LASIK Los Angeles ICL-Implantable Contact Lens
For the best alternatives to LASIK laser eye surgery in Los Angeles it is important to visit a California board certified eye surgeon to diagnose the correct LASIK eye surgery treatment for your custom lasik requirements. If you are looking into the best costs/prices of LASIK alternatives in Los Angeles, Orange County call us for a free appointment to find out what are the best LASIK options for you.
Implantable Contact Lens
Refractive Lens Exchange
Corneal Refractive Therapy (non-surgical)
ICL Cross Section |
Insertion of Implantable Contact Lens |
Finished Contact Lens Implant |
Implantable lenses (ICL) are a surgical alternative to LASIK. Because ICL do not require tissue to be removed from the eye, as with LASIK and other laser procedures, Implantable Contact Lenses are the perfect treatment for extreme nearsight or farsight, in which laser vision correction is not recommended. It is a FDA approved procedure in which a unique lens, similar to a contact lens, is permanently placed in the posterior chamber of the eye, without altering the interior structure. The lens can easily be removed or replaced if required.
WHAT TO EXPECT IMMEDIATELY AFTER LENS IMPLANTATION
Vision is instantly improved, though there may be a feeling of mild scratchiness. Most patients are able to resume driving and return to work within a day. You cannot feel the lenses inside the eye.
RISK OF LENS IMPLANTATION
As with any surgical procedure, complications are rare but can occur following implantation of phakic IOLs such as increased chance of retinal detachment, loss of cells in the thin layer inside the cornea (endothelium), inflammation, infection and CATARACTS .
RLE – REFRACTIVE LENS EXCHANGE
For eyes with cataracts or not suitable for LASIK – Laser Vision Correction, this procedure is similar to the standard micro-incision cataract surgery in which an artificial lens is used. Intraocular lens implants (IOLs) are designed to reside in the eye and replace the natural lens to provide freedom from spectacles. Since reading glasses are still required for most patients, new multifocal and accommodative IOLs have been developed which enable patients to see at a range of distances— thus potentially eliminating the need for reading glasses.
CRT – Corneal Refractive Eye Therapy
Patients who are not candidates for laser vision correction, including those less than 18 years of age, can consider a revolutionary corrective gas permeable lens, which can be worn while sleeping. This innovative, non-surgical method gently reduces nearsightedness and astigmatism and provides freedom from glasses or contacts during the day.
WHAT TO EXPECT WITH CORNEAL REFRACTIVE EYE THERAPY (CRT)
Careful measurements of both your refractive error and map the curvature of the eye will be done to fit you with the best lens. The nearsightedness will be reduced after one night, but may take 1-2 weeks to reach the maximum correction. During this time, you may need weaker glasses or contact lenses to function. The effect of the correction will wear off towards the end of the day initially, but will last longer the longer you continue wearing the lenses at night. Usually the effect is stable for a 24-hour period in 2-3 weeks.
FAQ – CORNEAL REFRACTIVE THERAPY
Is CRT Permanent?
No. It’s temporary. If you stop wearing the lenses regularly while you sleep, your vision will return to its original state in as little as 72 hours.
Can everyone wear CRT?
This lens is designed for individuals with low to moderate nearsightedness (up to –6.00 diopters) with or without astigmatism (up to –1.75 diopters). The maximum treatment for any given eye is dependent on several patient dependent features. Our doctors can assess your eyes and give you an idea what to expect. At this time, hyperopia (farsightedness) is not correctable with CRT.
What do I do to see adequately in the period of time between when I start CRT and when I achieve full treatment?
It’s important to understand that for a time after you have begun treatment, but before sufficient treatment is achieved, your old glasses or contacts will no longer be the appropriate prescription. It may involve wearing your CRT lenses for part of the day or some use of temporary soft lenses in different prescriptions as an option. Our doctors will discuss your options for visual correction during that transitional period of time.
Are there any risks involved with wearing Paragon CRT?
There is a small risk involved when any contact lens is worn. The risk between regular wear contacts lenses and CRT is similar – the risk is low with proper care for the lenses. There were no serious adverse events reported in the CRT FDA clinical studies.
Can I see with my CRT lenses in?
Yes. One of the great features of the CRT lens is that if you have to get up in the middle of the night, you will be able to see where you are going. Or, if during the initial treatment phase, you find you need some form of vision correction, you can wear your CRT lenses and see clearly.
How often will I have to replace my CRT lenses?
Generally speaking the CRT lenses will have to be replaced once a year. However, depending on factors such as protein build-up, how well the lenses are taken care of, etc., the lenses may have to be replaced more frequently.
Is Corneal Refractive Therapy painful?
The therapy is not painful. Initially, you may have a slight awareness of the therapeutic lens. You will not feel the lenses when you sleep and there is no sense of physical corneal change…. just visual improvement when the lenses are removed. For more details about Los Angeles lasik surgery and laser eye surgery options contat us tof a free appointment.