By Zack Steele
I get asked the question several times a week from patients who haven’t qualified for LASIK eye surgery if there are other options out there. For many patients, their nearsightedness is too high for regular LASIK. In the last few years, a new procedure is available for theses patients. The Visian Implantable Contact Lens provides vision correction that goes beyond what LASIK can do for certain patients. The ICL actually goes underneath the surface of the eye and acts like a contact lens would, but internally.
When compared to other refractive surgical procedures, the ICL can create sharper vision for those with extremely high pr Zack Steele[/caption]
The implantation procedure for the ICL involves a procedure similar to that of cataract surgery. The main difference is that, unlike cataract surgery, the ICL procedure doesn’t require the removal of the eye’s crystalline lens. Unlike the LASIK or PRK refractive procedures, the ICL procedure doesn’t involve the removal of corneal tissue. Like cataract surgery, the ICL procedure is a 15-minute outpatient procedure.
Good candidates for the ICL include patients who:
- Are between the ages of 21 and 45
- Are nearsighted with or without astigmatism or farsighted, including those with mild, moderate, and severe myopia (as low as -3D to as high as -20D prescription) with minor or no occurrence of astigmatism. The Visian Toric ICL, capable of correcting myopia with astigmatism, is currently under review with the U.S. FDA. The Visian TICL is currently available only outside the U.S.
- Have sufficient anterior chamber depth and acceptable endothelial cell density
- Haven’t had a change in their eyeglass prescription of more than 0.5D in a year
- Aren’t currently pregnant
- Have no other contraindications including no known allergies to medications used during refractive surgery
- Have dry eyes, severe myopia, or a thin cornea (non-LASIK candidate)
It’s important to note that several of the ICL risks are potential complications of all refractive procedures, including halos, glare, and double vision, infection, over-correction and under-correction, and vision loss.
ICL risks, such as halos, glare, and double vision tend to occur less frequently than the same laser eye surgery complications. Also, unlike LASIK vision correction and PRK surgery, over-correction and under-correction of refractive errors can be remedied by simply replacing the ICL with another implantable contact lens that has the correct prescription.
But the bad news? It’s expensive, often two to three times more expensive than LASIK. It does, however, work for patients who aren’t able to have LASIK.
The message for anyone who’s thinking about refractive surgery is this: if you’re happy with glasses and contact lenses, then stick with that. If you hate glasses, hate contacts or just can’t wear them, then consider the refractive surgery options if you have the means. I would encourage you to first ask your eye care professional to recommend a surgeon he or she knows and trusts.
Dr. Zack Steele is a 2003 graduate of the UAB School of Optometry. His practice, Trussville Vision Care, is located on Chalkville Mountain Road in downtown Trussville.