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Not a candidate for LASIK? The truth is that there’s no single type of vision correction that offers the best possible vision. It’s equally true, however, that there is usually a procedure that offers the best possible vision for you. With today’s laser and lens technology, you don’t have to struggle with the possibility of having to settle for the second best option. It can be a wonderful revelation to those who are the best candidates for an ICL; there’s a possibility of vision for you that is even better than you could have had with LASIK. You should never have to worry whether you will get your best option, because in the right hands, that will be the only option.
Implantable Contact Lens – Visian ICL
Implantable collamer lenses, also often referred to as implantable contact lenses, were introduced a few decades ago as an astounding leap forward in refractive surgery. For the first time, people with exceptionally high lens prescriptions (high myopia) and for those who lack sufficient corneal thickness to have LASIK could improve their vision to better than they’d ever seen. The only problem was, well, it felt like surgery. Today’s ICL procedure has the revolutionary ability to deliver the results of that surgery, but in a procedure that takes 15 to 30 minutes to complete. Most patients see an improvement in eyesight immediately.
How Safe is Visian ICL?
We consider a procedure safe if it is statistically on par with or safer than contact lenses. ICLs have fewer infections per decade than are associated with contact lenses per month, but they aren’t as widely known. But just like flying in a commercial airplane vs. riding in a car, there exist options for those who need them that are not only more convenient to get where you want to go, but oftentimes even safer — even if our familiarity with our daily habit makes it seem safer than it is.
One to Two Weeks Before Your Visian ICL Procedure
You’ll undergo a YAG laser iridotomy, where your eye surgeon will use a YAG laser to make one or two small openings near the edge of the iris so the fluid can circulate around the lens. You’ll receive anesthetic eye drops to make the procedure comfortable. You’ll also use prescription eye drops in the weeks before the Visian ICL procedure.
Visian ICL Procedure
Prior to surgery, you’ll be given topical anesthesia to minimize discomfort but may still experience pressure. You may be given a sedative as well.
When you’re comfortable, your eye surgeon will create one or two small openings at the base of your cornea that will be used to position the lens. Then, a gel-like substance will be placed inside the eye to protect it during the lens placement.
After a small opening is made, the lens will be inserted. The lens will be folded up in a cartridge, and the cartridge will be placed through the incision. When the lens is inserted, it will gently unfold in the eye. After unfolding, the corners will be placed behind the iris, making the lens less visible.
Visian ICL Recovery
You’ll receive eye drops to use for several days after the procedure to reduce the risk of infection and inflammation. You should arrange for transportation to get home because you won’t be able to drive immediately after the procedure. You’ll schedule a follow-up visit 24 hours after surgery for the surgeon to monitor the eye’s internal pressure and your progress.
The visian ICl lens is meant to be permanent, but one advantages of Visian ICL is that the lens can be removed and replaced if your vision happens to change.
Dr. J. Alberto Martinez has over 10 years of experience with this type of procedure. Dr. Martinez continues to be at the forefront of this leading-edge technology.
PRK, LASEK, and Epi-LASIK can correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. These procedures are similar to LASIK but correct different parts of the cornea, leave no permanent corneal flap, and have slightly longer recovery periods. These procedures provide alternatives for patients whose corneas are too thin for LASIK and may also be an option for patients with dry eyes or diseases of the corneal surface. Dr. Martinez can advise you as to which laser eye procedure is the best fit for your needs.
How does Visian ICL Work?
Collamer is a technologically advanced lens material that’s 100% compatible with your body’s chemistry, meaning it’ll be comfortable and you won’t feel it in your eye. Made of mostly water and collagen, the natural design of collamer is an outstanding refractive surface that remains quiet in the eye, even repelling substrates that might otherwise collect on its surface.Implantable collamer lenses also offer anti-reflectivity and UV protection.
Am I A Candidate?
Visian ICL can often correct the eyesight of those who can’t undergo LASIK because of thin corneas, dry eyes, or unusually high refractive errors. If you fit the criteria below, you’re most likely a candidate for Visian ICL:
- Between 21 and 45 years old
- Nearsighted
- No change in eyeglass prescription of more than 0.5D in a year
- Not pregnant
- Have thin corneas and dry eyes
- Have low and high refractive errors (as low as -3D to as high as -20D prescription)
PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy)
PRK is similar to LASIK but it corrects different parts of the cornea, leaves no permanent corneal flap and may have a slightly longer recovery period. This procedure provides an alternative for patients whose corneas are too thin for LASIK and may also be an option for patients with dry eyes or diseases of the corneal surface.
What is PRK?
PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy) is a refractive surgery that reshapes the cornea with a laser so the light entering the eye is focused on the retina to produce clear images.
How Does PRK Work?
During PRK surgery, the cornea’s outer layer (called the epithelial layer) is removed entirely to expose the area, whereas in LASIK, a thin, hinged flap is created in the cornea. For both PRK and LASIK, the excimer laser is used to sculpt the cornea and correct the refractive error.
The PRK surgery time is usually about ten minutes per eye and typically results in 20/20 vision. PRK recovery time can vary from several days to several weeks.
Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE)
You may still love doing the same things you did twenty years ago, but you now may be experiencing issues with glare and blurry vision due to the normal aging of your eye lens.
While natural vision changes are inevitable, with today’s advanced technology our surgeons are able to:
- Stop the progression of Dysfunctional Lens Syndrome
- Reduce or eliminate your dependency on glasses, bifocals, and/or readers
- Prevent you from developing a cataract
Wouldn’t you like to set back the clock?
You can with Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE). Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE) is gaining popularity as a surgical option for people age 40 and beyond who want to decrease or eliminate their dependence on glasses or contacts. During RLE, the eye’s natural lens is replaced with an artificial lens to correct vision (nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism and presbyopia) and eliminate the need for cataract surgery in the future.
When you are young, the natural lens acts like the zoom function in a camera, allowing you to focus up close, without the need for reading glasses or bifocals. As you age, the lens progressively becomes dysfunctional resulting in loss of near vision (presbyopia) that requires the use of reading glasses or bifocals. With aging, the lens also progressively becomes hard, yellow and cloudy (cataract). Cataracts block and scatter light reducing visual quality, quantity and color perception.
Your lenses continually age throughout life. This results in the need for reading glasses or bifocals in your 40′s and eventually cataract surgery in your 70s or 80s. Lens changes cause progressive deterioration in vision. More and more patients do not want to tolerate the years of progressive decline in their vision as they develop cataracts; they want it permanently fixed now.
With the advancement in technology and the safety of the procedure, patients are now choosing to have their natural lenses replaced at an earlier age. After RLE, cataract surgery will never be needed. The artificial lens will not age which provides visual stability to the lens of the eye. There are several lenses to choose from to best customize to your specific eyes. Options include: Toric Lenses for Astigmatism, Aspheric Lenses, Multi-Focal Lenses, and Symfony Lenses.
Ready to find out if you’re a candidate?
Who is a Candidate for RLE?
RLE is an excellent solution for someone who is experiencing one or more of the following common visual changes:
- Difficulty reading without reading glasses or bifocals
- Difficulty seeing near objects
- Difficulty seeing while driving, especially at night
- Changing glasses prescriptions
- Diagnosis of early cataract formation
- High degree of farsightedness (hyperopia)
During your consultation, our surgeon will be able to assess if this is the best procedure for your eyes. Refractive lens exchange is a lifestyle choice to bring your normal activities into focus. Our refractive lens specialists will choose the lens that is right for you and that will best achieve your vision goals.
What to Expect on the Day of the Procedure
Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE) is an outpatient experience. It is done one eye at a time and usually takes 10-15 minutes to complete. Topical or local anesthesia is used with a mild sedative to prepare you for surgery. Patients may note a pressure sensation and a “light show” during the procedure. The natural lens is broken up by ultrasound into minute particles and removed from the eye. Most of the time, no sutures are needed as the incision is small and usually self-seals.
Post-Operative Care and Recovery
There are minimal restrictions, even immediately after surgery. You will be using antibiotic and anti-inflammatory eye drops for a few weeks to aid in the healing process. Standard post-op visits are 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months and 1 year. Patients are required to have a driver take them home after surgery and drive them to their one day post-op visit. Patients can usually return to work and normal activities after the first post-op visit.
Request a Surgical Consultation
The first step in determining your candidacy for any procedure is to schedule a consultation and experience our comprehensive eye exam. This is the most complete eye exam available today and includes a consultation with one of our experienced surgeons. Utilizing advanced diagnostic technology, our surgeons will not only evaluate your candidacy for a procedure for but will look at the overall health of your eyes and establish a long term plan for your best vision.
Please help us provide you with the best experience by answering a few quick questions, and one of our surgical counselors will assist you. If you are a current patient and/or have a medical concern or question, please contact us directly at 301.896.0890.