Visian ICL

Have you ever been told you are not a candidate for Lasik or PRK?

The STAAR Visian ICL may be the answer. The ICL is a intraocular lens that is inserted into the eye and work with the natural lens. Unlike corneal refractive surgery, such as LASIK and PRK, the Visian ICL does not alter the structure of the eye, or involve tissue removal. Instead, the lens is inserted inside of the eye and works with the eye's natural optical system (cornea and lens) to enhance its performance.
The Visian ICL requires a small opening during a short surgical procedure with an almost immediate improvement in visual acuity. This extremely quick visual recovery is one of the many reasons surgeons choose this phakic IOL technology for vision correction.

While the Visian ICL is meant to be a permanent solution for vision correction, the lenses are removable should the need ever arise. This benefit makes the Visian ICL an attractive alternative to corneal-based refractive surgery. The Visian ICL provides superior quality of vision compared to the results of corneal refractive procedures. It is the ideal choice for patients with the highest expectations of their refractive correction procedures.

Photorefractive Keratectomy

Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK) uses a laser to sculpt the surface of the cornea. This contrasts with LASIK, which sculpts tissue deeper within the cornea, under a corneal flap.

PRK is useful for treating low to moderate levels of myopia or hyperopia with and without astigmatism. It is often the laser vision correction procedure of choice for people with thinner corneas and for individuals who may have certain corneal dystrophies, certain corneal scars, or a condition called "recurrent corneal erosion."

PRK differs from LASIK only in the first step of the procedure. In PRK, instead of creating a corneal flap, the surgeon completely removes the thin outer layer of the cornea (called the epithelium) over the treatment area. The second step of PRK is identical to LASIK: an excimer laser is used to reshape the underlying corneal tissue.

After the laser ablation, a soft contact lens is placed over the eye as a bandage while the corneal epithelium grows back in place, which usually takes about 3 to 5 days. During this period, the patient usually experiences mild to marked discomfort with blurry vision. Because of the greater amount of tissue healing that needs to take place after PRK, it can take several weeks before vision is clear and stable after the procedure.

The post-operative discomfort and longer time required for corneal healing and visual recovery are reasons why PRK is not as popular as LASIK. Still, in some cases PRK offers advantages over LASIK, and the final visual outcomes of PRK are usually equal to those of LASIK.