"I have really high myopia ( -19D in left eye and -20D in right eye) and have used hard contacts until now - unfortunately I’ve developed an intolerance towards them. I've never heard of anyone with myopia this high and I'm really worried about my treatment options. Do you have any input or useful information?" - Cassie
Dear Cassie,
Fortunately, implantable collamer lenses (known sometimes as implantable contact lens) can now help people who have moderate to severe myopia (nearsightedness). The only possible surgical option for you is called the Visian ICL implantable collamer lens (also known medically as a phakic intraocular lens (IOL)) and they come in a powers as high as about -20D! Getting the procedure would give you the freedom of seeing when you wake up in the middle of the night.
What is the Visian ICL?
Studies have found that ICL surgery is as safe as LASIK. It's designed for people aged 21 to 45 years who have stable vision. You are a candidate for this lens if you have a myopia correction from -3 to -20 diopters. Neither lens treats astigmatism, an eye problem that often accompanies nearsightedness. So you must have astigmatism of 2.5 diopters or less to be a candidate for these two lenses. However, some doctors have implanted the Visian ICL and used LASIK to treat the remaining astigmatism.
Why can’t I just get LASIK?
“Patients who are above -10 diopters or -11 diopters (which is considered severe myopia) often can't get enough correction with a LASIK procedure.” says James J. Salz, MD, clinical professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Southern California. Additionally, LASIK is not for everyone. People with severe dry eyes, certain corneal diseases, and other select eye conditions should not undergo LASIK.
Satisfied Patients
"My vision was so bad the army wouldn't accept me," says Christiaan Rollich, who was severely nearsighted, not wearing glasses or contacts meant not seeing at all. "If I took out my contacts, I wouldn't be able identify anybody in the room, no matter how close they were."
After getting the Visian ICL, Rollich says,"It's the best money I ever spent, now I have pilot vision -- 20/15. I can do anything I want now. I surf, I do Thai boxing. It's really amazing."
More Stories from Visian ICL Patients
- Black Eyed Pea's Apl.de.Ap
- Mark Yeatman
- Lucy Tiong
- John Zucaro
- Radio Hostess: Lady La
References:
http://men.webmd.com/features/10-key-facts-to-know...
http://www.webmd.com/eye-health/features/implantab...
http://visianinfo.com