New Option for Severe Nearsightedness

February 28, 2006

There may be a promising option now for those who are simply too nearsighted to benefit from LASIK surgery. Implantable collamer lenses, also known as ICL, have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for alleviating cases of severe myopia, when LASIK doesn't work.

ICL patient Gricella Wozniak claims that her nearsightedness was so extreme that LASIK was not an option for her. "I've been wearing glasses since I was a little girl," commented Wozniak. However, after Wozniak sought implantable collamer lenses under the treatment of ophthalmologist Marian Macsai of Evanston Hospital, she was able to read signs without the help of glasses.

During ICL surgery, the patient is sedated and the eye is numbed. The artificial lens is then folded into a cartridge and placed under the patient's cornea on top of the eye's natural lens.

"These are people who can't see their children in the pool. They could not find the bathroom in a hotel at night. They could not get out of their house alone in case of fire without their glasses," commented Dr. Macsai in reference to ICL patients.

The operation takes only 15 minutes and the recovery time is short. Wozniak claims she wore a protective eye cover for one night following the procedure and the next day she was fine.

Implantable collamer lens treatment was approved by the FDA in December of 2005. So far, side effects have been found to be rare with complications occurring in approximately three percent of ICL patients. Roughly one-in-five patients seeking LASIK surgery for myopia are thought to be suitable candidates for ICL treatment.

Implantable collamer lenses typically cost $5,000 per eye, and are not covered by the majority of insurance companies. Talk to your ophthalmologist to discuss your questions and concerns regarding ICL treatment.

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