Ask almost any CFO today what keeps them awake at night, and the answer is the same: uncertainty. Markets shift without warning, geopolitical tensions flare, and the pressure to deliver on cost never quite eases. For leaders trained to manage risk, the instinct is to hold on tighter -to stick with what feels safe and predictable. But in business, comfort can become a trap. What feels safe in the moment often keeps progress stuck.
Research shows 70% of CFOs in Europe don’t want to take any risks right now. Whereas in the US, two-thirds are actually planning to invest almost nine percent more in their businesses. And history shows, it’s those who act that set the pace. Today’s CFOs are no longer just guardians of the balance sheet. They are the drivers of change. Digitalisation, decarbonisation, AI – none of these come with certainty. All demand courage.
‘Get un’
That’s why in our latest Wholesale Banking campaign we called on business leaders to break out of their comfort zones and “get un—” : unstuck from what’s holding them back; unbound from legacy thinking; unscripted from the way things are usually done; and unboxed by borders. All rooted in the belief that progress is always possible.
The digital campaign ran in France, Belgium, Italy, Poland, Romania, Singapore and the UK during August and September. It was featured on websites of the Financial Times and Bloomberg and appeared on other relevant business and financial websites targeting key financial professionals, including treasurers, cash managers, finance directors & CFOs of large multinational companies enterprises.
It aimed to help clients navigate uncertainty and unlock opportunities with a mix of strategic thinking, financial expertise and real-world understanding of the sectors and markets they’re active in.
L’IATA souligne les priorités essentielles pour la sécurité et les opérations aériennes (pdf)
IATA destaca las prioridades para una aviación segura (pdf)
Xiamen – The International Air Transport Association (IATA) highlighted three critical priorities for aviation safety and operations as the World Safety and Operations Conference (WSOC) opened today in Xiamen, China. These are: defending and evolving global standards, fostering a strong safety culture through leadership, and using data to enhance performance amid growing operational challenges.
“The environment in which airlines operate has grown even more complex as conflicts and regulatory fragmentation have proliferated. As a result, we have seen airspace closures, drone incursions and rising global navigation satellite system (GNNS) interference disrupt connectivity, undermine confidence, and threaten safety. Ensuring aviation remains the safest mode of transport requires strong leadership, robust adherence to global standards, and smarter use of data. By focusing on these—industry and government together—we will build a safer, more resilient and increasingly efficient global aviation system that can manage today’s risks and is prepared for those of tomorrow,” said Mark Searle, Global Director Safety, IATA.
Defending and Advancing Global Standards
Global standards are essential to aviation safety. Current standards must be adhered to and future standards must be developed to continuously improve industry safety performance. Currently, this focus revolves around:
Addressing GNSS Interference: Reports of GNSS interference have increased by more than 200% between 2021 and 2024. Neither spoofing nor jamming of GNSS systems is acceptable. Together with EASA, IATA has launched a GNSS Resilience Plan built on four priorities: monitoring and reporting, prevention tools, backup infrastructure, and civil–military coordination. The next step is for ICAO to advance these solutions through global standards, guidance, and reporting.
Protecting Aviation’s Radio Spectrum: The radio spectrum essential for aviation navigation, defined in ITU’s global standards, must be safeguarded. The rapid expansion of 5G, and soon 6G, is putting pressure on aviation’s allocations. In several markets, including Australia, Canada and the United States, 5G rollouts have created interference risks near airports and forced costly retrofits. Stronger coordination with telecommunications regulators and realistic timelines for mitigation are urgently needed, along with the development of more resilient on-board systems.
Timely Accident Investigation Reporting: Global standards under Annex 13 of the Chicago Convention clearly define the need for timely accident investigations. Yet, only 58% of accidents between 2019 and 2023 have produced a final report. Delays hinder the industry’s ability to learn vital safety lessons and create space for speculation and misinformation. IATA continues to remind governments of their obligations while recognizing progress, such as the prompt preliminary reports issued following recent accidents in India, South Korea, and the United States.
Using Data to Enhance Performance
Data is transforming aviation safety, delivering the insights needed to anticipate risks and enhance performance. Through the Global Aviation Data Management (GADM) program, which integrates the Flight Data eXchange (FDX), Incident Data eXchange (IDX), and Maintenance Cost Data eXchange (MCX), IATA is enabling data-driven decision-making across airlines and regulators.
Areas where data is making a difference include:
Turbulence Aware: IATA’s Turbulence Aware platform shares data in real-time, enabling pilots and dispatchers to mitigate the risks stemming from inflight turbulence. Participation in the platform grew 25% over the past year, with 3,200 aircraft including Air France, Etihad, and SAS now sharing real-time turbulence data to enhance flight safety and efficiency.
Predictive safety insights: The SafetyIS database, drawing on in-flight data from 217 airlines, enables predictive analysis. For example, early identification of a spike in collision-avoidance alerts at a Latin American airport allowed swift action to reduce risks.
Risk-based IOSA: The risk-based IOSA audit model is well-established in using data to tailor audits to each airline’s operational profile. Already it has resulted in more than 8,000 corrective actions that are strengthening safety.
Fostering a Strong Safety Culture Through Leadership
Leadership is central to a strong aviation safety culture. Strong safety leadership creates an environment where employees are empowered to raise concerns and are confident that issues will be resolved quickly and effectively.
To reinforce this, IATA has developed two key initiatives:
Safety Leadership Charter: Promoting eight core principles of safety leadership, the Charter now covers around 90% of global traffic, strengthening a culture built on leadership, global standards, and data.
IATA Connect: Bringing together 5,600 users from over 600 organizations, IATA Connect enables access to IOSA documentation, the Safety Issue Hub, and Safety Connect, and will soon expand to include ISAGO users.
For more information, please contact: Corporate Communications Tel: +41 22 770 2967 Email: corpcomms@iata.org
Notes for Editors:
IATA (International Air Transport Association) represents some 350 airlines comprising over 80% of global air traffic.
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U.S. President Donald Trump gestures as he poses next to a sign before a family photo at a world leaders’ summit on ending the Gaza war, amid a U.S.-brokered prisoner-hostage swap and ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, Oct. 13, 2025.
Suzanne Plunkett | Reuters
This might not be Christmas, but the war in the Middle East is over — at least according to U.S. President Donald Trump.
On Monday, Trump declared at the Knesset, Israel's parliament, that the "long and painful nightmare" was finally over for both the Israelis and Palestinians. More straightforwardly, Trump gave an unequivocal "yes" when asked by reporters if the war in the Middle East has ended, Reuters reported.
A similarly hopeful mood permeated markets, though for different reasons. After hitting China with 100% additional tariffs and triggering a sell-off on Friday, Trump appeared to walk back his stance, posting on Truth Social that "it will all be fine" with China.
And thus was TACO back on traders' menus: Major U.S. stock indexes rebounded, with technology stocks leading the charge. Quantum computing names popped after JPMorgan Chase announced it will be investing $10 billion in sectors crucial to national interests.
Broadcom, meanwhile, surged almost 10% after it jointly announced a partnership with — who else? — OpenAI to build and deploy custom chips. But where this puts Nvidia, OpenAI's other near and dear one, and on whose chips the ChatGPT maker relies, remains a question.
Though Christmas has yet to arrive, OpenAI is starting to look like the tech sector's Santa Claus, who has his sack full of presents — and, more importantly, cash, according to Oracle.
— CNBC's Holly Ellyatt contributed to this report.
What you need to know today
And finally...
U.S. President Donald Trump shakes hands with Argentina's President Javier Milei during the 80th United Nations General Assembly, in New York City, New York, U.S., Sept. 23, 2025.
Alexander Drago | Reuters
The U.S. has stepped in with an extraordinary bailout of Argentina. Here's what it means
In a move that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced Thursday on social media site X, the U.S. is providing a $20 billion currency swap line with Argentina's central bank — essentially exchanging stable U.S. dollars with volatile pesos.
The move comes amid liquidity concerns in Argentina that threatened stability for the country as it faces key midterm elections. There are equal parts economic and political stakes with the venture, which marks the first U.S. intervention of this nature since rescuing Mexico in 1995.
In today’s fast-paced digital economy, every sector increasingly adopting digital transformation to stay competitive and improve operational efficiency [39]. Many countries have rapidly progressed in infrastructures, support mechanisms, and aligning Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) policy with healthcare vision [37, 78]. These technological advantages have sparked the attention of many countries to digitize healthcare and the increasing penetration of mobile devices have influenced their use in medical education and healthcare delivery [56]. Innovative technologies like mobile devices offer methods to enhance healthcare data access in Low and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). Mobile devices are thought to help hospital staff work more efficiently, leading to better patient care. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, the use of remote and virtual healthcare services like telehealth and remote monitoring has increased significantly. Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) supports this by allowing healthcare providers to move around easily and coordinate patient care more effectively [109].
Bring-your-own-device (BYOD) is generally conceptualized as employees’ use of personal mobile devices to complete work-related tasks [55]. Driven by rapid advances in ICT and a recent increase in consumer ICTs in the workplace, BYOD is considered a form of Information Technology (IT) consumerization [109]. BYOD is already a working fashion, as the use of portable electronic devices has progressively risen in past years. BYOD applies to workers bringing their devices to the office [23].
Furthermore, previous studies find out that the acceptance of BYOD depends on the combination of related variables that must be synchronously taken into account and it depends on the individual qualities that need to be discussed [25, 81, 91]. The importance of variables that affects the acceptance of individuals may not be the same when studied within developed and emerging nations as the beliefs, morals and traditions of these countries are also unique, and this may influence their attitudes towards technology acceptance [1, 6, 8, 13, 17].
Despite the growing adoption of BYOD in healthcare, and extensive research exists on various perspectives of BYOD adoption, there remains a significant gap in research exploring doctors’ perspectives, particularly their willingness to adopt BYOD, the concerns they face, and their firsthand experiences. Most of the studies concentrated on organisational risks such as virus attacks, employees’ improper use of assets and information [114] and growing concerns for organisation information security management [89, 108]. Unauthorised employees’ access to organisation information, download risky mobile applications and stolen; lost device [22] neglect safety issues about possible breaches of sensitive or secret details [108].
While numerous studies have explored BYOD in healthcare, the majority have focused on socio-technical aspects and its impact on clinical and administrative work [109], investigation of the role of BYOD devices in fostering cybersecurity awareness and its correlation with the productivity of healthcare professionals [67] and investigate security risk perception and safeguard adoption of mobile devices among medical practitioners and IT administrators [9]. Also, BYOD challenges and risks while managing and controlling corporate data and networks [12] and BYOD challenges when employees fail to comply with security policies [76]. Despite the acknowledged benefits of BYOD and its initiatives in recent literature, its adoption remains insignificant among doctors of developing countries, including Pakistan [58].
However, they neglect the perspective of the primary user—the doctors—who is expected to voluntarily use their personal devices for professional purposes. Without addressing the willingness of doctors to adopt BYOD, the effort to create a seamless BYOD environment becomes futile, as the success of this model hinges on their active and voluntary participation [22, 108, 110, 116]. This gap highlights the need to investigate doctors’ intention to ensure BYOD implementation aligns with their needs and preferences, ultimately enhancing its effectiveness in clinical practice.
Doctors’ intention to adopt BYOD is critical because they are the ones bringing their own devices into the professional setting [42]. Their concerns, motivations, and preferences are pivotal to the model’s success, yet remain underexplored in the literature. Key questions arise about their privacy concerns when blending personal and professional data on a single device [64, 70]. This lack of clarity on privacy-related apprehensions, especially when the device is owned and controlled by the doctor, creates a significant barrier to understanding their willingness to adopt BYOD [22].
Privacy and security are primary concerns in healthcare communication technologies. These problems emerge as mobile phones handle sensitive data and highly confidential data. The confidentiality vulnerability from practitioners is an issue that needs to be considered so that only permitted people can access sensitive information. However, some studies have investigated information security-related empirical research. The increase of different devices has led to an increased risk of exposure to viruses, malware, and a host of other security issues and the potential leaking of sensitive material and data [14]. The challenge in adopting BYOD is ensuring the safety and security of the doctors’ data and devices. Furthermore, using their own devices may instill greater confidence among doctors compared to using company-provided devices, which often require additional training or adjustment. Doctors may find personal devices more convenient, familiar, and efficient for professional use. Additionally, the cost of the device falls on the doctor, further emphasizing the need to understand their willingness and readiness to embrace BYOD.
The limitations of BYOD adoption are linked to several variables, representing the individual’s characteristics and features of the technology itself. The importance of variables that affect individuals’ acceptance may not be the same when studied within developed and emerging nations, as these countries’ beliefs, morals, and traditions are unique. Pakistan’s doctors represent the primary users of BYOD, and their acceptance of it can significantly influence its adoption. The study manifests a need for empirical evidence to identify and evaluate the determinant factors underlying how doctors in emerging nations might see and intend to adopt BYOD.
By addressing these gaps, this study seeks to contribute to a deeper understanding of doctors’ intentions and motivations, which are crucial for the effective implementation of BYOD in healthcare settings specifically doctors’ intention to accept health technologies to allow effective healthcare administration in Pakistan. Hence, a specific model is required to examine BYOD’s intention among the doctors in Pakistan.
Research model
Venkatesh [101] presented Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) in 2003 after reviewing eight models and theories, this model is suitable for defining employees’ technology acceptance and use. UTAUT posits several factors that shape an individual’s inclination to adopt a technology [2]. The model presented three variables: performance expectancy, effort expectancy, and social influence that directly affect behavioural intention. Facilitating conditions and behavioural intention direct affect technology use. Those relationships moderated by age, gender, experience and voluntariness [101], as displayed in Fig. 1.
Fig. 1
Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) [101]
Nevertheless, in a healthcare context, the UTAUT model does not seem to have a similar effect as in any other settings in order to describe doctors’ attitudes, and the variance described in previous studies seems to be noticeably smaller than the variance defined in the UTAUT model, reflecting a limitation in the healthcare system [1, 15, 19, 52, 103]. These research results supported this study to integrate the UTAUT model with other factors to measure its significance in the Pakistani doctors’ context.
While UTAUT2 provides a comprehensive framework for understanding users’ behavioural intentions and technology usage, it has several limitations [2]. Cognitive perspectives are widely used to explain behavioural patterns and variables that may influence a protective or preventive action. These theories examine cognitive behaviour change and share the presumption that attitudes, beliefs, expectations of future events and outcomes are important factors for health-related behavior [72]. Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) is a social-cognitive model that identifies behavior [69]. PMT was presented by Rogers [84] as a theory for explaining the influence of fear appeals. It is commonly used in the health domain, but it has increasingly gained popularity in the information security domain [16, 99]. PMT examine the motivational reasons for adopting protective measures and breaks them into threat and coping appraisal. In the context of BYOD, the threat appraisal refers to the perceived vulnerability as a possibility of a security incident and the perceived severity as the impact of outcomes resulting from a security incident [27]. The coping appraisal refers to the individual’s evaluation of how well he/she can manage in the given situation. The coping appraisal process consists of response costs and self-efficacy, as shown in Fig. 2.
Fig. 2
Protection motivation theory
This research’s proposed hybrid model is presented in Fig. 3. The UTAUT model forms the backbone for the theoretical framework for this study. Additional factors were added to the base model to improve its performance regarding explaining the consumer’s behaviour. Perceived vulnerability and perceived severity represented the threat appraisal and; response cost and self-efficacy represented coping appraisal. In this study, all additional hypotheses have a negative affect on behavioural intention except self-efficacy.
Fig. 3
The present study makes slight modifications to the model. In this research, the focus is on behavioural intention. Since the dependent variable is behavioural intention, and the adoption is pre-implementation, there is no sense to measure the use of technology. Age and gender will moderate all relationships of UTAUT due to the novelty of BYOD and the pre-implementation research, experience and voluntariness of use as a moderator had dropped.
Research objectives
The main research objective was to propose a hybrid model of intention to adopt BYOD amongst Pakistani doctors. Therefore, to accomplish the main objective, the following specific objectives were also formed:
To identify the determinant factors for intention to adopt BYOD among Pakistani doctors
To identify the moderating effect of age and gender on the intention to adopt BYOD
To develop the hybrid model of behavioural intention to adopt BYOD among Pakistani doctors
To validate the proposed model of intention to adopt BYOD through practitioners
Hypothesis development
In this study, the hybrid model was proposed as the theoretical framework. The hypotheses are divided into two categories; main (direct) relationships and moderating relationships. In this study, Intention to Adopt BYOD (IAB) is the dependent variable. Behavioural intention is the strength of a user’s intention to achieve a specific behaviour; it indicated a human’s desire to adopt a technology [30, 101].
Performance Expectancy (PE) is a key predictor of behavioral intention in technology adoption across various fields, including healthcare, education, and commerce. It reflects the perceived benefits of technology in enhancing efficiency and outcomes. Research by [11] and [31] shows that PE significantly influences the adoption of Business Intelligence (BI) systems and blockchain in healthcare, emphasizing improved decision-making and operational efficiency. Studies by [90] further highlight how PE drives Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) and mobile device adoption by promoting mobility and convenience. In education, [50] underline PE’s role in providing resource access and bridging knowledge gaps. Studies have shown that PE significantly influenced behavioural intention to adopt technology in healthcare [3, 32, 81, 105]. In BYOD, PE is defined as how adopting the technology will influence users to perform activities [101, 102]. It shows the practical value for users adopting the technology, identified in different technology acceptance models, such as perceived usefulness in the TAM, extrinsic motivation in the Motivational Model (MM), and relative advantage in the Innovation Diffusion Theory (IDT).
Overall, these studies illustrate PE’s importance in technology adoption, particularly where clear benefits exist, such as faster decision-making and enhanced collaboration. In healthcare, PE encapsulates advantages like real-time patient data access and workflow integration, making it a crucial element of frameworks like the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT). PE influences technology adoption by enhancing user acceptance, facilitating collaboration, and empowering staff through the use of preferred devices. Positive experiences with personal devices lead to faster decision-making and better integration into workflows, making users more likely to embrace BYOD policies. In this study, PE is a doctors’ perception of the degree to which the doctors’ believe that using a BYOD will help him/her to attain gains in job performance. When doctors believe that using BYOD can empower them to improve healthcare capabilities, doctors’ are likely to adopt the technology. Thus, PE was measured with five questions that focused on the intention to adopt BYOD. Therefore, the researcher hypothesized that:
Effort Expectancy (EE) is a crucial predictor of behavioral intention in technology adoption, particularly in professional environments, acknowledged as the extent of ease linked to a consumers’ technology utilization [5]. Research by [11] and [31] shows that healthcare professionals are more likely to adopt technologies like Business Intelligence (BI) systems and blockchain when they find them intuitive and easy to use. EE has a significant role in predicting behavioural intention in healthcare settings [32, 60, 86] significance of PEOU is a related factor to EE, as a predictor of behavioural intention, confirmed by other studies [7]. Another study [59] identified that healthcare professionals’ behavioural intention for Electronic Health Record (EHR) system affected perceived ease of use rather than perceived usefulness. Furthermore, studies by [90] indicate that EE is vital in the adoption of BYOD policies and mobile technologies. Users prefer systems that integrate smoothly into their workflows without extensive training. It is also essential to recognize that the significance of EE can vary across different contexts and user demographics. A study by [50] found that, contrary to expectations, EE did not significantly affect medical students’ decisions regarding Wi-Fi adoption. This outcome might be attributed to their prior familiarity with the technology and its functionalities, indicating that users’ existing knowledge can influence their perceptions of new systems.
In the specific context of BYOD adoption within healthcare environments, the relevance of EE becomes even more pronounced. Healthcare professionals often operate under intense pressure, managing critical tasks that require efficiency and quick decision-making. Therefore, any perceived complexity associated with new technologies or a steep learning curve can significantly hinder their adoption. This reality highlights the necessity of developing BYOD systems that prioritize user-friendliness and can be easily incorporated into daily routines. Thus, it is essential to develop user-friendly BYOD systems that fit seamlessly into daily routines, promoting smoother adoption and enhancing efficiency in healthcare settings. The EE was measured with four questions that focused on the intention to adopt BYOD. Thus, the hypothesis of this research on the impact of the EE on behavioural intention among Pakistani doctors is:
Social influence (SI) refers to how significant others’ opinions can influence the individual’s behaviour regarding new technology [101]. Recent studies emphasize that SI, shaped by peer influence, organizational culture, and societal norms, significantly impacts behavioral intention to adopt new technologies. SI is described as the extent to which a users’ decision is affected by others’ perceptions [93]. The construct of SI in the UTAUT model adopted from the TRA, TAM2, TPB/DTPB, and C-TAM-TPB; social factors (MPCU); and image (IDT) [62]. Previous research has shown [33] revealed that SI significantly influenced health professionals’ acceptance of mobile-based clinical guideline applications in resource-limited settings, highlighting the importance of colleagues and organizational culture in driving adoption. Similarly, studies by [11], and [31] explored the adoption of BI systems, blockchain, AI-driven healthcare services, and EHR systems, demonstrating that SI is a critical enabler for fostering acceptance, especially in environments requiring collaboration and teamwork. Additional research by [2] and [50] further reinforces that SI significantly drives adoption through peer recommendations and shared expectations. While studies like [90] suggest that SI may have limited impact in more autonomous professions, such as healthcare and military settings, they acknowledge that SI can complement other factors such as performance expectancy and facilitating conditions in promoting adoption. A study by [81] found that SI significantly influenced emergency information systems. However, several findings have concluded that because of context, respondents traits, and the technologies investigated, SI did not affect behavioural intention in the healthcare context [92]. The disagreement in the literature about the effect of SI on behavioural intention in healthcare helps this research investigate its significance among Pakistani doctors. These findings collectively justify the inclusion of SI as a predictor in BYOD adoption research, as it captures the influence of peer dynamics, leadership endorsement, and organizational culture in encouraging the acceptance and integration of personal devices in healthcare workflows.
The SI was measured with three questions that focused on the intention to adopt BYOD. The hypothesis is as follows:
Facilitating Conditions (FC) are consistently identified as a significant predictor of behavioral intention and technology adoption in UTAUT-based studies. FC refers to the availability of organizational and technical resources, including IT support, infrastructure, and policies, that enable users to adopt and effectively use a technology [101]. Studies such as [11] and [31] highlight the importance of FC in healthcare, demonstrating that robust IT systems and accessible resources significantly enhance the adoption of BI systems and blockchain technology. Similarly, [50] found that FC strongly influences both behavioral intention and actual use of Wi-Fi systems among medical students, indicating the critical role of a supportive environment in fostering technology use.
In resource-constrained settings, [75] showed that FC is essential for the adoption of EHR systems by healthcare professionals, emphasizing that technical support and infrastructure are pivotal in overcoming barriers. Studies like [110] also affirm that FC plays a vital role in BYOD adoption. Facilitating Conditions (FC) are crucial for predicting behavioral intention and technology adoption, particularly in healthcare. Research on the hospital’s technical support and training substantially impacted HIS’s adoption [18, 38]. Research indicates that strong FC enhances the adoption of technologies like business intelligence systems, blockchain, electronic health records (EHR), and Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) practices. Studies show that supportive environments significantly influence technology use among medical professionals and students, helping them overcome barriers and effectively integrate personal devices into their workflows. These findings collectively underscore that facilitating conditions are critical for the successful adoption of BYOD in healthcare, where robust IT support, clear policies, and training programs can help professionals overcome technical challenges and ensure efficient use of personal devices in their workflows. The FC measured with three questions that focused on the intention to adopt BYOD. Hypothesis for FC is:
The Perceived Vulnerability (PV) is the user’s opinion about the probability that the threat will appear [65]. PV plays a significant role in influencing compliance behaviors within BYOD practices, largely through the process of threat appraisal. Research conducted by [97] explores BYOD security compliance through the lens of Protection Motivation Theory (PMT), identifying threat and coping appraisals as key predictors of compliance intentions. The study also highlights additional factors, such as mixed device usage and the visibility of company surveillance. Similarly, [4] investigate how perceived vulnerability, response efficacy, and subjective norms affect protective behaviors in BYOD environments. They suggest targeted interventions aimed at strengthening security practices among employees. Both studies emphasize that awareness of potential risks is a strong predictor of compliance intentions and protective behaviors, underscoring the necessity of enhancing risk awareness to promote secure practice. Additionally, [76] connect perceived vulnerability to security awareness and risk perception within their threat appraisal framework. Their study focuses on BYOD compliance in the public sector, establishing relationships between security behaviors and essential factors like policy clarity, self-efficacy, and psychological ownership, while emphasizing the critical role of training and support.
Individuals who believe their information system resources are vulnerable to an information system attack are more likely to take preventive measures [48]. Employees are vigilant about whether their data is secure, mainly using their own devices for work tasks. Hence, personal privacy and data confidentiality for using their mobile device is the most critical concerns [21]. In this context, it is possible to disclose employees’ private details to an unapproved entity. If employees think his/her data security is not assured, it will stop them from accepting BYOD. The PV measured with three questions; the researcher proposed the following hypothesis:
Perceived Severity (PS) refers to the degree of threat from unhealthy behaviours [84]. PS is observed as the degree to which a consumer thinks that risk impacts on his/her device would be dangerous [95]. However, there are different outcomes in the personal computing domain context [74]. If an employee uses his/her device instead of the company computer, the user’s security risk can be a significant problem.
Perceived severity is a significant component of threat appraisal that influences compliance behaviors in Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) practices by highlighting the potential consequences of security breaches. Tu et al. [97] incorporated perceived severity into their Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) framework, demonstrating its influence on compliance intentions alongside other relevant factors. Similarly, [4] identified it as a crucial determinant of behavioral intentions in BYOD environments. In general, users considering adopting BYOD may act differently based on their PS [113], the PV measured with three questions. Consequently, the researcher proposed the following hypothesis.
Response Cost (RC) which refers to the perceived effort, inconvenience, individuals’ costs when required to introduce a security policy safeguard measure, or time required to engage in protective behaviors, is vital for compliance with BYOD [115, 117]. It covers the costs of taking adaptive coping measures, like resources, time, commitment, inconvenience, complexity, comprehension, or other negative impacts on adopting the BYOD security plan [24]. If the expenses surpass the benefits, it is unlikely that the consumer will attempt any coping action [98]. RC applies to the costs affiliated with practising defensive behaviour. It has demonstrated a crucial part in personal computing, such that changes in perceived RC adversely affect intentions to implement security behaviours [95].
Moreover, [97] recognized response cost as a barrier to compliance intentions within the coping appraisal framework of Protection Motivation Theory (PMT). Al-Harthy and Ali [4] further supported this notion by showing that employees are less inclined to adopt protective behaviors when they perceive the effort as high, advocating for security measures that are user-friendly to foster compliance. When RC is high, individuals will be less likely to engage in a given protective behavior [96]. RC was found to negatively affect adopting anti-plagiarism software [65], BYOD practices [29] and online security behaviours [96]. Posey, Roberts & Lowry explained RC as perceived drawbacks such as expenses, disruptions, difficulties and likely adverse effects that users could incur [80].
Contrary to previous studies’ findings, if a person agrees that the proposed preventive behaviour is appropriate, the cost of responding is justified [106]. A study by showed that the RC to mobile device users has no substantial impact on defending their device from data violations [44]. The study by [76] suggests that when organizational policies are clear and well-supported, the perceived effort or difficulty associated with compliance—conceptualized as response cost—is likely reduced. By streamlining processes and minimizing complexity, organizations can foster an environment where employees are more inclined to adhere to BYOD security measures, thereby enhancing overall compliance and security outcomes. If consumers of devices are assured in their self-efficacy against security attacks, RC would not significantly impact their defensive behaviour. Thus, the RC was measured with three questions; the researcher proposed that:
Self-Efficacy (SE) is an individual’s confidence in their capability to present behaviour [24]. It originated from the social cognitive theory, which alluded to an individual’s belief in responding. However, according to social cognitive theory, people with stronger self-confidence in their skills can begin challenging behaviours. An individual’s belief in his or her skills to complete a behaviour has positively influenced the mobile health system [117]. Alhelaly et al. [10] underscored the significance of self-efficacy as a vital factor in protection motivation, illustrating its role in mitigating privacy concerns and promoting compliance with BYOD policies. Similarly, [97] incorporated self-efficacy into their PMT framework, demonstrating that heightened self-efficacy enhances employees’ coping abilities and strengthens their commitment to security measures. Al-Harthy and Ali [4] highlighted self-efficacy as a key determinant of behavioral intentions and protective behaviors in BYOD contexts, emphasizing the necessity of confidence-building strategies. These studies illustrate the critical importance of self-efficacy in BYOD security practices, urging organizations to prioritize the development of employee confidence through comprehensive training, robust support, and clear policies. Crossler, Long, Loraas, & Trinkle examined the factors determining whether employees follow BYOD policies through the PMT lens. They found that SE of BYOD is the salient factor for adopting BYOD policy [28].
Besides, the results obtained from several studies of PMT showed that SE might be the powerful predictor of intention to adopt preventative measures [112]. SE signifies an individual’s ability to perform protection behavior [52]. By contrast, another study suggested the insignificant effects of SE [34]. Therefore, further empirical evidence is required for an improved understanding of this issue. In this research, SE refers to an individual’s ability to implement security measures specified by a security policy to reduce the risk posed by BYOD adoption. Also, it can influence one’s desire to accept BYOD, such as belief and desire to improve the adoption of mhealth, thus enhancing the overall attitude towards BYOD. Therefore, the SE was measured with four questions that focused on the intention to adopt BYOD. We propose the following hypothesis:
Generally, different people have different perceptions about a particular aspect, or they understand and associate it uniquely based on their distinctive attributes, such as age, gender, preferences and experiences [47]. A moderator variable is a third variable affecting the relationship between the dependent and independent variables [85]. Within the study’s contemporary context, two moderators were examined, age and gender.
Age moderated the relationship between performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, facilitating conditions and behavioural intention. Elderly consumers tend to have more problems understanding new or complicated information, affecting their learning of new technologies [102]. In previous technology adopted research, age was assumed as a moderator. However, the influence depended on context, and results were not consistent across different settings. Research revealed that elderly individuals are less willing to adopt e-health technologies [32]. However, research in a healthcare setting, age did not significantly influence healthcare professionals’ willingness to accept Health Information System (HIS). Research revealed that elderly individuals are less willing to adopt e-health technologies [32]. However, research in a healthcare setting, age did not significantly influence healthcare professionals’ willingness to accept HIS. The effect of age on technology adoption has been well examined in a commercial context, but a lack of studies apply to healthcare settings [73]. The current study hypothesized the effect of age as the following:
H9: Age will moderate the relationship between performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence and facilitating conditions on the intention to adopt BYOD
Gender is vital while examining performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, facilitating conditions on BI [102]. Studies examining the role of gender indicate how personality characteristics and gender variation are essential to understanding and using emerging technologies. The role of gender cannot be ignored in the evaluation of the acceptance of technology. The original UTAUT model investigated gender as a moderator and found its significant impact on the relationship between facilitating conditions to intention to adopt [101]. Another study also found that females are less interested and likely to adopt e-health technology [32]. To evaluate the impact of gender as a moderator on the relationship between facilitating conditions and intention to adopt the hypothesis is:
H10: Gender will moderate the relationship between performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence and facilitating conditions on the intention to adopt BYOD. The 08 main research hypotheses and 02 moderator hypotheses are summarized in Table 1 in a tabular format; the hybrid research model is also presented in Fig. 4.
ING announced today that, as part of our €2.0 billion share buyback programme announced on 2 May 2025, in total 4,239,000 shares were repurchased during the week of 6 October 2025 up to and including 10 October 2025.
The shares were repurchased at an average price of €21.32 for a total amount of €90,367,787.70. For detailed information on the daily repurchased shares, individual share purchase transactions and weekly reports, see share buy back programme.
In line with the purpose of the programme to reduce the share capital of ING, the total number of shares repurchased under this programme to date is 92,123,891 at an average price of €19.67 for a total consideration of €1,811,927,494.72. To date approximately 90.60% of the maximum total value of the share buyback programme has been completed.
Note for editors
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a Refer to bp’s second quarter and half year 2025 group results announcement and bp.com for full text.
b Underlying effective tax rate is sensitive to a range of factors, including the volatility of the price environment and its impact on the geographical mix of the group’s profits and losses.*
* See Glossary.
Glossary
Capital expenditure is total cash capital expenditure as stated in the condensed group cash flow statement. Capital expenditure for the operating segments, gas & low carbon energy businesses and customers & products businesses is presented on the same basis.
Replacement cost (RC) profit or loss reflects the replacement cost of inventories sold in the period and is calculated as profit or loss attributable to bp shareholders, adjusting for inventory holding gains and losses (net of tax). RC profit or loss for the group is a non-IFRS measure. The nearest equivalent measure on an IFRS basis is profit or loss attributable to bp shareholders.
Refining indicator margin (RIM) is a simple indicator of the weighted average of bp’s crude slate and product yield as deemed representative for each refinery. Actual margins realized by bp may vary due to a variety of factors, including the actual mix of a crude and product for a given quarter.
Technical service contract (TSC) – Technical service contract is an arrangement through which an oil and gas company bears the risks and costs of exploration, development and production. In return, the oil and gas company receives entitlement to variable physical volumes of hydrocarbons, representing recovery of the costs incurred and a profit margin which reflects incremental production added to the oilfield.
Underlying production – 2025 underlying production, when compared with 2024, is production after adjusting for acquisitions and divestments, curtailments, and entitlement impacts in our production-sharing agreements/contracts and technical service contract*.
Underlying RC profit or loss before interest and tax for the operating segments or customers & products businesses is a non-IFRS measure and is calculated as RC profit or loss including profit or loss attributable to non-controlling interests before interest and tax for the operating segments and excluding net adjusting items for the respective operating segment or business. The nearest equivalent measure on an IFRS basis for segments and businesses is RC profit or loss before interest and taxation.
Underlying effective tax rate (ETR) is a non-IFRS measure. The underlying ETR is calculated by dividing taxation on an underlying replacement cost (RC) basis by underlying RC profit or loss before tax. Taxation on an underlying RC basis for the group is calculated as taxation as stated on the group income statement adjusted for taxation on inventory holding gains and losses and total taxation on adjusting items. Information on underlying RC profit or loss is provided below. Taxation on an underlying RC basis presented for the operating segments is calculated through an allocation of taxation on an underlying RC basis to each segment. bp believes it is helpful to disclose the underlying ETR because this measure may help investors to understand and evaluate, in the same manner as management, the underlying trends in bp’s operational performance on a comparable basis, period on period. Taxation on an underlying RC basis and underlying ETR are non-IFRS measures. The nearest equivalent measure on an IFRS basis is the ETR on profit or loss for the period.
Our MG5 electric car became dangerously out of control, but MG won’t do anything about it.
The car suffered a power system malfunction after we had used a charger at a motorway service station.
It wouldn’t respond to any controls, including the off button, so we called the AA. The patrolman managed to get it started, then decided to give it a test drive. My family was onboard as it was pouring.
When he put the car into reverse, it shot forward and failed to stop when he applied the brake. It rammed into the AA van and its wheels began spinning and smoking as it tried to accelerate.
We all managed to exit the car, and the patrolman eventually succeeded in turning it off from the outside. We were told it was not safe to drive.
The AA arranged a transporter to take it to a dealership and paid for the repairs, which cost £2,500. The patrol van was also damaged.
The dealer has investigated the fault, for which we are to be charged £500, but has found nothing. MG has closed the case, and insists we request a further investigation at our own expense.
Six weeks on, the car is still with the dealership. We don’t want to drive it until we know it is safe, but can’t afford to keep paying for investigations.
AB, East Lothian
You are not the only MG owner whose car has seemingly gone rogue. One man was forced to drive his car into a police van after his brakes failed.
I asked the AA to send me its technician report, which confirms that the car “surged forward” when put into reverse.
It’s unsurprising that you are reluctant to get behind the wheel until you know what’s wrong and, since the car is still under warranty you are reluctant to throw your own money at the problem.
MG Motor UK seems remarkably unperturbed given the harm that could be caused by an out-of-control EV. Although the dealership had recommended that MG’s technical department review the case and issue guidance, MG, instead, closed it.
MG, when you complained, merely apologised for the “inconvenience”.
It ignored my questions about whether the review requested by the dealer was conducted before the case was closed, and how many incidents involving power surges or loss it is aware of.
However, it speedily commissioned another, more detailed, investigation of the vehicle and conducted a 25-mile test drive after using a range of public charging points. You were not charged for this test and will not now be billed for the previous one.
It says: “MG treats all issues where a malfunction may have potentially occurred as a priority. No malfunctions with any of the relevant in-vehicle equipment, or the ability to charge the vehicle using various systems, were detected on the car.
“MG, and the authorised dealership, having carefully examined the vehicle, have concluded that an error occurred not related to the car. We will continue to support the customer with information and advice.”
This leaves you in a difficult position. Your car has been given a clean bill of health, but you have lost confidence in it. You have therefore decided that your best option is to sell.
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Presbyopia – the reduced ability of the natural lens to accommodate – affects almost all individuals by the age of 50, leaving them with decreased near visual acuity (VA). In 2011 alone, it is estimated that from a total of 244 million cases of uncorrected or under-corrected presbyopia in people aged less than 50 years, there was an approximate worldwide $11.023 billion loss in potential productivity.1 One novel way to manage presbyopia is by the implantation of phakic intraocular lenses (IOLs) – IOLs that are placed over the natural lens rather than replacing it. These lenses refract light either via distinct regions with various radii of curvature, or diffractively by inducing add powers through Fresnel zones, which refract the light differently than their lens-base.2 Phakic IOLs allow for patients to maintain their residual ability to accommodate, receive a refractive intraocular lens if needed, and avoid an increased risk of retinal detachment during this procedure if they are highly myopic.3–6 Previous studies have extensively reported positive outcomes on various phakic IOLs in refractive surgery,3,7–9 however few studies have explored their outcomes in presbyopia management.10–13
In 2020, Schmid and Luedtke established promising results for the use of phakic IOLs in correcting presbyopia, where 8 patients undergoing presbyopia correction with a diffractive posterior chamber phakic IOL reached a median uncorrected distance VA of at least 0.1logMAR with no need for reading glasses at one-month post-operation.14 Four prospective studies by Stodulka et al, Takahashi et al, Bianchi et al, and Güel et al have found patients undergoing presbyopic phakic IOL correction to have significantly improved VA at follow-ups.15–18 While such studies have reported positive outcomes for phakic IOL use in presbyopia management, they are limited in numbers and no previous study has yet directly compared a refractive and a diffractive phakic IOL for presbyopia management.
In this study, we evaluated and compared the optical quality of a diffractive phakic IOL – the IPCL with +2.5 diopters (D) add power (Care Group) – and a recently introduced refractive phakic model designed for presbyopia correction – the Artiplus (Ophtec). By measuring their optical-quality metrics and simulating postoperative VA at various aperture sizes and near, intermediate, and far distances, we aimed to provide comprehensive information on the optical properties of both approaches in the same study, allowing for better direct comparison of the models and a more personalized selection of phakic IOL based on patients’ needs.
Methods
Phakic IOLs
The Artiplus Model 470 (Artiplus) is a polysiloxane iris-fixated refractive phakic IOL (Ophtec, Groningen, the Netherlands),19 which has recently obtained a CE-marking. Its multi-segmented optic using the continuous transitional focus technology allows for improved VA at near, intermediate, and far distances (Figure 1). Its refractive index is 1.43, with dioptric powers ranging from +2.0 to −15.0D in 0.5D increments. Artiplus has an overall diameter of 8.5mm with a 6.0mm convex-concave body. We used an Artiplus IOL with a power of −3D.
Figure 1 Artiplus phakic intraocular lens (photo courtesy with permission from Ophtec, the Netherlands).19
The IPCL V2.0 is a hybrid hydrophilic acrylic phakic IOL with a refractive index of 1.465. It features a central hole to allow aqueous flow and six haptic pads to ensure its stability in the ciliary sulcus (Care Group, Gujarat, India).20 It has an optic diameter of 6.60mm that can be customized up to 7.25mm with sizes ranging from 11.00 to 14.00mm (0.25mm step).21 The IPCL is available in the broad power range of −30.0D to +15.0D in 0.5D increments. The added power can also be customized by offering +1.5D, 2D, 2.5D, 3D, and 3.5D secondary foci. In the current study, we used an IPCL with a power of −3D and an add power of +2.5D, aligning with the range of the Artiplus model.
In our experiments, the optical power of the natural lens was modeled with a 23D Precizon Monofocal (Ophtec, Groningen, the Netherlands), with no spherical aberration. When assembling the 23D monofocal and phakic IOL with one another, the overall corneal aberration (0.27 µm) was similar to the mean of 0.280 µm (±0.086 µm) reported in the literature.22
Optical Setup
The 23D monofocal and phakic IOLs were assembled into a custom-made and 3D-printed insert with the 23D monofocal placed posterior to the phakic IOL to simulate the in-vivo condition of the natural lens being posterior to a phakic IOL (Supplemental Figure 1). An estimated distance between the two lenses was 0.5mm, determined based on the IOL geometry and a dedicated spacer incorporated into the 3D-printed holder, which had a designed gap of 1.2 mm. The printing accuracy was approximately ±0.1mm. This resulting distance was comparable to the separation found between phakic IOLs and the crystalline lens (0.609±0.165mm) in the literature.23
The optical quality of the phakic IOLs was evaluated with the Laboratory’s OptiSpheric IOL PRO2 (Trioptics GmbH, Wedel, Germany), with its design adhering to ISO 11979-2.24,25 Two samples of each phakic IOL were tested for all experiments after placing them in a balanced salt solution (BSS, Bausch+Lomb, United States). Two samples sufficed for the experiments given the OptiSpheric’s accuracy against a reference lens (2% for MTF testing)26 and the lab’s previous studies indicating high reproducibility27,28 and repeatability29 of the optical quality of IOLs, regardless of type or refractive power, using the laboratory’s OptiSpheric. Measurements were conducted with a photopic filter, and 3.0- and 4.5-mm apertures. A corneal model with 0.27µm of spherical aberration at 5.15mm was used representing the average value reported in the normal population,22,28–31 and simulations were performed in polychromatic light to more closely mimic natural viewing conditions.
Image Quality Metrics
Variables measured with the setup included modulation transfer function (MTF). In addition to comparing the phakic IOLs’ MTF curves, the area under the curve of the MTFs (MTFa) up to 50 lp/mm with the simulated VA conversion was calculated using the methods outlined elsewhere.32 The through-focus MTF (TF MTF) was compared at 25, 50, and 100 lp/mm. Lastly, the 1951 USAF resolution test images were recorded. The results were graphed and analyzed with custom-made software (MATLAB, MathWorks, USA).
Results
Figure 2 shows the MTF levels of the IPCL and Artiplus phakic IOLs for a 3mm pupil measured at far, intermediate, and near focus. At this aperture, the lenses showed close MTF values at all distances.
Supplemental Figure 2 shows the TF MTF of the tested phakic IOLs for a 3mm pupil at 25, 50, and 100 lp/mm at a defocus range of 1 to −3D at the spectacle plane. At all tested frequencies, both the IPCL and Artiplus IOLs had a primary peak at 0D. At approximately −1.9D, IPCL had a higher secondary peak compared to Artiplus, but at the expense of a lower contrast at the intermediate range with a steep decline from the primary to the secondary focus. Given IPCL being a diffractive phakic IOL, such a bimodal shape of the TF MTF curve is expected.
Figure 2 Modulation transfer function curves of the tested lenses at three foci for a 3mm aperture. The tested foci included best far, intermediate, and near focus. The dotted lines show the values of each lens separately; the solid lines refer to the average of two lenses.
Abbreviation: MTF, modulation transfer function.
Figure 3 presents the MTFa and simulated VA (logMAR) for the two lenses at a 3mm aperture. The two lenses had a similar primary peak at 0D, but IPCL had a second primary peak at approximately −1.9D. At an intermediate defocus of −1D, Artiplus showed a higher MTFa (0.32 versus 0.25) and better simulated VA (0.05 versus 0.13logMAR) than the IPCL.
Figure 3 The area under MTF curve and simulated VA of the tested lenses at 3mm aperture. The MTFa and simVA are graphed as a function of spectacle defocus. The dotted lines show the values of each lens separately; the solid lines refer to the average of two lenses.
Abbreviations: MTFa, area under the modulation transfer function; simVA, simulated visual acuity.
At a 4.5mm aperture as shown in Figure 4, the MTF level of lenses at far, intermediate, and near focuses showed decreased values compared to the 3.0mm aperture, due to the presence of corneal spherical aberration. Notably at the near focus, IPCL had a lower MTF at all spatial frequencies compared to the Artiplus lens with the 4.5mm aperture, indicating a deficiency in near performance at higher apertures.
With the 4.5mm aperture, TF MTF values of the lenses at 25, 50, and 100 lp/mm decreased for all lenses compared to the 3.0mm aperture (Supplemental Figure 3). Still, both models preserved their multifocal properties extending the depth of focus at 4.5mm.
Figure 4 Modulation transfer function curves of the lenses at three foci for a 4.5mm aperture. The tested foci included best far, intermediate, and near focus. The dotted lines show the values of each lens separately; the solid lines refer to the average of two IOLs.
Abbreviaton: MTF, modulation transfer function.
Nevertheless, the IPCL’s tolerance to hyperopic and negative defocus appeared further reduced at the extreme ends of the MTFa and simulated VA presented in Figure 5, demonstrating a steeper decline in its optical quality. Artiplus demonstrated a bimodal simulated VA with peaks of 0.05logMAR at −0.5D and 0.13logMAR at −2.4D. In contrast to the Artiplus, IPCL demonstrated a narrower simulated VA curve with a primary peak of 0.05logMAR at −0.25D. Testing with larger apertures also revealed that the optical performance of both the IPCL and the Artiplus was comparable in the intermediate range, with the two curves overlapping at −1.0D, which contrasts with the lens IPCL performance measured at 3mm.
Figure 5 The area under MTF curve and simulated VA of the tested lenses at 4.5mm aperture. The MTFa and simVA are graphed as a function of spectacle defocus. The dotted lines show the values of each lens separately; the solid lines refer to the average of two lenses.
Abbreviations: MTFa, area under the modulation transfer function; simVA, simulated visual acuity.
The USAF resolution target images presented in Figure 6 confirmed the MTFa results. At −1.0D, Artiplus has better image resolution than IPCL with the 3.0mm aperture, while its resolution became more similar to IPCL at the 4.5mm aperture. At −2.0D with the 3.0mm aperture, IPCL had a better image resolution than the Artiplus, but at the same defocus value with the 4.5mm aperture, IPCL had a worse contrast than the Artiplus. Overall, at both pupil sizes, especially the 4.5mm size, Artiplus had an improved image quality at the ends of the defocus range, compared to the IPCL.
Figure 6 The United States Air Force target images for tested lenses across defocus range. The defocus range included +1.0D to −3.0D, at 0.5D increments at 3-mm and 4.5-mm apertures.
Discussion
Given phakic IOL’s recent introduction to presbyopia treatment, the literature on laboratory studies evaluating such lenses is still limited. Our study tested and compared the optical performance of refractive versus diffractive phakic IOLs – IPCL (+2.5D add) and Artiplus – at 3.0 and 4.5mm apertures for surgical management of presbyopia. We demonstrated good optical quality of the two models across the studied focus range, with the Artiplus providing a flatter simulated defocus curve. While expected differences in VA between the two approaches were minimal, they may become more pronounced in patients with larger pupils.
Our study’s MTF values of the IPCL with +2.5D added power at the 3.0mm aperture decreased with spatial frequency, and the curves decreased to lower MTF values with an increased aperture size of 4.5mm. The IPCL phakic IOL for presbyopia has been studied in a laboratory by Yu et al with additional powers of 2D and 4D at a 3.0mm aperture.33 Yu et al found the MTF values at 100 cycles/mm to be 27% and 24% with the 2D and 4D add powers respectively, compared to our study with MTF values closer to 11% at 100 cycles/mm. The reason for this discrepancy and the lower MTF value reported in our study results from differences in the optical setups applied in both studies. The primary factor limiting the IOL performance using our approach is the presence of corneal spherical aberration. In contrast, the corneal lens used by Yu et al was designed to minimize spherical aberration, as inferred from its resemblance to the corneal model outlined in the ISO standard. Another contributing factor is the use of polychromatic light in our evaluation of IOL performance. By contrast, the optical bench used by Yu et al employed a 546 nm light source, which is free of chromatic aberration effects and may therefore yield higher objective quality metrics.28 However, in agreement with our study, they found that the IPCL MTF levels gradually worsen with increasing apertures. This change was also seen in a prospective cohort study by Stodulka et al where highly myopic patients undergoing presbyopic treatment with IPCL had difficulty seeing under dim light conditions.17 They found the mean uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) to be 0.11logMAR, with uncorrected near visual acuity (UNVA) improving to J1 for 15 of 17 eyes as the other 2 eyes were J1 at baseline. Schmid and Luedtke retrospectively studied the use of IPCL for presbyopia treatment in 16 eyes of 8 patients and found 9 out of 16 to be emmetropic with UDVA of at least 0.1logMAR with no need for reading glasses at one-month post-operation.14 Similarly, in our study, with apertures of 3.0 and 4.5mm, we respectively found the simulated VA to be −0.01logMAR and 0.07logMAR at distance. At the near focus, ie, at −2D, we found simulated VA to be 0.03 and 0.16logMAR for the two apertures respectively, which may show a lack of need for reading glasses. Overall, based on our and other studies, we can conclude that IPCL for the treatment of presbyopia can result in significantly improved near and far distances, but the len’s design appears to be susceptible to pupil-size changes.
The Artiplus lens studied is currently being clinically investigated by Güel et al as part of a prospective non-controlled multicenter clinical trial.18 The one-year clinical trial has shown that at 6 months post-operation, mean monocular UDVA, uncorrected intermediate VA (UIVA) at 80cm, and UNVA at 40cm were 0.01±0.08, 0.03±0.08, and 0.07±0.09logMAR respectively, with binocular UDVA, UIVA, and UNVA being −0.06±0.08, −0.01±0.07, and 0.02±0.08logMAR respectively.34 The results of this study appear to agree with ours for far and intermediate, but not fully for near distance. With the 3mm aperture, we found the simulated VA to be approximately −0.02, 0.06, and 0.12 logMAR at far, intermediate, and near focuses (respectively 0, −1.25, and −2.5 defocus values). It is important to note; however, that our results simulate the scenario of complete accommodation loss, which can differ from real-world clinical cases. In practice, the loss of accommodation is a gradual process, and patients receiving such lenses often retain some ability to accommodate.35 Laboratory studies thus can predict the maximum lens-related depth-of-focus improvement that patients may experience at various distances, with possibly better outcomes for those whose lenses may still have residual accommodation.
Lastly, our work did not study the EVO Visian Implantable Collamer Lens by STAAR Surgical (Monrovia, California, USA). This lens is a collagen and poly-hydroxyethyl methacrylate iris-fixated refractive phakic IOL with dioptric powers ranging from −0.5 to –18.0D.36 It has a plate-haptic design with a central convex/concave optical zone ranging from 4.9 to 5.8mm diameter and a 0.36mm diameter central port allowing aqueous flow.36,37 The STAAR phakic IOL for the treatment of presbyopia has been studied prospectively by Rateb et al showing uncorrected VA improving from 1.3±0.06logMAR to 0.76±0.2logMAR post-operatively.38 Alfonso et al studied the STAAR lens to correct moderate to high myopia and presbyopia and found postoperative UDVA and corrected DVA (CDVA) values of 0.09 ± 0.19 and 0.02 ± 0.03logMAR, following bilateral implantation in 40 patients.39 To be able to offer a comprehensive review of phakic IOL options available for patients with presbyopia, future studies comparing the STAAR phakic IOL to the Artiplus and IPCL phakic IOLs can be significantly beneficial.
In addition to the range of vision, which typically distinguishes presbyopia-correcting IOL solutions, another key differentiating factor is the occurrence and severity of photic phenomena. These unwanted light effects involve the perception of glare, halos, or starbursts when looking at light sources, such as streetlights or headlights of cars at night.40 In studying presbyopia-correcting IOLs, literature has found photic phenomena to greatly vary between lens types, and to be one of the most common complaints of patients undergoing IOL procedures – as high in 32.9% of eyes found by de Vries et al.40,41 Generally, a lower incidence of photic phenomena has been associated with the refractive rather than the diffractive principle in the context of multifocal IOLs implanted into the capsular bag.42 It is of interest to confirm whether this can also be observed in the context of phakic multifocal IOLs. Therefore, by studying photic phenomena rates with phakic IOLs and their comparison to other methods of presbyopia treatment, we can gather more information on the rate of side effects associated with phakic IOLs, which warrants further clinical and laboratory investigations. Additionally, due to the limitation of the OptiSpheric setup, this study did not evaluate the effects of IOL decentration or tilt on the IOL performance– factors that have been shown to impact visual outcomes resulting in symptoms such as glare or visual halos.43,44 Future studies on the impact of tilt and decentration on phakic IOL outcomes may add insights into the side effects of such IOLs.
Conclusion
Our study evaluated and contrasted the optical quality of diffractive versus refractive phakic IOL models – IPCL with added power of 2.5D and Artiplus – for the management of presbyopia at near, intermediate, and far distances simulating various pupil sizes. We found that both IPCL and Artiplus can effectively expand the range of vision, potentially alleviating visual symptoms in presbyopic patients and restoring vision at intermediate and near distances. Although the optical quality of both models was comparable at a 3mm pupil size, an increase to 4.5mm led to reduced defocus tolerance, with the IPCL model appearing more affected. While our study aids in directly comparing the two models and choosing a phakic IOL more appropriate based on patients’ individualized needs, it still needs to be considered that lens performance may differ under in vivo conditions due to the interaction between the IOL optics and the eye’s intrinsic aberrations and residual accommodation. Future studies evaluating the impact of these aspects and the perception of photic phenomena in presbyopic patients undergoing phakic IOL implantation can provide physicians and patients with a more comprehensive understanding of their treatment options.
Abbreviations
BSS, balanced salt solution; CDVA, corrected distance visual acuity; D, diopters; IPCL, implantable phakic contact lens; IOL, intraocular lens; MTF, modulation transfer function; MTFa, area under the modulation transfer function; TF MTF, through-focus modulation transfer function; UDVA, uncorrected distance visual acuity; UIVA, uncorrected intermediate visual acuity; UNVA, uncorrected near visual acuity; VA, visual acuity.
Data Sharing Statement
The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Author Contributions
All authors made a significant contribution to the work reported, whether that is in the conception, study design, execution, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation, or in all these areas; took part in drafting, revising, or critically reviewing the article; gave final approval of the version to be published; have agreed on the journal to which the article has been submitted; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.
Funding
Supported by a research grant from OPHTEC BV, Groningen, The Netherlands. The David J Apple Laboratory receives support from the Klaus Tschira Foundation, Heidelberg, Germany.
Disclosure
GU Auffarth reports grants, personal fees, non-financial support and consulting fees from Afidera, Johnson&Johnson and Alcon, grants, personal fees, and non-financial support from Carl Zeiss Meditec, Hoya, Kowa, Oculentis/Teleon, Rayner, Santen, Sifi, Ursapharm, grants, and personal fees from Biotech, Oculus, EyeYon grants from Acufocus, Anew, Contamac, Glaukos, Physiol, Rheacell, outside the submitted work. The University of Heidelberg holds a patent application (No. WO2024/023230) entitled “Lens with extended depth of focus by inducing an excess of longitudinal chromatic aberration,” with GU Auffarth and G Łabuz as inventors. G Łabuz reports non-financial support from Contamac outside the submitted work. R Khoramnia reports grants, personal fees, and non-financial support from Alcon, Johnson&Johnson, Hoya, Physiol, Rayner, personal fees, and non-financial support from Kowa, Ophtec, Oculentis/Teleon, Santen, Staar, 1stQ, BVI, Zeiss, SIFI, and Acufocus, outside the submitted work. The remaining authors have nothing to disclose.
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Louise Brown was the first to be born via IVF in 1978
The world’s first IVF baby has given her backing to an international fertility care campaign.
Louise Brown, 47, from Bristol, was the first in the world to be born via in vitro fertilisation (IVF) at Oldham General Hospital on 25 July 1978.
Ms Brown is now working with the International Federation of Fertility Societies (IFFS) on their More Joy campaign, a movement pushing for affordable, fair and accessible fertility care globally.
“In my school days, sex education lessons were all about avoiding pregnancy. This initiative is teaching people how to build healthy families and protect their fertility,” Ms Brown said.
Ms Brown said she was “really proud” to be supporting the campaign and her experience of travelling to reproductive health conferences internationally has allowed her to see “first hand” how fertility treatments can “make a real difference” to falling birth rates”.
In June, Dr Natalia Kanem, head of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), said world fertility rates were in an “unprecedented decline”, due to a number of factors, including the prohibitive cost of parenthood.
Surveying 14,000 people in 14 countries about their fertility intentions, the UNFPA found one in five people haven’t had or expect they won’t have their desired number of children.
In total, 12% cited infertility – or difficulty conceiving – as a reason for not having the number of children they wanted.
However, the figure was higher in some countries including Thailand (19%), the US (16%), South Africa (15%), Nigeria (14%) and India (13%).
Meanwhile, In 2024, figures from the Office for National Statistics showed the lowest fertility rate on record in England and Wales, with women having on average of 1.44 children between 2022 and 2023.
‘Support they need’
IFFS president Marcos Horton said the organisation, which was established in 1968 and brings together fertility specialists worldwide, said while “fertility is a fundamental part of human health”, many “face barriers in accessing care”.
He said the campaign aims to “make fertility care more accessible and equitable, while also educating people about infertility prevention and healthy family planning”.
“With ambassadors like Louise, we can raise awareness internationally, influence policy, and ensure that more people have the support they need to start a family when they are ready,” he added.