| Glenn - USAEyes.org 2005-09-28, 9:43 am |
| I am not a doctor and I did not have ICLs, but I am a researcher and
presented concerns to the FDA advisory panel regarding phakic
intraocular lenses (P-IOL).
When you use the term ICL, I am assuming you mean the STAAR Visian
ICL. This P-IOL is not approved for use in the United States, but is
available outside the US. The STAAR ICL is placed inside the eye
behind the iris and is not able to correct astigmatism.
The P-IOL that is currently available is the Verisyse. This P-IOL is
placed inside the eye just in front of the iris and is attached to the
iris. The Verisyse outside the US has the ability to correct
astigmatism, but with significant limitations.
As a general rule, P-IOLs are most appropriate for people with very,
very myopic (nearsighted) vision who are under age 40. If you are at
or over age 40, you should investigate Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE)
instead of P-IOL. Everyone has their own particular bias, but it
appears that people with less than about 10 diopters of myopia do
marginally okay with LASIK, and over 10 may do better with P-IOLs.
The Verisyse and Vision scheduled for the US do not correct
astigmatism. If your astigmatism is significant, you would need to
wear contacts, glasses, or have a cornea-based refractive surgery like
LASIK or PRK to resolve the astigmatism. This is another limitation of
P-IOLs in the US.
There are many medical safety concerns with P-IOLs, but you would need
to discuss them with your doctor based upon the unique physiology of
your eyes.
If you have thin corneas, you may want to consider a surface ablation
technique like PRK, LASEK, or Epi-LASIK, do LASIK with a laser created
flap that can be a bit thinner than a flap created with a mechanical
microkeratome, investigate further P-IOLs and RLE, or just not do
anything.
Glenn Hagele
Executive Director
USAEyes.org
"Consider and Choose With Confidence"
Email to glenn dot hagele at usaeyes dot org
http://www.USAEyes.org
http://www.ComplicatedEyes.org
I am not a doctor.
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