Posted by: SightTrust Eye Institute in EVO ICL
If you have been imagining a life without contact lenses or glasses, it can be disappointing to be told that you are not a candidate for LASIK. However, the road to better vision does not stop at LASIK! While it may be a well-known name in vision correction surgery, there are several other types of procedures that are also clinically proven to allow you to break free from contact lenses or glasses.
LASIK Alternatives
At SightTrust Eye Institute in Sunrise, Florida we offer a range of surgical options for vision correction. Depending on your individual needs and goals, one of these vision correction procedures could be perfect for you:
EVO Visian ICL Lens™
EVO Visian ICL Lens is an Implantable Collamer® Lens that offers many benefits, especially for patients who cannot have LASIK due to a high level of myopia (nearsightedness), thin corneas or dry eye. EVO Visian ICL does not cause dry eye symptoms. EVO Visian ICL also offers UV protection and 99.4% of EVO ICL patients surveyed say they would have the procedure again.
EVO Visian ICL is implanted behind the iris (colored part of your eye) in front of the eye’s natural lens during a procedure that lasts approximately 20 minutes. Most patients experience near-immediate vision improvement with minimal recovery time and do not see or feel it once it is in place. Unlike LASIK or PRK, which permanently change the shape of the cornea, EVO Visian ICL is an additive technology that can be removed, if needed in the future. Ideal candidates for EVO Visian ICL are aged 21 to 45 with moderate to severe nearsightedness (prescription between –3D and –20D) and a prescription that has been stable for at least one year. EVO Toric Visian ICL can also treat the same range of nearsightedness with up to 4.0 D of astigmatism.
The two FDA-approved implants available are the Artisan and EVO ICL. Additionally, Dr. Shatz has been able to provide individuals with hyperopic (farsighted) – and astigmatism-correcting Phakic IOLs under the FDA’s compassionate use exemption. If you or someone you know is interested in an alternative to LASIK or PRK, EVO ICLs and Phakic IOLs are an incredible choice!
PRK
Photo-Refractive Keratectomy (PRK) is a laser vision correction surgery in which an outer layer of the surface of the eye is removed in order to avoid an incision in the cornea. Like LASIK, a laser is then used to reshape the cornea in order to correct refractive errors. Visual improvement and recovery time may take a bit longer than LASIK or EVO Visian ICL procedures.
RLE
Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE) or Refractive Lens Replacement is a vision correction surgery in which your eye’s poorly functioning lens is replaced with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL). RLE can correct a range of vision errors depending on the type of IOL that is chosen. This procedure is identical to cataract surgery and once the surgery is performed you will not develop cataracts in the future! To learn more about Refractive Lens Replacement, please visit our website at https://www.sighttrust.com/lens-replacement/
Choosing the Right Vision Correction Surgery
There are many factors to consider when choosing a vision correction procedure. The best choice for you will depend on your prescription, your lifestyle, and the types of benefits you are seeking. Dr. Andrew Shatz can explain your options and recommend a treatment plan tailored to your particular needs. Contact us at https://www.sighttrust.com/contact/ with any questions or to schedule an appointment.
Important Safety Information
The Visian ICL and EVO Visian ICL lens is intended to correct/reduce nearsightedness between -3.0 up to -20.0 D and treat astigmatism from 1.0 D to 4.0 D. If you have nearsightedness within these ranges, Visian ICL and EVO Visian ICL surgery may improve your distance vision without eyeglasses or contact lenses. Because the Visian ICL and EVO Visian ICL corrects for distance vision, it does not eliminate the need for reading glasses, you may require them at some point, even if you have never worn them before. Since implantation of the Visian ICL and EVO Visian ICL is a surgical procedure, before considering Visian ICL and EVO Visian ICL surgery you should have a complete eye examination and talk with your eye care professional about Visian ICL and EVO Visian ICL surgery, especially the potential benefits, risks, and complications. You should discuss the time needed for healing after surgery. Complications, although rare, may include need for additional surgical procedures, inflammation, loss of cells from the back surface of the cornea, increase in eye pressure, and cataracts. You should NOT have Visian ICL and EVO Visian ICL surgery if your doctor determines that 1) the shape of your eye is not appropriate, 2) you do not meet the minimum endothelial cell density for your age at the time of implantation, or 3) your vision is not stable; or if you are pregnant or nursing.
For additional information with potential benefits, risks and complications please visit DiscoverICL.com
1 Naves, J.S. Carracedo, G. Cacho-Babillo, I. Diadenosine Nucleotid Measurements as Dry-Eye Score in Patients After LASIK and ICL Surgery. Presented at American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) 2012.
2 Packer M. The Implantable Collamer Lens with a central port: review of the literature. Clinical Ophthalmology. 2018: 12: 2427–2438.
