About Intraocular Lenses (IOLs) - Available in the Washington, DC, Virginia, and Maryland Areas
Patients interested in implantable contact lenses, like Visian™ and Verisyse™ , or bifocal IOLs such as the ReZoom™ or ReSTOR® lens should contact our Washington, DC, or Maryland area practice, serving Northern Virginia and surrounding areas.
| Why Choose Intraocular Lenses? | |
| IOLs for cataract surgery | |
| Phakic IOLs | |
Why Choose Intraocular Lenses?
Some patients have extremely strong refractive errors. While laser vision correction is an excellent method to correct moderate refractive errors, Drs. Clinch and Kang do not recommend laser procedures for extremely high levels of nearsightedness or farsightedness. For over four decades Intraocular lenses have been used in cataract surgery with great success. In cataract surgery, the cloudy, natural crystalline lens is replaced with the intraocular lens (IOL). Through a procedure known as refractive lens exchange, these same lenses can now be used to correct nearsightedness and farsightedness, even if you do not have a cataract. Since the intraocular lenses are placed inside the eye, they do not change the corneal curvature. For this reason, even strong refractive errors can be successfully corrected. The only difference between cataract surgery and refractive lens exchange is that refractive lens exchange is an elective procedure since the natural lens has not yet developed a cataract.
Another option for vision correction is phakic intraocular lens implantation. Rather than replacing the eye’s natural crystalline lens, a lens, much like a contact lens, is surgically inserted in front of the eye’s natural lens. Since nothing is removed, this procedure is reversible.
Clear view of a vision chart through an implanted phakic IOL. The cornea is unchanged.
Distorted view of a vision chart through an eye that had LASIK for high levels of nearsightedness. The cornea was flattened to a level that created aberrations in vision.
Intraocular Lenses (IOLs)
Originally, intraocular lenses (IOLs) were available only as monofocal lenses or standard lenses, meaning that patients needed glasses for either reading or distance vision after surgery. With recent technological advances, however, patients over the age of 40 are now able to achieve clear reading and distance vision using bifocal IOLs, offered by our Washington, DC, and Maryland area surgeons.
Multifocal IOLs
ReSTOR® IOL
ReSTOR®, an intraocular lens (IOL) manufactured by AcrySof® and offered at our Washington, DC, and Maryland area practice, allows patients to achieve a full range of high quality near, intermediate, and distance vision following cataract surgery or refractive lens exchange. Dr. Clinch and Dr. Kang have extensive experience using the ReSTOR® lens. In fact, Dr. Clinch performed the first ReSTOR® intraocular lens implant in Washington, DC, and was featured on a Channel 7 news segment.
The ReSTOR® intraocular lens is implanted during cataract surgery to replace the natural crystalline lens. ReSTOR®, which received FDA approval in 2005, has a revolutionary intraocular lens design. The lens itself has a central region called an optic. The optic consists of blended circles which work together through a unique process called apodization. During this process, light is focused within the eye to accommodate both near and far objects, thereby enhancing near, intermediate, and distant vision.
Most patients that have received the ReSTOR® IOL are exceedingly happy with the results. According to a clinical study, 80 percent of patients who received the ReSTOR® IOL during cataract surgery can now enjoy daily activities, including reading and driving, without ever needing glasses or contacts. In addition, 94 percent say that they would have the procedure again if given the choice. Dr. John O'Neill, our pediatric and strabismus specialist, had the ReSTOR® lens implanted and loves it!
ReZoom™ IOL
The ReZoom™ intraocular lens is a bifocal IOL offered at our Washington, DC, area practice that reduces or eliminates the need for patients to wear glasses or contacts following cataract or refractive lens exchange surgery.
The ReZoom® lens works using five concentric, refractive zones, three for distance and two for near vision. There is also a transition between the zones which provides balanced intermediate vision, allowing patients to see clearly at all distances.
According to clinical studies, 93 percent of patients have obtained freedom from glasses and contacts for distance and intermediate vision and 81 percent have obtained freedom from reading glasses with the ReZoom™ lens.
To find out if you can benefit from the ReSTOR® IOL or ReZoom™ lens, contact our Washington, DC, and Maryland area practice today.
Toric IOLs
When the surface of a normal eye’s cornea has a spherical curve, like a basketball, light rays passing through it bend towards its center and focus on one spot.
Sometimes the surface of the cornea is curved more like a football than a basketball, with both flatter and steeper curves. When the surface of the cornea has an uneven curvature, vision becomes distorted. This common irregularity is called corneal astigmatism.
Following cataract surgery, if you have astigmatism, you may still experience blurred and distorted vision because the standard lens does not correct your astigmatism, just your nearsightedness or farsightedness. To achieve quality distance vision with a standard IOL, you may require eyeglasses, contact lenses, or further surgery.
One option for correcting astigmatism after cataract surgery is simply glasses or contact lenses; however, there are surgical options that are also available, including LASIK laser vision correction, limbal relaxing incisions, and astigmatic keratotomy. Another new and exciting option is a toric intraocular lens (IOL), now offered at our Washington, D.C. and Maryland-area vision center.
The toric IOL is a lens that is implanted at the time of cataract surgery. Its unique design makes it possible to reduce or significantly improve uncorrected distance vision like a standard or monofocal IOL while eliminating corneal astigmatism. This lens provides better quality distance vision independent of glasses and contact lenses than a standard lens does. The toric intraocular lens is made of the same material already successfully implanted in more than 25 million eyes since 1991.
Implanting this lens does not at all influence the risks of cataract surgery. The procedure itself remains exactly the same except that at the time of lens insertion, this toric lens is implanted instead of a standard lens.
Phakic IOLs
Phakic IOLs, also known as implantable contact lenses or ICLs, are safe and effective for vision correction, offering an alternative to laser surgery. In fact, some studies have shown that patients with higher order aberrations may achieve clearer vision with an ICL than with LASIK. About 85 percent of patients achieved 20/20 vision or better with an ICL while 95 percent achieved 20/40 or better. And, since the natural lens is left in place, the procedure is reversible.
At EDOW, phakic IOL surgery has been available through FDA clinical trials for two years. Our surgeons are the only ones in the Washington, DC, region to be involved in such studies.
STAAR Visian ICL™ (Implantable Contact Lens)
This STAAR Visian Implantable Contact Lens™ (ICL) is another type of phakic intraocular lens used to treat moderate to severe myopia. There have been approximately 40,000 ICLs implanted world-wide, and the lens recently received FDA approval for use in the United States. The lens is made of "collamer," a unique material that contains a small amount of collagen, which provides excellent biocompatibility and superior optical capability.
Patients who are suited for this lens usually have a high refractive correction, thin corneas, or a preference for non-laser vision correction. Some patients prefer the STAAR® ICL procedure compared to the laser procedure because it is reversible. In contrast to the LASIK procedure where tissue is permanently removed, the STAAR® lens implant can be removed, if needed. In addition some studies have shown that at high levels of correction (-8.0D and above), there may be less higher-order aberrations after the lens implantation when compared to rather than LASIK, which may translate in clearer vision.
The Procedure
During the procedure,with the eye under a local or topical anesthetic, the surgeon will create an incision in the eye. The implantable contact lens (ICL) is then gently folded and injected into the anterior chamber through a 3.0mm, temporal, clear corneal incision. The ICL is then carefully positioned. Following implantation, the lens rests behind the iris surface, vaulted over the natural lens of the eye.
To find out if STAAR Visian ICL™ is right for you, schedule an appointment with one of our experienced surgeons at Eye Doctors of Washington.
Verisyse™
The Verisyse™ lens, offered by our Virginia area surgeons at Eye Doctors of Washington, is used to treat moderate to severe myopia. With over 18 years of use and 150,000 procedures performed worldwide, results prove that the Verisyse™ design is safe and effective for individuals with severe myopia (nearsightedness) - who are tired of thick glasses and are not candidates for Custom LASIK.
These individuals may not qualify for laser vision correction because they have a high refractive correction, thin corneas, or a preference for non-laser vision correction. In contrast to a laser procedure, where tissue is permanently removed, the Verisyse™ lens can be removed, if needed.
The Procedure
The Verisyse™ lens is comprised of a convex or concave, 5 or 6 mm optic, on an 8.5 mm wide elliptical carrier (Figure 1). Implanting the Verisyse™ lens takes approximately 15 to 30 minutes during which time the surgeon creates an opening in the iris with a laser to assist fluid flow through the chambers of the eye. The eye is then numbed with local anesthesia and tiny incisions are created in the cornea. Using specialized instruments, the Verisyse™ lens is inserted behind the cornea and in front of the iris, giving the eye another focusing lens that provides high-quality, high-definition vision (Figure 2). Following implantation, the Verisyse™ lens rests on the edge of the iris, vaulted over the central iris and pupil, and positioned in front of the natural lens of the eye (Figures 3-5). Once the Verisyse™ lens is in place, the small corneal incision is closed with microscopic stitches and a temporary protective shield is placed over the eye. Patients may return home soon after the procedure is complete.
To find out if Verisyse™ is an option for you, contact our surgeons serving Northern Virginia and surrounding areas from our offices in Washington, DC, and Chevy Chase, Maryland.
Comparison of STAAR Visian ICL™ and Verisyse™
Both the Verisyse™ and STAAR Visian ICL™ are safe and effective phakic intraocular lenses. Both provide excellent outcomes as alternatives to laser surgery for the correction of moderate to high myopia. There are some differences between the two lenses in their approach to treating refractive errors.
The reason that the Visian ICL has supplanted the Verisyse lens is two fold:
- The Visian lens is foldable as opposed to the ridgid Verisyse lens, allowing for a much smaller incision.
- The Visian lens is placed behind the iris making it invisible to the naked eye whereas the Verisyse lens is placed in front of the iris.
Overall, however, they are both safe and effective lenses, and your surgeon will work with your individual case to help you select the most appropriate lens for your eye.
To learn more about our bifocal IOL options including the ReSTOR® IOL and ReZoom™ lens as well as the ICLs, Visian™ lens, and Verisyse™ lens, contact our Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia area practice.
2 Wisconsin Circle Suites 200 and 230
Chevy Chase, MD 20815
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1016 16th Street NW
Lower Level 100
Washington, DC 20036
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If you are interested in vision correction or another eye procedure, contact Eye Doctors of Washington today to schedule an appointment with an experienced and dedicated surgeon.
