Matthew Dykes is the president of Diamatrix LTD, a manufacturer of ophthalmic surgical knives and instruments in The Woodlands, Texas. The family-owned business was founded in 1993 by his father, Ronald E. Dykes, and is run by Matthew and his sister, Michelle Underhill, vice president. The company partners with ophthalmic surgeons and staff to manufacture patented technology, such as the Micheletti Intraocular Trephine, due to be available to the US market in July 2022.

Ophthalmology Management: What is the Micheletti Intraocular Trephine, and how does it work?

Matthew Dykes: The Micheletti Intraocular Trephine was named after Morgan Micheletti, MD, of Berkeley Eye Center, Houston, who approached Diamatrix last year with his idea for a new device. Dr. Micheletti had a revelation while watching his young children punch endless holes in paper to make confetti. His idea was to punch a hole in an IOL and create a haptic using suture which could be secured using a new “Punch and Rescue” technique. His idea expanded on the current techniques for intrascleral IOL fixation, including the belt loop technique developed by Dr. Cathleen McCabe, the Lewis technique for IOL scleral fixation, the Yamane technique and those demonstrated by Dr. Sergio Canabrava.

The Micheletti Intraocular Trephine is a single-handed, manual device that can be used to create holes in intraocular structures and is the first intraocular punch. Using this device for Micheletti’s technique allows the surgeon to salvage the lens and to recenter it. A demonstration of the technique can be found on the AAO’s website (bit.ly/36n0Bbr  ).

Dr. Micheletti’s concept is exciting, and we think it will be a great option for surgeons and their patients, especially those with premium IOLs. We also feel that the option to retain a dislocated IOL vs explanting and replacing would appeal to both surgeons and patients.

OM: What other products has Diamatrix recently introduced to the US market?

MD: The Micheletti Intraocular Trephine is part of our full line of premium titanium and stainless-steel ophthalmic instruments. We introduced a premium line of ophthalmic instruments in 2020 that has a more ergonomic handle for a better fit.

In addition to our instruments, we’ve redesigned the X1 Iris Speculum injector — the first change to this injector in 5 years. The injector’s new design offers a new solution for small pupil management to both coaxial and bimanual surgeons. The Xpand device can now fit through a sub 2.0-mm incision. This change in the size of the injector plus the added utility of this device will make the X1 Iris Speculum an ideal option for surgeons who want more flexibility without design constraints. The XpandNT ring can be used for iris expansion and for intraoperative zonular support. The new version of the X1 Iris Speculum will be available for the US market in late June 2022. For now, surgeons can still opt for the current version, which fits through a 2.4-mm incision.

Diamatrix also creates custom diamond knives where the blade is specifically tailored to meet a surgeon’s specific need and application. Often, the solution they are looking for isn’t too far off from our standard custom knife designs, so there are adequate templates a surgeon can use for developing their own knives. Our diamond knives are a source of pride for us, and we work to ensure surgeons and their teams have success in using them.

Finally, in April, we introduced a new brand of punctum plugs, disposable cannula and knives. The Dacrios brand of punctum plugs come in a variety of sizes and functions that include extended wear, temporary and silicone. They are part of an effort to provide value to centers that have higher demand signals.

OM: Building relationships with and addressing the needs of ophthalmic surgeons is integral to Diamatrix’s core. How has this shaped your company?

MD: My sister Michelle Underhill and I would both agree that we started our careers in ophthalmology when we were about 9 years old, when our father, Ronald E. Dykes, took us to observe surgeries being performed. The ability for us to even observe surgery at that age was solely due to the relationships our father had with the surgeons he called on as an independent rep for an IOL company. Diamatrix and the products we offer have been possible due to those friendships my father had forged with surgeons over the years.

Today, we continue to work to develop relationships with surgeons who want to bring new ideas to market and provide a path to pioneer the future. In the end, we really get to work with some of the best people who are laser focused on improving the lives of others.

OM: How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted Diamatrix?

MD: Without question, the impacts that COVID-19 had were significant. But there were some opportunities that we recognized during the inconsistent swing of supply issues and demand surges. During the pandemic we opened our Design and Development lab, with some very creative engineers and designers. This includes our father, who added 3D printing to our capabilities.

When the shutdowns affected surgery, it didn’t keep surgeons from wanting to improve their skills or provide ideas to the industry. For example, we were able to work with some great surgeons to prototype 10 new medical devices during the pandemic. That proliferation of ideas was possible because of the pandemic.

As new ideas came, we realized our current system for product development wasn’t scalable. We needed a system that could not only be scalable but was agile and met the needs of the EU, the FDA and other regulatory standards, as well as our own quality of standards. That big step came in the form of a new dedicated electronic quality management system that allows us to bring higher quality products to market faster than using a traditional paper-based system.

Finally, Diamatrix really can’t function without the team we have, and we’ve been very lucky to double the size of our staff during the pandemic. We’ve added a diverse group of design, quality engineers and customer service team members all to deliver on our mission of providing the ophthalmic community valuable products and services that enable surgeons and nurses to improve patient outcomes. OM