Eye Procedure Helps Correct Extreme Nearsightedness
Published: June 24, 2005
Laser vision correction has helped thousands of people see better, but not everyone who wants it can have it.
One factor that may rule a person out is extreme nearsightedness, but a lens that may help has recently been made available in the United States, thanks to the Food and Drug Administration.
The Verisyse lens has been offered to thousands of patients in other countries who aren’t eligible for Lasik. The recent approval by the FDA in the United States is already making a difference for some very nearsighted Northern Californians.
Robert Keene, a heavy equipment mechanic who has had major vision problems all his life, used to wear “coke bottle” glasses.
“I never got into sports while I was in school because of my eyes. And as far as work, it seems like I had to try harder than anybody else because of my eyes,” Keene said.
A laser could correct Keene’s astigmatism — the flaws on his cornea — but it can’t correct his badly misshapen eyes. In the past, surgical options have been too risky, but now, the Verisyse Phakic implant lens is available.
“This implant lens has a big advantage over Lasik in treating somebody who is hugely nearsighted,” said ophthalmologist Dr. Lewis Bliss. “Now obviously, it entails a different set of risks because we are going inside the eye to perform the surgery, as opposed to just on the surface with Lasik.”
With Verisyse, all structures of the eye remain intact, according to Lewis. During the operation, Bliss slips the lenses into the space behind the cornea and on top of the iris. Two little clips hold the lens in place, using bits of tissue from the iris.
“I’ve never felt not one iota of pain,” Keene said.
Keene may never have 20/20 vision, but with the lenses in place, he is now eligible for Lasik to correct the astigmatism. Once that’s done, he’ll be able to pass a driving test without using any glasses.
“One of the great things about this era in ophthalmology is that we have so many wonderful tools where if we have en eye with multiple problems, we can customize the treatment,” Bliss said.
Verisyse costs about $4,000 an eye. At this point, insurance doesn’t cover it. Patients are having to pay out of pocket.
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