How Can You Improve on an Award-Winning Trifocal IOL? Leading Ophthalmologists Share Their Early Impressions of Clareon PanOptix Pro
In a recent webcast hosted in Alcon’s home base in Fort Worth, Texas, and moderated by Dr. Rob Melendez, early adopters Dr. Jennifer Loh, Dr. Brandon Ayers, and Dr. Morgan Micheletti shared their firsthand impressions of the Clareon® PanOptix® Pro intraocular lens (IOL). Together, they explored how this next-generation lens is performing in real-world practice—highlighting a reduction in light scatter, unprecedented light utilization in trifocal IOLs, and designed for enhanced image contrast—and other advances to its award-winning predecessor.1-4,*,**,†
Since its launch in 2019, the original Clareon® PanOptix® trifocal IOL has helped establish Alcon as a market leader in presbyopia-correcting IOLs (PCIOLs).5 Widely trusted by surgeons and patients, PanOptix is the number one implanted trifocal lens with over 3 million worldwide.5,6,†† Its optical design was recognized with the prestigious Prix Galien Award for Best Medical Technology in 2021.1-3,7,‡
“The first thing they did was make sure they didn't change the full visual range that PanOptix already provides. That’s extremely important,” said Morgan Micheletti, MD, of Berkeley Eye Center in Sugar Land, Texas.1-4,8-12,*,‡‡ “PanOptix Pro is built upon the trusted foundation of PanOptix. It is an additive, built upon the platform we know and love.”1-4,*,**,†
The Impact of the Innovation Behind the Lens
At the heart of the PanOptix® Pro update is ENLIGHTEN® NXT Technology—a next-generation evolution of Alcon’s proprietary optical platform.3,†,¶ PanOptix® Pro retains the foundation of its trifocal predecessor, while making small, precise and targeted changes in the diffractive structure (<0.5μm step changes).3
While there are several exciting new features with PanOptix® Pro, these key areas of innovation stand out among the rest:
- 50% less light scatter, the lowest reported light scatter of any trifocal IOL.1-4,8-12,*,**,‡‡
- Unprecedented 94% light utilization in trifocal IOLs, compared to a theoretical maximum utilization of ~96% for diffractive optics.1-4,13,*,**,†,§
Dr. Micheletti shared more about the optical engineering and the impact it delivers. “By making very small, half-micron changes in certain step heights—and even reducing the overall step height in places—we were able to recover some light energy lost to light scatter and reposition it to a useful place,” he explained.3 Now with PanOptix Pro, we have been able to direct that light to create a more continuous range of light distribution from distance to intermediate.”3
This refined light distribution helps reduce scatter while enhancing light utilization to an unprecedented 94% for trifocal IOLs.1-4,8-12,*,**,‡‡
Brandon Ayres, MD, of Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia, acknowledged his initial hesitation about changing something that already worked well. However, his clinical experience quickly validated the promises of PanOptix® Pro’s advancements. Jennifer Loh, MD, of Loh Ophthalmology in Miami, added that these next-generation refinements helped explain a common phenomenon in her practice: patients with good chart vision that still report subpar real-world experiences.
“I’ve often wondered why someone tests well but still says they can’t see clearly following their procedure,” she said. “Light scatter and underutilized light, which PanOptix Pro improves upon, could explain that. After all, my patients have repeatedly expressed their excitement about the remarkable improvement in their vision with PanOptix Pro.”
Seamless Integration, Strong Early Outcomes
The positive outcomes for patients and surgeons alike extend beyond Dr. Loh’s experiences. For Dr. Ayres, switching from Clareon® PanOptix® to Clareon® PanOptix® Pro was simple. “It was plug-and-play. No learning curve,” he said.
Dr. Ayres also recounted a memorable patient—his first PanOptix® Pro case—who now enthusiastically tells everyone about his improved vision. “He said he can read menus in restaurants better than his son.”
A New Chapter in IOL Performance
Contrast sensitivity and visual disturbances are common concerns among surgeons. According to moderator Robert Melendez, MD, of Juliette Eye Institute in Albuquerque, New Mexico, PanOptix Pro is already continuing to prioritize these areas.3,14,15,†,¶,§§
All three surgeons agreed: while no lens is perfect, Clareon® PanOptix® Pro optimizes the unique PanOptix diffractive profile for uninterrupted light distribution with an unprecedented 94% light utilization among trifocals, for reduced light scatter.1-4,*,**,†,¶
“This isn’t just an upgrade in light scatter, it’s a new chapter in trifocal optics, and I am looking forward to what’s to come from Alcon IOLs,” added Dr. Micheletti.
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Learn more about Clareon® PanOptix® Pro
*Based on manufacturer reported values and respective methodology for Clareon PanOptix, Envista Envy, AT Elana, Gemetric and Rayner.
**Compared to Clareon PanOptix. PanOptix has 88% light utilization (12% scatter light)/PanOptix Pro 94% light utilization (6% scatter light).
†Compared to Clareon PanOptix.
††Based on worldwide IOL unit sales, Q1, 2025.
‡Compared to Clareon PanOptix based on bench and vision simulator studies.
‡‡Based on bench and vision simulator studies.
§For feasible diffractive optics of up to pentafocal design from Krackhardt et al.
¶Simulated photopic through-focus point spread function (light intensity [energy])—polychromatic.
§§Based on bench studies with PanOptix vs Tecnis Synergy, Zeiss AT-Lisa, Finevision Triumf. PanOptix and PanOptix Pro demonstrated similar Halo Profile.
CAUTION: Federal (USA) law restricts this device to the sale by or on the order of a physician.
INDICATIONS
The Clareon® PanOptix® Pro Trifocal IOLs include Clareon® PanOptix® Pro and Clareon® PanOptix® ProToric and are indicated for primary implantation in the capsular bag in the posterior chamber of the eye for the visual correction of aphakia in adult patients, with less than 1 diopter of pre-existing corneal astigmatism, in whom a cataractous lens has been removed. The lens mitigates the effects of presbyopia by providing improved intermediate and near visual acuity, while maintaining comparable distance visual acuity with a reduced need for eyeglasses, compared to a monofocal IOL. In addition, the Clareon® PanOptix® Pro Toric Trifocal IOL is indicated for the reduction of residual refractive astigmatism.
WARNINGS/PRECAUTIONS: Careful preoperative evaluation and sound clinical judgment should be used by the surgeon to decide the risk/benefit ratio before implanting a lens in a patient with any of the conditions described in the Directions for Use labeling. Physicians should target emmetropia, and ensure that IOL centration is achieved.
For the Clareon® PanOptix® Pro Toric Trifocal IOLs, the lens should not be implanted if the posterior capsule is ruptured, if the zonules are damaged, or if a primary posterior capsulotomy is planned. Rotation can reduce astigmatic correction; if necessary lens repositioning should occur as early as possible prior to lens encapsulation.
Some visual effects may be expected due to the superposition of focused and unfocused multiple images. These may include some perceptions of halos, radial lines around point sources of light (starbursts) under nighttime conditions, or glare, as well as other visual symptoms. As with other multifocal IOLs, there is a possibility that visual symptoms may be significant enough that the patient will request explant of the multifocal IOL. A reduction in contrast sensitivity as compared to that expected with a monofocal IOL may be experienced by some patients and may be more prevalent in low lighting conditions. Therefore, patients implanted with multifocal IOLs should exercise caution when driving at night or in poor visibility conditions.
Patients should be advised that unexpected outcomes could lead to continued spectacle dependence or the need for secondary surgical intervention (e.g., intraocular lens replacement or repositioning).
As with other multifocal IOLs, patients may need glasses when reading small print or looking at small objects. Posterior capsule opacification (PCO), may significantly affect the vision of patients with multifocal IOLs sooner in its progression than patients with monofocal IOLs. Prior to surgery, physicians should provide prospective patients with a copy of the Patient Information Brochure available from Alcon informing them of possible risks and benefits associated with the IOLs.
ATTENTION: Reference the Directions for Use labeling for each IOL for a complete listing of indications, warnings and precautions.
References
1. Alcon Data on File, 2024. REF-25222.
2. Alcon Data on File, 2024. REF-25221.
3. Alcon Data on File, 2024. REF-25218.
4. Alcon Data on File, 2015. REF-08546.
5. Market Scope. Ophthalmic Market Trends: Q1–2025 US Cataract Report. St. Louis, MO: Market Scope, LLC; May 2025.
6. Alcon Data on File, 2024. REF-24102.
7. The Galien Foundation. The Galien Foundation honors excellence in scientific innovation at 2021 Prix Galien Awards Gala. PR Newswire. Published October 29, 2021. Accessed July 15, 2025. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-galien-foundation-honors-excellence-in-scientific-innovation-at-2021-prix-galien-awards-gala-301411801.html.
8. ZEISS AT LISA tri family. Supplement in Cataract and Refractive Surgery Today (Europe), September 2014.
9. Zeiss Cataract Insights: Laying the Myth or Reality; Digitalization enhances cataract surgery? Supplement in Ophthalmology Times, Europe; May 22, 2024; https://europe.ophthalmologytimes.com/zeiss-cataract- insight-series?page=1 Accessed March 2025.
10. Rayner Professional Website. https://rayner.com/en/iol/trifocal/rayone-trifocal/. Accessed March 2025.
11. Muzychuk, A. Defocus Curve Performance of a Novel Hydrophobic Acrylic Trifocal Intraocular Lens: A prospective, Multicenter Canadian Study. ASCRS Annual Meeting, April 5-8, Boston.
12. Carones F. New Concept of Light Distribution for Bilateral Trifocal IOL Implantation. AAO. 2022;2022:53.
13. Krackhardt U, et al: Upper bound on the diffraction efficiency of phase-only fanout elements. Applied Optics; 1992; 31:27-37.
14. Alcon Data on File, 2025. REF-26241.
15. Alcon Data on File, 2021. REF-14033.
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