Staar VISIAN ICL:
Implantable Contact Lens
Harvard Eye Associates — 30 Years
of Lens Implant Experience!
What to Expect:
Visian Lens Implant Surgery - First Step
If you are interested
in receiving a Visian lens implant, the first step is to call Harvard Eye
for an appointment. We will set a date for your qualification examination,
during which your Harvard Eye doctor will determine if your eyes are healthy
and suitable for surgery. Your exam will include a complete eye history and
a thorough examination of both eyes.
After a comprehensive eye examination,
your Harvard Eye doctor will discuss various refractive surgery options including
the implantation of a Visian ICL and/or laser refractive surgery. Based on
your level of refractive error, eye health, medical history, and desired outcome
for refractive surgery, your eye surgeon will determine if you are a good candidate
for the Visian ICL.
Be sure to tell us about any medication you take or allergies
you have. You will receive instructions regarding preparation prior to surgery
(e.g. food/drink, transportation, arrival time). You will need
to arrange for someone to drive you home after surgery and to your next appointment.
You will not be allowed to drive yourself until you receive permission from
your eye doctor. If you are a contact lens wearer, you will need to stop
wearing your contact lenses during your baseline refraction and on the day
of surgery.
One - Two Weeks before the Visian ICL Eye Surgery
About one to two weeks prior to the insertion of the Visian ICL your Harvard
Eye doctor will perform a YAG laser iridotomy, in which a YAG laser will
be used to make one or two small openings near the edge of your iris (the
colored part of the eye). These openings serve as outlets that will allow
the fluid in your eye to circulate around the lens. Prior to creating the
small openings in the eye with the laser, numbing
drops will be applied to your eyes to make the procedure more comfortable.
You will receive a prescription for eye drops to use during the weeks leading
up to the Visian ICL procedure.
The Day of Your Visian Lens Implant Surgery
Your outpatient Visian eye surgery procedure is performed in less than 30
minutes. After you arrive and complete the surgery
center check-in, you will be taken to the preoperative area and readied for
the surgery. Before the procedure, your eye will be numbed with a topical or
local anesthetic, and a mild sedative may be given if necessary. You will be
taken to the operating room where your eye will be cleaned and prepared
to receive the lens. A drape will be placed over you to keep the area around
your eye clean. Our eye doctor will place an instrument in your eyelids
to assist in stabilizing your eye. This instrument is used to hold the eyelids
apart, to give better access to the eyeball.
During the surgical procedure:
Once you are comfortable, your surgeon will begin the procedure. First, two
small openings will be created at the base of your cornea that will be used
to position the lens. Next, a gel-like substance will be placed inside your
eye to protect the eye during lens placement. Following placement of the gel,
a small incision will be made, through which the lens will be inserted.
The next step is injection of the lens. Prior to surgery, your Visian ICL
was selected based on your individual prescription. The lens was folded and
loaded into a small cartridge which will now be placed through the incision.
As the lens is injected, it will gently unfold in your eye. Special marks on
the lens ensure proper positioning. Once the lens has fully unfolded, the four
corners of the lens will be placed behind your iris. This makes the lens invisible
to both you and others. Once the lens is in place, your surgeon will remove
the gel-like substance.
To complete the procedure, the surgeon will instill eye drops to help prevent
infection and inflammation. You will continue to use these drops for several
days after your procedure. Because the incision made during surgery is so small,
sutures are typically not needed following the Visian ICL eye surgery.
Immediately After Surgery
A temporary shield will be placed over your eye to protect
it during the immediate postoperative period. You will be transported to a
recovery area until you have stabilized and are ready to go home (after approximately
one hour). After you have stabilized from the surgery, you will be asked to
go home and relax for the rest of the day (no lifting, exercise, or other strenuous
activity). You may not drive yourself home, so be sure to arrange for someone
to be there when you are ready for release.
You
will be given eye drops to use when you return home, with instructions on when
and how to use them. After your
Visian lens implant procedure, you should only have minor discomfort, if
any, but if you experience pain, be sure to let us know.
The Next Day
You will return for an evaluation
the day after surgery to determine the results of your surgery. At that time,
we will explain further care of your eye
and schedule your next follow-up visit. Follow all postoperative instructions
given to you. Do not rub your
eye as this may cause disruption of the wound or cause corneal edema. Some
slight discomfort is normal during the healing process.
Contact Harvard Eye immediately if you experience any unexpected pain, discharge,
trauma, or anything that appears abnormal.
The First Week Following Surgery
You will return
to Harvard Eye the day after your surgery for an examination. The
shield will be removed and your eye will be observed under a special microscope
to make sure the lens is positioned correctly and that there are no complications.
Your eye doctor will monitor your
eye's intraocular pressure and will discuss your progress. Although there may
be some improvement in your vision at this time, keep in mind that the full
visual effects of your surgery will take 2-4 weeks to stabilize. Most patients
are able to return to work and resume normal non-strenuous activities.
You will be given appointments for additional follow-up visits to monitor
your progress. These are of vital importance. Standard postoperative exams
are performed at 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 3-6 months, and yearly
thereafter. If you experience
any pain, trauma or unusual discomfort during the postoperative period, immediately
contact Harvard Eye for instructions.
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