Alcon's Clareon PanOptix Pro intraocular lens (IOL) has received regulatory approval for cataract patients in Canada, marking a significant advancement in presbyopia-correcting lens technology. The device incorporates the company's proprietary ENLIGHTEN NXT Optical technology, which delivers the lowest light scatter and highest reported light utilization of any trifocal IOL currently available.
Enhanced Optical Performance Through Advanced Design
The PanOptix Pro represents a substantial technological leap in diffractive optics, achieving 94% light utilization compared to the theoretical maximum of 96% for diffractive optics. This performance improvement stems from targeted diffractive refinements that recover 50% of light previously lost to scatter and redirect it to beneficial focal points.
"Our team looked at hundreds of design options, ultimately landing on a targeted diffractive refinement that helped us recover 50% of light lost to scatter, and reposition it to a beneficial focal point for PanOptix Pro," said Rob Scott, vice president of Intraocular Devices, R&D at Alcon. "This allowed for specific enhancements while maintaining the features that have driven the success of PanOptix—the world's most implanted trifocal IOL."
The enhanced optical design provides more uninterrupted light distribution from distance to near vision, with a 16% increase in optical image contrast between distance and intermediate focal points. The IOL maintains a clinically-proven low visual disturbance profile, promoting high spectacle independence and patient satisfaction.
Clinical Specifications and Add Powers
The PanOptix Pro is configured with a +2.17 diopter intermediate add power and a +3.25 diopter near add power, optimizing visual performance across multiple distances. All Alcon IOLs in the Clareon collection include blue light and UV filtering capabilities as standard features.
Dr. Rosa Braga-Mele, professor of ophthalmology at the University of Toronto, emphasized the clinical significance of the advancement: "PanOptix has been a cornerstone of my cataract practice for 8 years. These lenses have consistently delivered outstanding visual outcomes for my patients – a low visual disturbance profile and a happy patient with greater spectacle independence. So, it's exciting to see this technology evolve to further meet patients' visual expectations."
Delivery Systems and Availability
The PanOptix Pro lens is immediately available in Canada through Alcon's single-use Clareon AutonoMe preloaded delivery system. The company plans to introduce the Clareon Monarch IV delivery system in early 2026, providing surgeons with additional implantation options.
Broader Clareon IOL Portfolio
The approval expands Alcon's Clareon IOL collection, which includes presbyopia-mitigating trifocal lenses and monofocal lenses, both available with toric options for astigmatism correction. The PanOptix lens holds the distinction of being the first trifocal lens approved in the United States.
Clinical data for the related Clareon Vivity IOL demonstrates strong visual outcomes, with binocular mean uncorrected distance visual acuity of 20/20, binocular mean uncorrected intermediate visual acuity (26 inches) greater than 20/25, and binocular mean uncorrected near visual acuity (16 inches) of 20/32.
The Clareon Toric IOLs within the collection manage astigmatism through axial and rotational stability mechanisms. Fibronectin incorporated into the lens material helps bind the IOL to the capsular bag, anchoring the lens in position to reduce posterior capsular opacification and improve long-term stability.
