|
WHAT ARE LENS IMPLANTS (INTRAOCULAR LENSES)?
Intraocular lenses (IOLs) are micro lenses that are placed inside your eye to correct cataracts, nearsightedness, farsightedness or presbyopia. There are two types of IOLs: anterior chamber lenses, which are placed in the anterior chamber of the eye between the iris and the cornea, and posterior chamber lenses, which are placed in the posterior chamber behind the iris and rest against the capsular bag. IOLs may be used for the correction of nearsightedness, farsightedness, presbyopia, cataracts and astigmatism. The newest option available to people who are very nearsighted is the Verisyse™ Phakic Intraocular Lens (IOL).
Verisyse™ Phakic IOL The Verisyse™ Phakic IOL is used to treat moderate to severe myopia, the medical term for nearsightedness. With over 18 years of use and 150,000 procedures performed worldwide, results prove that the Verisyse™ design is safe and effective for very nearsighted people who are tired of thick glasses and are not candidates for Custom LASIK. The Verisyse™ lens is suitable for the reduction or elimination of myopia in adults with myopia ranging from -5.0 to -20.0 diopters and in patients aged 21 and over.
How Verisyse™ works The procedure involves placing the Verisyse™ Phakic IOL behind your cornea and on top of your iris. This gives your eye another focusing lens that provides high-quality, high-definition vision like a normal eye. Although the Verisyse™ Phakic IOL is intended to be permanent, the procedure is reversible if desired. The word "phakic" means that your natural crystalline lens is left in the eye. This is important because your natural lens plays an important role in helping your eye adjust between seeing objects that are near and far.
About the Verisyse™ procedure Implanting the Verisyse™ Phakic IOL is an outpatient procedure performed in Suncoast Surgery Center, adjacent to our Fort Myers office. The procedure takes around 15 to 30 minutes. Usually, one eye is treated at a time. • Drops will be placed in your eyes in order to reduce the pupil size. • For better access to your eye, Dr. Frantz will use an instrument to comfortably hold your eyelids open during the procedure. • A local anesthetic is given to sedate the eye, so the procedure is virtually painless. • A small incision is made in the cornea for the Verisyse™ Phakic IOL to be placed in the space between the iris and the cornea. • The Verisyse™ Phakic IOL is centered in front of the pupil (the black part in the center of your eye), and is gently attached to the iris (the colored part of your eye) to hold the lens in place. • The small incision is closed with microscopic stitches that dissolve on their own. • A temporary shield will be placed over your eye to protect it during the time just after the procedure.
Will I be able to see or feel the Verisyse™ Phakic IOL in my eye? Once the Verisyse™ Phakic IOL is placed inside your eye, it is virtually undetectable; however, you and others may be able to see the lens in your eye if you look very closely. Because the Verisyse™ Phakic IOL is placed inside your eye, you will not be able to feel it.
Is Verisyse™ safe? Yes. The Verisyse™ Phakic IOL is made from polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) — an extremely well proven biocompatible material that has been widely used in and on eyes for over 50 years.
Can I see well near and at a distance with the Verisyse™ Phakic IOL? Many people who have the Verisyse™ procedure see well near and at a distance because their natural lens is left in place. This lens (the crystalline lens) naturally adjusts to focus on near and distant objects. As you age, this natural lens function may diminish and you may need reading glasses to see objects that are near.
Can I go swimming with the Verisyse™ Phakic IOL in my eye? You can swim and participate in virtually any other activity with the Verisyse™ Phakic IOL because unlike contact lenses, the Verisyse™ Phakic IOL is placed behind your cornea and on top of your iris. Therefore, it is not affected by external elements such as water.
How long does the Verisyse™ Phakic IOL last? Clinical evaluations have proven that PMMA can remain in the eye for decades without changing its properties or losing stability; however, the procedure is completely reversible. If, in the future, Dr. Frantz determines that there is a better procedure, the Verisyse™ Phakic IOL can be surgically removed at any time. Only your doctor can determine if this measure may be necessary.
What happens if I develop cataracts? If you are in the beginning stages of a cataract, you are not a candidate for the Verisyse Phakic IOL. However, when or if you develop a cataract later in life, the Verisyse lens will be removed, your cataract will be removed, and a suitable aphakic (absence of natural lens) intraocular lens will be implanted to replace your natural lens.
|
