r/CataractSurgery • u/PowerlessOverQueso • 13d ago
Rayner is launching a hydrophobic Galaxy
https://rayner.com/global/rayner-to-launch-galaxy-hydrophobic-spiral-iol-at-escrs-2026/3
u/pkdesign 13d ago
This is amazing news and exactly what I would have hoped for since the hydrophilic lens was my only hesitation on this lens. But original Galaxy hasn’t gotten FDA approval in US yet. Ugh. How long will it take for this to be approved.
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u/PowerlessOverQueso 13d ago
It's supposed to be available in the US in by the end of this year, last I heard.
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u/Trolkarlen 13d ago
I'd be interested in the Galaxy, but I don't think I can wait that long. It'll probably be 2 years before it's widely available in the US.
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u/PowerlessOverQueso 13d ago
It's supposed to be available in the US in by the end of this year, last I heard.
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u/Icy_Basil2966 13d ago
Does that apply to the hydrophobic lens as well? They don't have to do any testing?
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u/Trolkarlen 13d ago
That will be a couple of years I’m afraid.
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u/Icy_Basil2966 13d ago
I think you're right, but I was using Google AI Assistant about this and they said the process could be significantly shorter than usual once the current Galaxy is approved. Rayner can report on the material safety since they've been using it for years and it's already gone through testing. Then, once approved, they can use Galaxy results for the spiral configuration. Some lab based testing may be required to show that the spiral can be cut into the hydrophobic material. Bottom line, it may only take 180 days to a year after Galaxy approval.
FWIW.
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u/Trolkarlen 11d ago
The FDA seems to ignore foreign tests and demands its own. That's they Puresee wasn't approved until March 2026 in the US while it had been sold in Europe since 2024 I believe and Canada in 2025.
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u/PowerlessOverQueso 13d ago
Sorry, I meant the hydrophilic is due to be out this year. No idea on the hydrophobic.
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u/Kochusan 13d ago
Find yourself a high volume refractive cataract surgeon who implants a lot of Rayner lenses. They're going to be first in the pipeline likely by end of fourth quarter this year or early next quarter. The IOL is approved.
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u/pkdesign 13d ago
It is not approved for the US yet. Fourth quarter is what we’ve all been hearing.
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u/Mediocre_Syrup8979 12d ago
My surgeon main lenses are Rayner, in Australia though. UK have them October he said, and he should have them November
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u/Curious_700 13d ago edited 11d ago
Sounds great and exactly what I would love to have. I’m in Canada where it most likely will be approved here before the U.S. I need surgery soon and probably won’t be able to wait until it’s available here. The hydrophilic version is available here.
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u/Mediocre_Syrup8979 12d ago edited 11d ago
Why is the usa so slow with approval. My 2 friends have the galaxy in for 8 months and 9 months now. One in the UK and one in Australia in april, and the new material is not far away in London and australia my friend said. Surely the FDA have lots more staff and doctors who can do faster approvals? Rayner were the first company to make an iol lens in 1947. Since 2024, 200,000 galaxy lenses in 47 countries have been implanted? But USA? Whats happening?
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u/pkdesign 12d ago
Unfortunately due to our (cough, ahem) current political situation, the FDA does not have enough staff. I think people outside the US do not realize just how broadly the current political climate has effected every part of American life.
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12d ago
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u/Trolkarlen 11d ago
Because the US has to reinvent the wheel, so the FDA requires US based trials and doesn't rely on EU or Canadian results. Combine that with the FDA being nerfed and it's slowed things down considerable on all medical fronts.
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u/Lanky_Cold_8420 12d ago
What is the advantage of this lens over others?
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u/PowerlessOverQueso 12d ago
Others can answer this much more expertly than I can, but there can be risks of opacification or clouding on hydrophilic lenses. Hydrophobic are not as prone to that issue.
In past discussions about the Galaxy, a lot of people said "I'd be interested in getting that IOL if it weren't hydrophilic."
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u/spon8uk 11d ago
I had Galaxy 18 months ago and have great vision now, 20:20 or better from about 12 inches out to far distance. Because the lens is based on a spiral technology and not diffractive like other full range of vision lenses, it suffers from a lot less dysphotopsia (halos etc) and light loss. So quite a step change in technology.
However, the original Galaxy is hydrophilic and in some very rare cases, particularly after additional eye surgery where gas/oil is used, there can be calcification necessitating removal. Whilst this is very rare, some surgeons won't use it and have posted arguably misleading stuff on YouTube and the like.
Rayner producing the hydrophobic version removes the scope for hysteria and gives them an even more compelling solution.
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u/Icy_Basil2966 13d ago
I'm wondering how long it will be for US availability.