New procedure seen as powerful tool for correction of myopia

Those who aren't candidates for laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) surgery shouldn't give up hope.

The Kellogg Eye Center is one of a handful of eye centers in Michigan offering a new vision-correction procedure that involves implantable lenses, called phakic intraocular lenses (IOLs), which are surgically inserted into the eye. Once in place, the lenses provide significant improvement in the quality of vision.

Kellogg surgeons are using the new Visian Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL), which is the most recent phakic IOL to gain approval from the U. S. Food and Drug Administration. The Visian ICL has been proven effective in patients with a wide range of myopia, or nearsightedness.

"This is a great procedure for all those people who have not proven to be good candidates for LASIK surgery," says Dr. Shahzad Mian, corneal and refractive surgeon at Kellogg. "Typically, these patients have had to wear thick lenses to correct very high degrees of myopia. Now we can offer them an alternative with potential for excellent quality of vision."

In addition to correcting high degrees of myopia, phakic IOLs offer several other advantages: They may work for patients who are not candidates for LASIK due to corneal irregularity or thinness, they are less likely to cause or contribute to dry eyes, and the surgery is completely reversible.

To date, more than 55,000 people worldwide have had the Visian ICL implanted. Candidates for the procedure are patients who suffer from myopia and typically are between the ages of 21 and 45. This surgery, however, still may be an option for those over age 45.

The procedure is very similar to cataract surgery, which is the most commonly performed eye surgery in the United States. The big difference, however, is that the Visian ICL does not replace the eye's natural lens, but instead is placed behind the iris.

The incision required to implant the Visian ICL is small and is located at the far edge of the cornea. After the lens is in place, sutures typically are not necessary to close the incision. The procedure requires no structural alteration of the cornea or lens, reducing complications. A typical procedure takes 15-30 minutes and is done on an outpatient basis.

More Stories

• Leaders create Pfizer action teams, receive $1 million
• U adopts robust role in boosting Michigan's economic recovery
• Active U challenges andinvigorates, participants say
• New model explains ups and downs of flu epidemics
• New protein database will aid disease research
• Exhibit shows how U scientists have been warming up for climate change discussion
• Spotlight: Nurse saves lives one flight at a time
• Intellectually stimulated children less likely to get spanked
• Say what? Library puts English language history online
• Program underscores pledge to a welcoming climate
• Poor white women with mental woes seek treatment
• Subsidy aids child care needs
• Institute changes name, maintains mission
• U adopts robust role in boosting Michigan's economic recovery
• New procedure seen as powerful tool for correction of myopia
• Expert to tackle issue of bystander behavior
• Turning green gunk to gold, anti-cancer gold
• Transfusions may raise infection risk for heart surgery patients, particularly women
• Complex systems bring success to problem solving
• Researchers compete for NASA Mars mission
• Don't Miss
• Photo: Students explore resistance through art
• Photo: Snow Scenes at Bentley through Mar. 31
• Photo: UMS brings Bell to Hill Feb. 3
• Photo: Top journalists, government officials address increased press restrictions