Visian ICL and CK Surgery

Inland Empire CK and Visian ICL Surgeons

Implantable contact lenses can be an excellent alternative to standard contact lenses. The Visian ICL (Implantable Collamer ® Lens) procedure is offered by leading Southern California ophthalmologists Robert Fabricant, M.D., F.A.C.S. and Richmond Roeske, M.D. Certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology (ABO), both of our doctors remain on the forefront of vision correction technology at the Pacific Eye Institute Laser Center.

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Visian ICL (Implantable Collamer® Lens), casually known as an implantable contact lens) takes away the hassle and difficulty of wearing contact lenses! Collamer lenses have been safely implanted in approximately 80,000 eyes nationwide.

It can treat all levels of myopia (nearsightedness), including people who:

• Have difficulty making out faces in crowd
• Have an eye glass prescriptions between -3D and -20D
• Need to sit at the front of movie theaters to see the screen
• Cannot clearly read highway signs when driving
• Visian ICL can also be performed on patients who may not qualify for LASIK eye surgery.

What is Myopia?

Myopia is a vision disorder that we commonly call nearsightedness. People who are myopic can see things that are close, but have difficulty seeing things that are far away. This is due to the elongated shape of the eye. This elongation causes incoming light to improperly focus on the retina (the back of the eye), where it is converted into a signal that lets us see.

What is CK surgery?

CK (conductive keratoplasty) is used in the treatment of the "aging eye" condition (presbyopia). NearVision CK ® is trusted by Inland Empire CK surgeons Dr. Fabricant and Dr. Roeske.

Candidates for NearVision CK may be:

• Over 40 years old
• Using reading glasses
• Impaired in their night vision
• Experiencing eye fatigue

How does Visian ICL work?

Visian ICL is a contact lens that is inserted into your eyes. Once implanted, Visian ICL properly focuses the light on the retina; this means that you will be able to see both near and far. It is similar to cataract surgery, except the crystalline lens in the eye is not removed.

Who are ideal patients for Visian ICL?

Ideal patients are nearsighted adults between the ages of 21 and 45, and who have only had minor changes to their eye glass prescription. Patients who have minor astigmatisms, thin corneas, or dry eyes may also be good candidates.

Because a lens will be implanted into the eye, it is important the patients have healthy eyes, and be free from any eye disorders. Because different forms of medicated eye solutions will be used, patients with medication allergies must be screened beforehand.

Finally as with all procedures, it is important that patients have realistic desires for the outcome of this procedure. It is also important that the patient not be pregnant.

What will happen during the actual procedure?

Prior to your Visian ICL procedure, a complete eye examination and eye measurements will be taken to see if it is suitable for you. During the weeks leading up to the procedure, you will be prescribed special eye drops.

Before the Visian ICL is implanted, a YAG laser iridotomy will be performed to allow fluid to circulate around the soon-to-be implanted lens. During this step, eye drops are administered to numb your eye to minimize discomfort. Using a laser, one or two small incisions will be made on the edge of the iris (the colored part of your eye).

On the day of the implantation, eye drops to numb your eyes will also be used; if needed, a mild sedative can be given to anxious patients. Next, a small incision will be made to the cornea and a gel-like solution will be added to protect your eye during the procedure. The lens will be inserted through the incisions, and once in place, the gel will be removed. (Prior to surgery, your ICL will be selected based on your individual prescription.) Finally, eye drops will be used to prevent infection and inflammation.

Recovery

You will not be able to drive immediately after the procedure, so you will need someone to take you home. In order to prevent any complications, patients are to use eye drops several days following the Visian ICL procedure. You will need to have a follow-up visit to ensure that you are not suffering from any eye problems; this is done to monitor the condition of your eye. It may take some time before the full benefits arise.

Potential Risks

There are rare but serious risks associated with the YAG laser iridotomy. These risks include: damage to the cornea or lens of your eye, bleeding, inflammation, and an accumulation of pressure in your eye or scar formation.

There are also risks associated with Visian ICL. Some of these risks include eye pain, infection, over correction/ under correction of your vision, decrease of vision acuity. Another risk is halos or night glare, which can be lessened with additional procedures. If severe problems persist, ICLs can be safely taken out.

At our Southern California laser center, patients of Dr. Fabricant and Dr. Roeske have enjoyed tremendous success with Visian ICL and other corrective procedures! We encourage you to read testimonials from some very grateful patients!

If you are ready to take the next step in vision correction and believe you may be a candidate for Visian ICL, a free consultation with Dr. Fabricant or Dr. Roeske is an ideal way to begin your process. At our offices in the Inland Empire, CK surgery and other non-LASIK options are available as well. Call the Pacific Eye Institute Laser Center at any of our Southern California locations for details!

To schedule your free consultation, please call one of our following convenient locations: in Upland, (909) 982-8846, in Rancho Cucamonga, (909) 945-9400, in Victorville, at (760) 241-6366 or (760) 381-8806, and in Barstow, (760) 256-8014. You may also use our online contact form. We will be glad to help you!