3D eye - explanation of common eye conditions

AUSTIN EYE CLINIC
AUSTIN LASER AND REFRACTIVE CENTER

New and Emerging Technologies

Refractive Surgical Procedures are rapidly evolving and improving over time. As technology improves with time, so will our ability to correct your vision.

WHAT IS AN "IMPLANTABLE COLLAMER LENS (ICL)?" IS AN ICL BETTER THAN LASIK?
Implantable Collamer Lenses (ICL) such as the Visian ICL are special lenses that can be placed inside the eye to correct vision. An ICL (aka Phakic Intraocular lens (IOL)) is inserted into the eye in front of the natural lens within the eye. ICLs are capable of correcting individuals with high amounts of near or far-sightedness beyond the range of LASIK (more than -12.00 diopters myopia). Additionally ICL’s can correct lower amounts of near/farsightedness for individuals who are not suitable candidates for corneal surgery. The first ICL’s received FDA approval in 2004.

Austin Eye Clinic is certified to use the Visian ICL. For more information about the Visian ICL, click here: www.visianinfo.com

ICL's advantages compared with LASIK:

  1. Ability to treat extreme myopia (more than -12.00 diopters myopia).
  2. "Reversibility" since the lens can be removed from the eye if needed.
  3. Ability to correct near/farsightedness for individuals who are not safe candidates for laser vision correction.

ICL's disadvantages compared with LASIK:

  1. Potential to cause premature cataract development during or after surgery.
  2. Increased risk for complications of structures inside the eye such as the retina or cornea.

SURGICAL REVERSAL OF PRESBYOPIA - THE NEED FOR READING GLASSES AFTER AGE 40.
As we age, the muscles inside the eye that allow us to focus on objects close-up (eg computer screens and fine newspaper print) grow weaker. Before age 40, the eye can comfortably focus far and near. Then sometime after age 40, the focusing muscles become weak enough that the eye experiences noticeable difficulty re-focusing on fine-print when reading. Presbyopia prevents individuals from reading comfortably without reading glasses (these individuals commonly push reading materials away to read them until "their arms get too short." This difficulty that 100% of individuals experience sometime after age 40, called "Presbyopia," will soon be correctable by a minor surgical procedure called "Surgical Reversal of Presbyopia (SRP). SRP involves the insertion of "Scleral Expansion Bands" into the sclera, or white of the eye. Scleral Expansion Bands are made of tiny segments of a special polymer (polymethylmethacrylate, PMMA) that are inserted under the surface of the eye. They allow the focusing muscles to regain their strength, thus allowing the eye to read again without glasses.

This exciting new technology is under Phase 2 FDA studies.

For more information about SRP laser, visit their website: www.refocus-group.com.

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