For high levels of nearsightedness and farsightedness, an intraocular lens (or implantable contact lens) may be preferable to LASIK surgery. Myopia surgery with an intraocular lens is now an FDA approved procedure.  Although intraocular lenses have been routinely used in the U.S. for over 40 years to restore vision in patients following cataract surgery (removal of the cloudy natural lens in the eye), their use in myopia and other refractive surgeries is a developing area.  It should be noted that while the materials used to make myopia and cataract implants may be the same, the designs can be significantly different. These differences are due to the different anatomical conditions within the eye of patients following cataract surgery compared to patients who have not had their natural lens removed.

The Verisyse Myopia Lens (also known as Artisan by AMO) and the Visian ICL (by Staar Surgical) are unique in that they can be placed into the eye without removing the natural lens. In most patients less than 40 years of age, the natural lens of the eye accommodates or changes power to allow focusing of both near and distant objects. As the natural lens remains in the eye following myopia surgery with these phakic intraocular lenses, accommodation is not expected to be affected in those patients less than 40 years of age.  In most people the ability of the eye to accommodate gradually diminishes after age 40; therefore, patients with the lens are likely to require bifocal or reading spectacles to improve their near vision. It is possible that patients will require some spectacle correction to sharpen both near and distant vision. Also, with increasing age there is a risk of cataract development, which may require extraction of the lens, cataract removal, and the implantation of a suitable intraocular lens implant.

Other procedures are also being considered for candidates who may not benefit from current custom laser vision correction.  With the FDA approval of innovative multifocal and presbyopic correcting intraocular lens implants, like ReSTOR®, ReZoom® and CrystaLens®, more individuals are likely to achieve greater independence from glasses and contact lenses.

Our doctors are involved with these new developments and will be happy to discuss this new, exciting form of vision correction with you.