|
 Phakic intraocular lenses are lenses that are inserted into the eye and work with the natural lens. They have been used successfully to treat myopia, often called nearsightedness, for over ten years. The lens has been successfully inserted in more than 55,000 eyes worldwide.
The Visian ICL functions as a type of permanent contact lens that is maintenance free inside the eye. This implantable collamer lens is easily placed in the eye through a small 3mm incision on the clear edge of the cornea. No sutures are required and drops are used to deaden the eye. The lens is placed behind the iris, the colored part of the eye, and in front of the natural lens.
The lens placement ensures that that the lens is virtually undetectable by the patient or an observer. The lens will not move once it is in place and cannot be felt by the patient. The procedure takes only a few minutes and patients have good vision an hour or two after surgery without glasses or contact lenses. The Visian ICL was designed to be permanently placed in the eye, but can be removed or replaced.
Visian ICL is for those individuals who:
- Are 21 to 50 years of age who have nearsightedness between -3 and -20 diopters with less than or equal to 2.5D of astigmatism at the spectacle plane.
- Are too nearsighted for Lasik or whose corneas are abnormally shaped or too thin for Lasik. It also provides better quality vision for those that are extremely nearsighted. Dr Wade is one of a select number of surgeons in Texas who is qualified to insert the lens.
- Have corneas who are too thin for iLASIK
- Have abnormal corneal topography and are not able to have iLASIK
- Wish to have a reversible procedure
- Over -10 diopters of myopia and will have better quality of vision with an ICL then iLASIK.
What to expect with this surgery:
One week prior to the Visian implantation, a YAG iridotomy procedure will be done in both eyes. This procedure is done in the office. Two small openings are made in the iris, the colored part of the eye, with a YAG laser. This is done to make sure that the fluid in the eye can flow from the back chamber to the front chamber of the eye and to prevent pressure buildup once the lens is placed in the eye. These small openings are not visible to the patient or an observer. This procedure is completely painless and does not affect the vision.
The Visian ICL surgery is performed on an outpatient basis. The patient will be at the outpatient surgery center for about three hours, but the procedure will only take about twenty minutes for both eyes. A mild sedative will be given to help the patient relax. Various eye drops will be given to the patient to use before and after surgery. The procedure is completely painless and the patient will have good vision one to two hours after surgery. The patient will need someone to drive them home the day of surgery.
Patients will follow up at the office one day, one week, one month, and four months after surgery. Most patients resume all normal activities one week after surgery.
|
