Less than 6 months after first previewing the TECNIS Odyssey intraocular lens (IOL), Johnson & Johnson (J&J) announced it has officially expanded its rollout of the purely refractive presbyopia-correcting (PC) lens to the U.S. market.
This is exciting! Let’s talk about the TECNIS brand first.
J&J’s TECNIS platform of IOLs and implants features both monofocal and PC-IOLs, including:
- TECNIS Eyhance IOL with TECNIS SIMPLICITY Delivery System
- Monofocal
- TECNIS Symfony OptiBlue IOL
- PC
- TECNIS Synergy IOL with TECNIS SIMPLICITY Delivery System
- PC
- TECNIS Symfony OptiBlue Toric II IOL
- PC
- TECNIS Synergy Toric II IOL with TECNIS SIMPLICITY Delivery System
- PC
- TECNIS Multifocal IOL +2.75D
- PC
- TECNIS Multifocal Toric II IOL +3.25D
- PC
Now this Odyssey lens.
Originally previewed during the 2024 American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) annual meeting, the TECNIS Odyssey is a premium IOL that provides:
- Full vision range
- Reduced night vision symptoms
- Low-light performance
- Top-quality contrast
- According to J&J: It provides 2x-better contrast in low lighting than Alcon’s PanOptix IOL
And its purpose?
The TECNIS Odyssey IOL is indicated as a primary implantation for visual correction of aphakia in adult patients with less than 1 D of pre-existing corneal astigmatism (and in whom a cataractous lens has been removed).
How it works: The IOL—intended for capsular bag placement only—mitigates the effects of presbyopia by providing improved visual acuity (VA) at intermediate and near distances to reduce the need for eyeglass wear (all while maintaining VA).
- Note: The IOL is also available in TECNIS Toric II, indicated for primary implantation to correct the vision of aphakic adult patients in whom a cataractous lens has been removed, as well as reduce refractive astigmatism (≥ 1 D of preop corneal astigmatism)
For both TECNIS lenses: The TECNIS Simplicity Delivery System is used to fold and assist in insertion.
How is it designed?
Made of acrylic, the single-use IOL features J&J’s proprietary TECNIS Synergy technology, as well as a freeform diffractive surface intended to prevent any potential gaps in vision distances.
About this tech: Launched in 2019 as part of the TECNIS Synergy IOL, this enables continuous high-contrast vision for a full vision range, including in low-light conditions.
- What it does for this lens: Blend light rays and allow for them to focus on the eye’s back surface—a notable stark contrast to conventional monofocal IOLs, which typically only focus light from objects at a distance.
- Plus: This design delivers “fewer visual disturbances for enhanced night-time visual quality,” as well as fewer halos and glares, according to J&J.
Didn’t the company previously report clinical data on this lens?
Indeed it did. Earlier this year, J&J presented research on the IOL’s vision range during the 2024 Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) and ASCRS annual meetings.
Among those presentations, early clinical data on the IOL showed a high rate of spectacle independence among patients, indicating that the TECNIS Odyssey delivered “full range of vision from distance to near and tolerance to residual refractive error as measured by defocus visual acuity.”
- Other notable findings: The IOL’s optical design was reported to provide high tolerance to refractive errors at the level of an aspheric monofocal IOL
Any real-world data?
Watch an interview with William (Bill) L. Soscia, MD, an investigator from a real-world study (NCT05991960) on the TECNIS Odyssey in which the first 100 eyes were implanted with the IOL.
To note: J&J Vision Company Group Chairman Peter Menizuso most recently reported that more than 14,000 have since been implanted with the TECNIS Odyssey.
Nice! What else should we know about this launch?
The company is also introducing “TECNIS Odyssey IOL Peer Connect (TOPP),” an interactive platform that allows for healthcare professionals (HCPs) and surgeons with early access to the technology to engage in live, virtual clinical discussions surrounding the lens.
- Interested clinicians can request access here.
Who should I talk to about getting this lens for my practice?
Contact the company to learn more.
Outside the U.S: The lens has already been granted regulatory authority approval in Japan, EU, Korea, Canada, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand.