Harvard Eye Associates - LASIK Orange County
LASIK Laguna Hills • San Clemente, Orange County, California - 800.974.EYES (3937)
Staar Visian ICL
Implantable Contact Lens - Implantable Collamer Lens
About Your Procedure
Schedule your appointment:
If you are interested in receiving a Visian lens implant, the first step is to schedule 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.
1-2 weeks before your Visian ICL surgery:
About 1-2 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.
Our Promise
As always, Harvard Eye is first and foremost concerned about what is best for each individual patient. Call us today for your personalized consultation!
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Harvard Eye Associates Laguna Hills Office Map and Directions 24401 Calle de la Louisa Suites 300-312 Laguna Hills, California 92653 949.951.2020 FAX: 949.356.1690 |
Harvard Eye Associates San Clemente Office Map and Directions 665 Camino de los Mares Suites 102-103 San Clemente, California 92673 949.493.5411 FAX: 949.493.5726 |
The eye doctors of Harvard Eye Associates perform advanced technology diagnostic testing and treatment, as well as taking the time necessary to provide each patient with information needed to fully understand his or her condition and to achieve the best possible visual outcome.
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In The News
New techniques or improvements in a current technique are occasionally introduced to the medical world.
The FDA has chosen Harvard Eye Associates as a clinical research study center of emerging technology. This great honor makes it possible for us to offer qualifying patients access to advancements in eye care not yet available to the general public.
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FDA Clinical Research Study
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Why Choose Us
Internationally regarded as the go-to specialist in eye care, Harvard Eye offers a combined experience of over 100 years and over 100,000 surgical procedures. The doctors of Harvard Eye Associates have treated virtually every known eye condition there is, plus a few previously unknown.
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Before Your Visit
Whether you or a loved one are having a first eye exam, a repeat eye exam, or are seeing a new eye doctor at Harvard Eye for the first time, there are a number of routine questions you can expect.
Your answers to these questions during eye exams are anything but routine for your eye doctor, so you may want to arrive prepared.
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Read testimonials and watch videos of actual Harvard Eye Associates patients who have benefited from our professionalism, dedication, and commitment to high quality patient care.
Our offices provide patients with all eye care needs from routine eye exams to complex surgical procedures.
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Volunteer work is extremely important to Harvard Eye Associates. Twice yearly, we travel the world to teach and perform surgery to people who have no other resources, and have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to providing medical training and supplies to developing countries.
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