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AMO VERISYSE Phakic
Lens Implant:
Harvard Eye Associates — 30 Years
of Lens Implant Experience!
Frequently Asked Questions:
The information here
is provided to help you decide whether to undergo implantation of the Verisyse
phakic lens implant for the correction of your
nearsightedness (myopia). Please read
this information carefully and discuss it with our ophthalmologist during
your initial consultation at Harvard Eye.
Our eye surgeons
can determine if you are a suitable candidate for the Verisyse Phakic IOL.
However, you are the only person who can decide whether the surgery is right
for you. Make sure that all of your questions have been answered
to your satisfaction before deciding to proceed with lens implant surgery.
If anything is not clear to you, the staff at
Harvard Eye is available to provide further
guidance. Our goal is always to offer
the latest advancements and the highest quality
of eye care to you and your loved
ones. An IOL is not required to correct nearsightedness. For instance, you may be
able to wear glasses or contact lenses instead to correct your vision. Depending
on the degree of your nearsightedness and other conditions of your eye, there
may also be different refractive surgery options available to correct your
vision including Laser Assisted In-Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK).
What Are Implantable Contact Lenses?
Implantable contact lenses, or phakic intraocular
lenses (IOLs), are lens implants that work
in the eye along with your existing natural
lens to correct myopia (nearsightedness). Because
the Verisyse implantable contact lens can correct
a wider range of myopia than laser refractive
procedures, it is often an excellent alternative
to LASIK surgery.
What Is The Meaning Of "Phakic"?
Verisyse implantable contact lenses are often referred to as "phakic IOLs",
which may cause some confusion when trying to distinguish between the Verisyse
lens and another IOL. The term "phakic" refers
to your natural lens being in place inside your eye. (The natural lens is also
called the crystalline lens.) An eye care professional would refer to your
eye as "phakic" only when your natural lens is still in place.
"Pseudophakic" refers to an eye
where the crystalline lens
has been replaced by a "pseudo" (artificial)
lens, as is done during cataract surgery. (An "aphakic"
eye would have no lens at all, either natural
or artificial.) Therefore, the main difference
between the Verisyse implantable contact lens
and traditional IOLs is the fact that the Verisyse
phakic lens works in conjunction
with the
eye's natural lens and a pseudophakic IOL replaces the
eye's natural lens.
Typically, pseudophakic IOLs are used to treat
cataracts, although some now address presbyopia.
The Verisyse contact lens was designed to treat
high myopia (nearsightedness).
What Benefits Does The Verisyse Lens Offer?
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The Verisyse Phakic IOL is proven in its ability
to correct severe degrees of refractive errors.
While a person with a high degree of myopia
may not be a good LASIK candidate,
the Verisyse lens implant is highly effective
in correcting such nearsightedness, as long
as it can be corrected with lenses (such as
glasses) between -5 and -20 diopters. If you
have nearsightedness in this range, the Verisyse
lens implant may be an excellent way to improve
your distance vision without the use of glasses
or contact lenses. Benefits of the Verisyse
implantable contact lenses also include a proven
record of safety.
Verisyse Convenience
Perhaps, the most sought after benefit of the Verisyse
lens is convenience. Previously hindered
by glasses and contacts, Verisyse patients
are able to enjoy many activities more thoroughly,
especially water sports like swimming, snorkeling,
and scuba diving.
With a reduced dependence on corrective eyewear, Verisyse
patients also experience a freedom from the
clutter of contact lens solutions and supplies
and from having to keep track
of their glasses. Unlike traditional contact
lenses, Verisyse implantable lenses
are protected from surface wear
and tear, and from the dust that causes
dryness in traditional contacts.
When Should I Plan My Eye Surgery?
Your vision should be stable for at
least six months prior to surgery. Your ophthalmologist should verify that
your nearsightedness has not changed more than 0.50 diopters in the past six
months.
Can Both Eyes Be Implanted During The Same
Procedure?
The Verisyse lens implant may be implanted in only one eye at a
time. Your second eye may receive an implant
after your Harvard Eye surgeon determines that
your first eye has healed sufficiently. It
is common to perform the second eye implant
surgery within 3 months of the first eye. Your ophthalmologist will
discuss this with you in detail.
What Results Should I Expect?
Almost immediately following your Verisyse treatment,
you should experience clearer vision. The Verisyse
phakic IOL has a proven track record for delivering
convenience, safety, and amazing results.
The clinical trial for the Verisyse phakic
IOL noted that 92 percent of the Verisyse patients achieved
20/40 or better visual acuity without the use of corrective
lenses. (20/40 is considered to be the standard
vision necessary to obtain a driver’s
license.) Additionally, after three years,
44 percent of the trial participants had 20/20
vision.
The following table shows the
percentage of patients from the clinical trial who achieved vision of 20/20
or better, and 20/40 or better. Most patients were able to achieve vision
of 20/40 or better.
~ Am I guaranteed freedom from
glasses or contact lenses?
The Verisyse phakic IOL
does not stop the natural aging process of the human lens, whereby we lose
the ability to "accommodate" or see both near and far without
glasses. This aging process, known as presbyopia causes
everyone to need reading glasses at some point in their early to mid-40s.
As the Verisyse procedure corrects distance vision only, patients over the
age of 40 will still need reading glasses after lens implantation.
In some cases, you may
need reading glasses after surgery even if you did not need them before.
~ Are adjustments an option?
It is possible that a secondary
procedure may be performed to fine tune your vision. During the clinical
trial of this lens, the following secondary procedures were performed:
-
Lens repositioning
-
Secondary refractive
procedures (LASIK, AK, LRI or PRK)
-
Resuturing of the wound leak, aqueous
release, or insertion of punctal plugs
~ Once the Verisyse lens is implanted, can it be
removed or exchanged?
The Verisyse lens implant is intended
to be a permanent procedure. However, unlike LASIK surgery, no laser is required
for Verisyse eye surgery and the procedure can be reversed or improved by
performing an additional surgery to remove or exchange the lens. While the
Verisyse lens can be removed without an exchange, vision may not return to
what it was prior to surgery. Also, as you age, you may need to update your
prescription. However, as more information on implantable contact lens procedures
is compiled, it appears that most prescriptions remain constant. This minimizes
the need to exchange the original implantable contact lens with a Verisyse
of a different strength.
~ Will I feel the Verisyse after the procedure?
No. Verisyse eye surgery is a relatively quick and pain-free outpatient surgical
procedure. You should not be able to feel a properly implanted Verisyse. At
Harvard Eye, our main focus is on your comfort and best possible visual results.
~ Will my Verisyse lenses be obvious to other people?
No. The Verisyse lens implant is tiny in size, completely colorless, and placed
on top of the iris, just behind the cornea. In this location it is virtually
invisible to others unless they are extremely close and actively looking for
the lens. Even then, the lens is difficult to see.
~ Will the Verisyse correct my astigmatism?
It is important to understand that the Verisyse lens does not correct astigmatism,
which can cause blurry vision. If you have moderate to high astigmatism, a
second procedure, such as conventional or wavefront-guided Lasik, PRK, LASEK,
or Epi-Lasik may be recommended for the correction of astigmatism. Patients
with symptomatic levels of astigmatism may still need thin glasses after Verisyse
lens implantation.
What Complications Are Associated With The Verisyse
Phakic IOL?
It is normal that signs associated
with minor inflammation may be noticed by your ophthalmologist following your
surgery. These types of symptoms usually are present
after surgery because they are part of the normal
healing process. However, they will decrease as time
goes on, with most being completely resolved by 6
months after your implant. If your results with the
Verisyse lens implant are not satisfactory, there
may be a need for an additional surgical procedure to adjust the lens,
exchange the lens or remove the lens. In some cases, you may need reading
glasses after implantation of the Verisyse lens implant even if you
did not need them before.
Complications associated with the implantation procedure and/or
the lens itself are rare. During the clinical
trials for this product, the following types of events were reported:
-
1.36% of patients had their IOL exchanged (due
to inadequate surgical fixation, the lens optic
size was smaller than their pupil size, or a power calculation error).
-
1.51% of patients had their IOL removed
(due to inflammatory response, patient anxiety,
the lens optic was smaller than their pupil size, postoperative trauma,
or surgical trauma).
-
0.60% of
patients had to have their IOL reattached (due
to inadequate surgical fixation or postoperative trauma).
-
0.45% of patients required repair of their
retina.
-
0.15% of patients experienced surgical trauma, which required
retinal repair.
The following table shows the outcomes for optical visual symptoms
for the patients in the clinical trial. This table compares the
patients' preoperative
levels for glare, halos and starbursts with their postoperative levels. Most
patients experienced no change in these symptoms.
Is The Verisyse Procedure Safe?
Yes. Although all surgical procedures carry
some risk of complications, the Verisyse lens
has a proven track record of safety.
Because Verisyse lenses are removable
and do not alter the cornea, the occurrence
of severe adverse effects is minimal. In most
instances, the percentages of complications
that develop with the Verisyse were lower
than the same complications of other IOLs.
Lens implant surgery is one of the most successful
and commonly performed surgeries in the US.
Verisyse at Harvard Eye Associates:
If you are considering this form of vision correction surgery, or if you have
any questions, please call Harvard Eye Associates. Our friendly staff
is available to review your prescription numbers with you and schedule a full
evaluation with one of our doctors if it is indicated.
About the Verisyse Phakic Lens Implant
Are You a Good Candidate?
About Your Procedure
Frequently Asked Questions (this page)
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