2.0 Introduction
The purpose of this post is to help you decide if you want to have the Visian Toric
Implantable Collamer Lens (TICL) placed in one or both of your eyes to treat your
nearsightedness (or myopia) and astigmatism. It is important for you to understand both
the benefits and risks of this surgery before you make a decision. The “Glossary” in this
booklet explains the meaning of all words printed in italics. Please read this entire
booklet carefully and discuss your questions with a doctor who is trained in Visian Toric
ICL surgery.
3.0 What Is Nearsightedness with Astigmatism
Your eye works like a camera. You see objects because your eye focuses light into
images. Both the clear front layer of your eye, called the cornea, and your natural
crystalline lens focuses rays of light onto the back surface of the eye, called the retina.
Diagram 1 shows how an eye with normal vision focuses rays of light onto the retina at
the back of the eye.
Nearsightedness is a focusing error that causes blurrier vision at distance than at near. Light
from an object in the distance focuses in front of the back surface of your eye (retina)
responsible for capturing images, rather than directly on the retina. Your eyeglass prescription
tells your doctor how nearsighted you are. Diagram 2 shows how a nearsighted eye with blurry
vision focuses light at a point in front of the retina.
Glasses and contact lenses can help your eye focus light properly on the retina.
The Visian ICL can also help your eye focus light properly on the retina.
4.0 How Does Visian ICL Correct Nearsightedness?
The Visian ICL is a lens made from a soft plastic and natural collagen-based material called
collamer. It is similar to lenses that are placed in the eye (intraocular lenses) to correct vision
after cataract surgery. The Visian ICL is placed in the eye through a small cut, and is placed
behind the colored part of the eye (iris) and in front of the natural lens (crystalline lens). When
placed correctly, the Visian ICL focuses light properly on the back surface of your eye (retina).
Diagram 3 shows how light is focused in a nearsighted eye that has been implanted with a
Visian ICL.
A diopter (D) is a unit of focusing power used to describe the amount of nearsightedness or
focusing error (astigmatism) in the eye. Visian ICL surgery is designed to treat nearsightedness
between –3D to –15D, and reduce nearsightedness up to -20D in eyes with up to 2.5D of
astigmatism. If you have nearsightedness within these ranges, Visian ICL surgery may improve
your distance vision without eyeglasses or contact lenses.
The Visian ICL will not correct any astigmatism you may have. Astigmatism is a focusing error
of the eye that results in blurred vision. In eyes with astigmatism, the clear front layer of the eye
that lets light enter (cornea) is more curved in some directions than others. This causes light rays
to focus at different points inside the eye and some parts of objects will appear clearer than other
parts. Diagram 4 shows how an eye with astigmatism may focus light.
Visian ICL surgery is permanent as long as the Visian ICL stays in your eye. The Visian ICL can
be removed at a future date. However, the residual effect of the Visian ICL on your eye after it is
removed is not known. If your physician removes the Visian ICL, you will lose the benefit of
your nearsightedness correction. This means that your vision may not return to what it was like
before the Visian ICL surgery.
5.0 Other Treatments to Correct Nearsightedness?
Other treatments for nearsightedness include eyeglasses, contact lenses or other eye surgeries.
Eye surgeries available to correct nearsightedness include Radial Keratotomy (RK),
Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK), Laser Assisted in situ Keratomileusis (LASIK) and Phakic
Intraocular Lens implantation (the Visian ICL is a phakic intraocular lens). These surgeries may
not meet the vision requirements for some careers, such as military service. Eye surgeries can
either change the shape of the front surface of the clear layer at the front of your eye (cornea),
including RK, PRK and LASIK, or require the insertion of a lens into the eye. RK uses a surgical
instrument to make fine cuts in the cornea. PRK and LASIK use a laser to reshape the cornea.
For LASIK, an instrument cuts a thin flap of tissue from the front of your cornea. This corneal
flap is folded back and a laser removes tissue under the flap to change the shape of the cornea.
The flap is then put back in place for the eye to heal.
6.0 Benefits And Risks Of The Visian ICL for Nearsightedness
Benefits
Visian ICL surgery can safely correct nearsightedness between –3D to –15D, and partially
correct nearsightedness up to -20D in eyes with up to 2.5D of astigmatism.
If your eyeglass prescription is in these ranges, the Visian ICL may make your distance vision
without eyeglasses or contact lens correction better. Placing the Visian ICL into the eye requires
surgery, and all eye surgery carries potentially serious risks. Please review this booklet and
discuss the risks with your doctor.
to know more just read https://staar.com/file/FINAL-MICL-PIB-Rev-3.pdf