, offering surgeons flexibility to broaden treatment options, minimize visual disturbances and personalize outcomes for presbyopic patients,” said Prof. Savini.

Full Range of Field IOLs – the (clinical) strength of PanOptix

In the final presentation, Dr. Andrzej Dmitriew shared his experience with Clareon PanOptix, emphasizing the excellent intermediate and near vision that can be achieved with Clareon PanOptix.^¶21,23 He also highlighted its excellent refractive predictability,^**§8-10 supported by a vast body of clinical evidence demonstrating consistent visual outcomes,^21,22# high patient satisfaction,^24## and low rates of visual disturbances^25††¶ — making PanOptix his preferred trifocal IOL.

Dr. Dmitriew concluded by noting the growing adoption of Clareon Custom Match among his patients. This approach combines the best of both worlds — leveraging PanOptix’s extended range of vision^26,27 alongside Vivity’s monofocal visual disturbance profile.^15,16***

In summary, the panel provided their data and personal experience to an engaged audience, ultimately highlighting the benefits of the Clareon IOLs compared to other IOL technologies. Dr. Dmitriew summarized it best before the audience was dismissed into another beautiful Copenhagen morning at ESCRS 2025.

“With Alcon, we now have a robust offering for our patients with these three lenses, the AutonoMe injector, and the Clareon platform material,” he said. “These lenses, and especially Vivity, are our absolute implantation leader — and our experience here shows why.”

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*Trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

** Based on data for Clareon IOL (monofocal)

***Clinical studies were performed on the AcrySof IQ Vivity IOL; AcrySof IQ Vivity and Clareon Vivity are optically equivalent.

¶ Based on data for AcrySof IQ PanOptix Trifocal IOL.

‡ Defined as Modified Miyata grade 0, <25 mv/mm2 over 3 years (n=138), and over 9 years (n=20), respectively.

† Based on clinical and in vitro examinations of glistenings, surface haze and SSNGs.

Compared in vitro with TECNIS* OptiBlue* ZCB00V, TECNIS* ZCB00, Vivinex* XY-1, Eternity* Natural Uni W-60 and enVista* MX60; Surface haze and SSNGs: n=10 lenses per group (P<0.001); Glistenings: n=30 IOLs per group (P<0.001).

¥ Based on in vitro evaluation compared with Tecnis* ZCB00, Tecnis* OptiBlue* ZCB00V, Eternity* W-60, enVista* MX60, and Vivinex* XY1.

§ In vitro measurement of axial displacement at 5 compression diameters for Clareon SY60WF, AcrySof SN60WF, enVista* MX60, Tecnis* ZCB00, and Vivinex* iSert XY1; n=10 per group; P<0.005.

∂ Based on a retrospective head-to-head clinical comparison with 122 patients in each group, 2 years post-op, between AcrySof IQ PanOptix and Clareon PanOptix.

◦ Compared to monofocal IOLs.

# Based on prospective multicenter randomized study at 6 months, Significantly more subjects reported not experiencing starburst and glare (p<0.05 n=276).

## Response to the following question on IOLSAT questionnaire (Version 1.0, December 20, 2018) at 6 months post-op “Given your vision today, if you had to do it all over, would you have the same lenses implanted again?”; n=127.

†† Based in a meta-analysis of 11 unique clinical studies with 580 patients in 10 different countries, including “very bothersome” and “severe” visual disturbances.

References:

Clareon IOL Directions for Use
Clareon IOL Product Information
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Editor’s Note: The 43rd Congress of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS 2025) is being held from 12-16 September in Copenhagen, Denmark. This content is intended exclusively for healthcare professionals. It is not intended for the general public. Products or therapies discussed may not be registered or approved in all jurisdictions, including Singapore.

Alcon medical device(s) comply with the current legislation for medical devices. Please refer to relevant product’s instructions for use for a complete list of indications, contraindications, warnings and serious incidents. Some product(s) may not be approved in your country. Please check the availability with your local representative.