We have all heard of LASIK. LASIK has almost become routine as it provides rapid visual recovery, is safer than wearing contact lenses, and actually is much less expensive than contact lenses. So why would someone want a lens like the Visian ICL implanted inside the eye, instead? Here are 5 reasons:
1) In some cases a person has corneas that are too thin to allow either laser or
LASIK eye surgery on the surface of the eye (PRK, Advanced Surface Ablation,
LASEK).
2) In some cases one might have a refraction over 8 or 10 diopters (the
prescription in glasses or contact lenses). When the prescription in a pair of
glasses starts to get to 7 diopters, and certainly in the range of 8 to 10
diopters, using a laser to reshape the cornea is not as stable or predictable as
placing a lens inside the eye like the Visian ICL. The Visian ICL is approved
for prescriptions from -3.00 to -16.00 diopters. With the larger corrections
there is more variability in the laser results, but there is no increased
variability in the results for higher corrections with the Visian ICL. A person
can have excellent visual results even with high corrections without induced
aberations or problems being just on target.
3) Everyone gets cataracts if they live long enough. When one does get
cataracts, high corrections with lasers can make it difficult to get accurate
predictions for the correct power of lens implant used to fix the cataract.
However, with the Visian ICL there is no problem with the calculations, and
the Visian ICL lens can easily be removed at the time of cataract surgery
without increased risk to the eye when surgery is done by an experienced
Visian ICL surgeon.
4) When someone has very dry eyes, having LASIK or one of the surface
treatments(PRK, Advanced Surface Ablation, or LASEK) will increase the
problems with dry eyes – at least in the short term for 1 to 3 years. The
Visian ICL does not cause any increase in dry eye problems as it does not
interfere with the way the nerves work in the surface of the cornea.
5) The most common reason to be turned down for laser refractive surgery like
LASIK or PRK/Advanced Surface Ablation/LASEK is because screening tests
either show definite or suspected Keratoconus. Keratoconus is a condition
which causes the cornea to become weakened and bulge outward ruining the
vision. Any of the laser surgeries could weaken the cornea further so they
are not typically done if there is Keratoconus. However, the Visian ICL does
not weaken the cornea so it can be safely used to treat eyes that either have
Keratoconus or are suspected of having a tendency for Keratoconus.