Lasik Eyes Surgery - Verisyse toric in the US?

Author

Verisyse toric in the US?

Scott Johnson

2005-03-19, 6:23 pm

I recently attended a Verisyse seminar at a local LASIK clinic. I'd already
read everything I could find about it online, but the seminar brought up
something new. The doctor said he expects a Verisyse toric lens to become
available in the US "within a few months". But I can't find any reference
to this anywhere. There seems to be a toric available in other countries
but I can't find information about a trial or pending approval in the US.
Can anyone enlighten me?

Or to back up a little... I assume I'd want to wait for a toric lens. My
astigmatism is 2.5D and 3.5D, and 2.5D is the upper limit indicated for the
currently available Verisyse lens. I don't want LASIK to fix remaining
astigmatism after getting the lenses. I'd be more comfortable with thin
glasses if needed after IOL installation (as long as they don't resemble
these soda bottles!) but would prefer to wait a year or so for an IOL that
has a chance of fully correcting my vision. Does this make sense?

-slj-

2005-03-19, 6:23 pm

"Scott Johnson" <scott.johnson_nospam_@siebel.com> schreef in bericht
news:GJGdnVZTjOWK3YffRVn-1g@comcast.com...
>I recently attended a Verisyse seminar at a local LASIK clinic. I'd
>already
> read everything I could find about it online, but the seminar brought up
> something new. The doctor said he expects a Verisyse toric lens to become
> available in the US "within a few months". But I can't find any reference
> to this anywhere. There seems to be a toric available in other countries
> but I can't find information about a trial or pending approval in the US.
> Can anyone enlighten me?
>
> Or to back up a little... I assume I'd want to wait for a toric lens. My
> astigmatism is 2.5D and 3.5D, and 2.5D is the upper limit indicated for
> the
> currently available Verisyse lens. I don't want LASIK to fix remaining
> astigmatism after getting the lenses. I'd be more comfortable with thin
> glasses if needed after IOL installation (as long as they don't resemble
> these soda bottles!) but would prefer to wait a year or so for an IOL that
> has a chance of fully correcting my vision. Does this make sense?
>
> -slj-

Try this URL, might be informative to you http://www.ophtec.com/
You also should have a look at http://www.artisanlens.com/

Astigmatism in the range from 2 - 7 diopters is supposed to be ''fixed''

Hope this helps you out.

--
Jan (normally Dutch spoken)

Glenn - USAEyes.org

2005-03-19, 6:23 pm

It is good to see you are doing your homework. The Verisyse/Artisan
phakic intraocular lens (P-IOL) being available with toric astigmatism
correction within a few months is little more than wishful thinking.

You are wise to not attempt such a high astigmatism correction with
LASIK or similar excimer laser related procedures such as PRK, LASEK,
or Epi-LASIK. Astigmatism of 2.50 diopters is pushing the LASIK
envelope. A P-IOL is probably a more wise choice. The
Artisan/Verisyse has the advantage of being affixed to the iris, so
rotation of the correction is not likely. If the doctor gets in right
the first time, it will probably be in right for as long as it is in.

P-IOLs are not for everyone. You need to have enough room in the eye
between the back of the cornea and the front of the iris. Also, if
you have exceedingly large naturally dilated pupils you may have
problems with quality of vision at night.

Something very important about all P-IOLs is the practical experience
of the surgeon. These are not for amateurs and there is a significant
learning curve. I recommend you be very careful about the surgeon you
select. You may find our 50 Tough Questions For Your Doctor
(http://www.usaeyes.org/faq/tough_questions.htm) helpful in this
regard.

You can either travel outside of the US or wait for the toric P-IOLs,
but if you wait expect it to be closer to 2-3 years, rather than 2-3
months. Of course I can be wrong. It is not easy to predict the FDA.

Glenn Hagele
Executive Director
Council for Refractive Surgery Quality Assurance

Email to glenn dot hagele at usaeyes dot org

http://www.USAEyes.org
http://www.ComplicatedEyes.org

I am not a doctor.

Scott Johnson

2005-03-19, 6:23 pm

"Glenn - USAEyes.org" <glenn.hageleSTOPSPAM@USAEyes.org> wrote...
> It is good to see you are doing your homework. The Verisyse/Artisan
> phakic intraocular lens (P-IOL) being available with toric astigmatism
> correction within a few months is little more than wishful thinking.

Thanks, but bummer. The doctor was short on specifics on this point.

> You are wise to not attempt such a high astigmatism correction with
> LASIK or similar excimer laser related procedures such as PRK, LASEK,
> or Epi-LASIK. Astigmatism of 2.50 diopters is pushing the LASIK
> envelope. A P-IOL is probably a more wise choice.

Of course I'm mostly interested in a P-IOL due to my -15D/-17D myopia. :-)

> Something very important about all P-IOLs is the practical experience
> of the surgeon. These are not for amateurs and there is a significant
> learning curve. I recommend you be very careful about the surgeon

Yes, my local doctor got the training but hasn't actually started the
procedures yet. He plans to start in a few months. This was his initial
info seminar for people who flunked his free LASIK screening. My name was
even first on the sign-up sheet for seminar. But I'm very aware that the
clinical study showed a learning curve of at least 10 cases. I'm not going
first!

> You can either travel outside of the US or wait for the toric P-IOLs,
> but if you wait expect it to be closer to 2-3 years, rather than 2-3
> months.

I live in Seattle, so BC would be an option. I'd prefer driving range.

> Of course I can be wrong. It is not easy to predict the FDA.

Is the Verisyse toric in trial right now? I couldn't find any information
on that. I do see that the Staar toric ICL completed its trial but is not
approved yet.

BTW, the doctor quoted a price of $4,500 per eye. I'm not price shopping
but just curious how that compares nationwide.

-slj-

Glenn - USAEyes.org

2005-03-19, 6:23 pm

You would have an advantage in British Colombia of a surgeon who may
have more practical experience and a great US to Canadian dollar
exchange rate. Be wary, however. Malpractice laws in Canada are
nothing like in the US. If something goes really wrong, you will have
a difficult time gaining relief through the courts.

Even if something more minor occurs and the Canadian doctor is willing
to do everything possible with no additional cost, you will still need
to travel there on your dime.

If you do decide to go with a foreign doctor, first arrange with a
good cataract surgeon near your home to have him/her available for any
emergency or urgent needs. This type of comanagement can be
beneficial to both patient and doctors. Your Canadian doctor knows
you have help nearby if needed. The local doctor gets to see the
results of a knowledgeable surgeon and coordinates follow-up care with
someone who can teach him/her a lot, and the patient has two doctors
verifying with each other what is best.

$4,500 per eye seems a bit high, but I have not looked at any of the
cost information yet. This is about the cost for cataract surgery,
but about twice the high end for LASIK surgery.

Glenn Hagele
Executive Director
Council for Refractive Surgery Quality Assurance

Email to glenn dot hagele at usaeyes dot org

http://www.USAEyes.org
http://www.ComplicatedEyes.org

I am not a doctor.

Scott Johnson

2005-03-19, 6:23 pm

"Glenn - USAEyes.org" <glenn.hageleSTOPSPAM@USAEyes.org> wrote...
> $4,500 per eye seems a bit high, but I have not looked at any of the
> cost information yet. This is about the cost for cataract surgery,
> but about twice the high end for LASIK surgery.

The doctor said part of the cost is for using an operating room at the large
hospital next door rather than in his own clinic. I don't know if cataract
surgery is normally done that way too. Also he mentioned the lenses
themselves are about $1,000 each.

No problem. Feels like I've already spent $9,000 in my lifetime on eyeglass
cleaner. :-)

-slj-