Staar VISIAN ICL: Implantable Contact Lens

Harvard Eye Associates — 30 Years of Lens Implant Experience!

LOOKING FOR A SUPPORT GROUP?   CLICK HERE!

What Is the Visian ICL?

The Visian ICL gives another option for treating myopia through eye surgery. The Visian ICL is a phakic intraocular lens (IOL) that is implanted inside the eye. Unlike IOLs that are used during cataract surgery, the Visian ICL does not replace the eye's natural lens. Instead, the Visian lens is placed between the iris and the natural lens, leaving the natural lens intact. Because the phakic IOL does not replace the lens, but supplements it like a prescription contact lens, it is referred to as an "implantable contact lens".

This type of lens is called "phakic" because your eye retains its natural lens, whereas "pseudophakic" refers to the removal of the natural lens, such as occurs during cataract surgery. Allowing your natural lens to stay in place retains its ability to "accommodate" or see objects that are both near and far without glasses. Although the Visian phakic IOL is intended to be permanent, the procedure is potentially reversible. Now, patients who are seeking the latest approved procedures for vision correction or who want to avoid the permanence of laser vision correction have another choice for correction of nearsightedness.

What Makes the Visian ICL Different?

Although the Visian ICL is informally defined as an implantable contact lens, the "ICL" in the Visian ICL actually stands for "Implantable Collamer Lens." This designation acknowledges the unique material that comprises the lens, a unique, organic lens material, designed especially for the Visian lens. This proprietary lens material has greater biocompatibility than acrylic and silicone lenses. The Visian ICL is also foldable, requiring a smaller incision during the surgical procedure than other available lenses.

Safe, Proven Procedure

The safety and effectiveness of the Visian ICL implantation procedure has been proven with over 55,000 implants worldwide, as well as recent U.S. FDA approval. Unlike LASIK or PRK, the Visian ICL does not permanently alter the structure of the eye. Instead, the phakic IOL is placed in the eye's posterior chamber, where it works with the natural lens to correct vision.

Smaller Incision

Unlike other phakic IOLs, the Visian ICL is foldable. This feature allows Harvard Eye surgeons to implant the lens using a smaller incision. The Visian ICL requires a 2.8mm to 3.0mm incision as opposed to the 6.0mm incision required by other FDA-approved phakic IOLs. This smaller incision is seen as less invasive, does not require sutures, and causes less astigmatism.

Removable, if Necessary

The Visian ICL is meant to stay in the eye indefinitely. However, if overcorrection or undercorrection occurs, a complication develops, or a patient's vision changes, the Visian ICL can be removed or exchanged.

To learn more about the Visian ICL, schedule an appointment with Harvard Eye

Ideal Visian Candidate ~

Good candidates for the Visian ICL include patients who:

• Are between the ages of 21 and 45.

• Are nearsighted, including those with mild, moderate, and severe myopia (-3D to -20D prescription) with minor or no occurrence of astigmatism.

• Have proper anterior chamber depth and acceptable eye tissue cell density (this will be determined by your eye doctor after a comprehensive eye exam).

• Have not had a change in their eyeglass prescription of more than 0.5D in a year.

• Are not currently pregnant.

• Have no known allergies to medications used during refractive surgery or no other contraindications.

• Have dry eyes, severe myopia, or a thin cornea (non-LASIK candidate).

You may not be a candidate for the Visian ICL:

If you have any of the following conditions, be sure to discuss them with your ophthalmologist, as you may not be a suitable candidate for this procedure:

• Abnormality of the iris

• Congenital bilateral cataracts (cataracts in both eyes due to a genetic disorder)

• Recurrent ocular inflammation

• History of ocular diseases

• Previous history of retinal detachment

• Only one eye with potentially good vision

• Glaucoma

• Corneal endothelial dystrophy (a condition in which one or more parts of the cornea lose their normal clarity due to a buildup of cloudy material)

• Diabetic retinopathy (a common complication of diabetes affecting the blood vessels in the retina; if untreated, it may lead to blindness)

Visian ICL Advantages

The advantages of the Visian phakic IOL make it a sought after treatment for nearsightendess.

High quality of vision - The Visian ICL not only improves your visual acuity, but it also enhances the quality of your vision by producing sharp, clear images.

Wide treatment range - In comparison to other refractive procedures, the Visian ICL offers the widest treatment range for treating myopia (-3.0 diopters to -20.0 diopters).

Foldable - Because the Visian ICL is foldable, a smaller incision is required during the procedure. This feature makes the procedure efficient (no sutures needed) and improves healing time.

Invisible - The placement of the Visian ICL into the posterior chamber of the eye makes the lens invisible to both the patient and even the closest observer.

Collamer composition - Used exclusively by STAAR Surgical Company, Collamer is made from collagen, which is a substance that naturally occurs in the body. This makes the Visian lens highly biocompatible with the eye.

Proven track record - Implanted in over 55,000 eyes worldwide, the safety and amazing improvement in vision quality of the Visian ICL has been proven over the last 15 years.

Because the Visian ICL is also ideal for patients with contraindications for LASIK and PRK, some people may consider the Visian ICL as an alternative; however, as you can see, it is so much more than that. It is often compared to these corneal refractive procedures because the Visian ICL takes eye surgery beyond the limits of LASIK and PRK. Patients, who may not discover the Visian ICL until they begin to search for an alternative treatment, realize that the Visian ICL is not just an alternative; it is a choice for superior vision quality.

Questions to Ask:

At Harvard Eye, we take pride in addressing all of your concerns and questions; we want you to be fully informed. Many of your questions may be covered in our Visian: Frequently Asked Questions section. However, everyone has a different physiology; no two people are exactly the same. So, here is a list of questions you might ask during your initial consultation at Harvard Eye to help you decide whether the Visian lens implant is right for you:

• What other options are available for correcting my nearsightedness?

• Will I need to limit my activities after treatment? If yes, for how long?

• What are the benefits of the Visian lens implant for my amount of nearsightedness?

• What quality of vision can I expect in the first few months after surgery?

• As I grow older, how might the Visian lens implant affect my need to wear glasses or contact lenses?

• Should I have the Visian lens implant implanted in my other eye?

• How long would I have to wait before having surgery on my other eye?

• What vision problems might I experience if I have the Visian lens implant only in one eye?

• How much will the surgery and follow-up cost? Will my health insurance cover this surgery?

• Will there be additional costs if I need an additional procedure to fine tune my vision?

What to Expect with the Visian Lens Implant,   next page —>