St Thomas Hospital Eye Clinic Introduces ‘Life Changing’ New Lens Implants
St Thomas Hospital has become the first medical centre in Malta to introduce innovative intraocular lenses, a next-generation solution for patients undergoing cataract surgery or seeking to do away with specs or contact lenses.
The new Rayner Galaxy lenses offer crystal clear vision both up close and at far distance, with far fewer side effects such as glare and haloes.
Traditionally, patients often faced a compromise: achieving sharp longer distance vision but needing glasses for tasks like reading, mobile phone and computer use, or else having to experience visual disturbances like glare and haloes as well as reduced contrast especially in dim lighting with traditional multifocal lens implants.
The newly launched Rayner Galaxy lenses, introduced globally just a few months ago, are state-of-the-art trifocal intraocular lenses (IOLs) used during cataract surgery or refractive lens exchange (RLE) to replace the eye’s natural lens.
They’re designed to restore excellent seamless, spectacle-free vision across near, intermediate, and distance ranges.
What sets Galaxy apart is its spiral non-diffractive optic design, which progressively elongates focus to deliver a smooth visual transition and 0% light loss.
This avoids the harsh “stepped” vision of traditional multifocal lenses which work using diffractive optics by splitting light into multiple focal points.
Crafted in the UK by leading lens developers Rayner, the Galaxy lens is available in both standard and Toric models (for astigmatism), offering exceptional stability and clarity for a wide range of patients.
Dr Andre Grixti, Ophthalmologist
A first for Malta
The ophthalmic team at St Thomas Hospital’s Eye Clinic has already successfully implanted the lens in around a dozen patients, with crystal clear vision outcomes described as highly encouraging by leading consultants.
“We are proud to be the first centre in Malta to offer this breakthrough lens technology,” said St Thomas Hospital director Ryan Buhagiar.
Consultant ophthalmologist Mr Andre Grixti, who leads the St Thomas Hospital Eye Clinic team, added that: “For patients, particularly those in their late 40s and 50s, who are now suffering from presbyopia (loss of clear close-up vision), which is not usually corrected with traditional refractive laser surgery, but also for older patients who started to develop cataract, the Galaxy Lens is life-changing.”
“It allows them to regain a full and crystal clear range of vision, being able to drive, read or use a computer without the constant reliance on glasses, and at the same time dramatically reduces the side effects that were once common with earlier multifocal lens implants.”
Grixti explained that patients that qualify for these types of lenses would normally lead active lifestyles or work in high-visual-demand professions, and have to go through life with multiple glasses, facing difficulty with everyday tasks or are patients who are not eligible for traditional refractive laser surgery particularly those with high prescriptions in their glasses.
“These cutting-edge lenses are built to last a lifetime and don’t degrade or wear out. Once implanted, you’re set for long-term visual clarity,” he said.
“Whether it’s fogged up glasses during sports, blurry vision when swimming, or headaches from heavy glasses or having to constantly switch between your reading and other glasses – these are significant impacts on patients’ daily lives that this new technology helps to resolve,” Grixti added.
Patient outcomes
Early results at St Thomas Hospital Eye Clinic have been overwhelmingly positive.
The procedure is quick and comfortable, typically performed under local anaesthetic in 15 minutes per eye. Patients reported a rapid return to daily activities and an immediate improvement in visual clarity.
One patient, a technician working at a local television broadcaster, had said they were experiencing difficulty with their work life prior to the procedure.
For more information about the Galaxy Lens procedure or to schedule a consultation, visit the St Thomas Hospital website.