Patient Profile:  Trischa Zorn

Trischa received two artificial iris implants in an FDA Study which significantly improved her sight. Before surgery, Trish could only see objects that were three feet in front of her or closer. Since the procedures, her vision has improved to 20/150. Although not perfect, this is a significant improvement over her vision before either procedure. Dr. Price performed both of her surgeries. Dr. Price is the North American Medical Monitor for the FDA study for the artificial iris implant, and President of the Cornea Research Foundation of America. Zorn is currently studying law at Indiana University.

Trischa Zorn is a paralympic athlete competing in swimming.  Born with aniridia, the absence of an iris, Zorn was legally blind.  She also happens to be the most decorated Paralympian in the history of the games, winning 54 medals, 41 of them gold.  She was  also a 4-time All-American at the University of Nebraska and she was the first visually impaired athlete to earn a Division 1 scholarship.

The Surgery

A patient without an iris has no way to naturally control the light entering the eye.  It would be similar to coming out of a movie theater and being blinded by the sunlight.  Dr. Price inserted an artificial iris with a lens into Trischa’s eye.  Artificial irises come in a variety of colors as shown in the image to the right.  The light entering her eye is now controlled, and the lens helps her to focus.  The change in her appearance is remarkable.  Trischa’s right eye now has a much more natural appearance.  This is dramatically illustrated in the bottom picture.