Visian ICL™ versus
Verisyse™ (Artisan) Phakic Intraocular Lens, LASIK, and PRK
– Complications and Benefits
There is always some
degree of risk associated with any surgery and refractive
procedures are no different. Corneal refractive surgery and
the implantation of phakic IOLs have both individual and
shared features and risks. For zexample, LASIK and PRK share
complications like dry eyes, but only LASIK has the risk of
corneal flap complication. Similarly, Visian ICL
(Implantable Collamer® Lens) and the Verisyse phakic
intraocular lens are each implanted into the eye, but each
has a different lens placement. Below, the similarities and
differences of refractive procedures are outline.
Similarities of All
Refractive Procedures
All refractive procedures
are designed to improve some degree of refractive error,
which may include nearsightedness,
farsightedness, or astigmatism. In addition to sharing the
common goal of improvement of vision, the procedures also
share possible risks.
Some possible
complications shared by all refractive procedures include:
- Overcorrection
- Undercorrection
- Infection
- A continued degree of refractive error
Corneal
Refractive Surgery: LASIK and PRK
Both LASIK and PRK are
laser eye surgeries used to correct myopia
(nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and
astigmatism by reshaping the cornea. Because of the
similarity between the procedures, PRK and LASIK share
additional possible complications.
Some shared possible
LASIK and PRK complications include:
- Post-PRK or LASIK dry
eyes
- Glare and halos surrounding lights (especially at
night)
- Difficulty seeing in low-light situations
PRK Complications
In addition to the shared
risks listed above, there are other possible PRK
complications.
Delayed Healing
Because PRK surgery
requires that the outer layer of the cornea be removed prior
to the procedure, there is an increased healing time for the
eye. The recovery during the first few days after surgery
may be more painful than LASIK recovery, due to the removal
of the epithelial cells.
Other Complications
Additional PRK
complications include an increased sensitivity to light and
the development of corneal haze. Corneal haze is a
gray-white opacity that develops where the cornea was
reshaped. In most cases, the haze will disappear within nine
months; however, some occurrences of corneal haze do not
disappear.
Comparison of Phakic IOLs
The Visian ICL and
the Verisyse (Artisan) P-IOL are each a phakic intraocular
lens approved by the FDA for vision correction.
View the potential risks and
complications of the phakic IOLs.
Both phakic intraocular
lens implants:
- Correct vision by
complementing the eye's natural lens rather than
replacing it.
- Are able to correct a broader range of
nearsightedness than LASIK, including severe myopia (up
to -20 diopters of nearsightedness).
- Are referred to as implantable contact lenses (ICLs).
- Are removable if necessary.
- Contain an ultraviolet filter.
The Visian ICL and
Verisyse (Artisan) Phakic Intraocular Lens Differences
Although the Visian
ICL and the Verisyse (Artisan) phakic intraocular lens share
some characteristics, there are several notable distinctions
between the lenses. These differences include:
- Lens placement – The Verisyse (Artisan)
phakic intraocular lens clips onto the iris and is
visible to everyone, while the Visian ICL is placed in
the posterior chamber making it invisible to the naked
eye.
- Lens material – The Visian ICL is made from
Collamer;
Verisyse (Artisan) P-IOL is made from a plastic called
polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). The Collamer material is
only found in STAAR products, including the Visian ICL.
Because the material contains a small amount of collagen
it is uniquely biocompatible.
- Flexibility – The Visian ICL is foldable,
thereby requiring a smaller, self-healing incision. The
Verisyse (Artisan) phakic intraocular lens requires
small sutures to close a larger incision. The small
incision required with the Visian ICL does not induce
astigmatism.
- Procedure time – The Visian ICL requires a
short outpatient procedure that can be completed within
15 minutes. The Verisyse (Artisan) P-IOL requires a
longer surgery since it requires an incision that is
more than twice the length of the Visian ICL's incision.
- Treatment range – The Visian ICL offers
treatment of a wider range of myopia (-3.0D to -20.0D
