During your research of the Visian ICL vision correction and other refractive surgery procedures, you may come across unfamiliar terminology. To help you as you learn more about the Visian implantable Collamer lens, STAAR® Surgical Company provides the following glossary:
The anterior chamber is the space in the eye that is between the cornea and the iris.
Astigmatically neutral surgery is a vision correction procedure in which a small incision is used. This incision (3.0 mm or smaller) does not alter the curvature of the cornea and, therefore, has a reduced chance of causing induced astigmatism. The Visian ICL procedure is astigmatically neutral.
Astigmatism is a common vision problem caused by a misshapen cornea or lens.
Biocompatibility is the ability of a substance to be biologically compatible with living tissue. Collamer is biocompatible with the eye's natural tissue because its presence does not produce a toxic or injurious reaction.
Collamer is an advanced lens material created for exclusive use by STAAR Surgical Company. Collamer is a graft collagen copolymer. Because of its significant biocompatibility, it is used in several of STAAR Surgical Company's ICL and IOL models.
A contraindication is a factor (like dry eyes, pregnancy, comprised immune system, etc.) that makes a medical procedure not a good choice for a patient.
The cornea is the outermost layer of the eye, which covers the iris and the pupil.
A corneal flap is a section of tissue from the outer layer of the cornea that is temporarily folded back during LASIK surgery.
A corneal refractive procedure is a vision correction procedure that alters the cornea. LASIK and PRK are examples of this type of procedure.
The crystalline lens is the eye's natural lens, which is located behind the iris. Its main function is to focus light on the retina.
Dry eye syndrome, or dry eyes, is a common eye condition in which the eye does not produce enough natural lubrication. LASIK and PRK may increase the chance of developing temporary or prolonged dry eye syndrome.
Farsightedness, also called hyperopia, is a condition in which a person can see distant objects better than near objects.
FDA is the acronym for the Food and Drug Administration, a U.S. governmental agency that regulates medical devices, drugs, food, and other products.
Hyperopia, also called farsightedness, is a condition in which people can see far objects very well, but have trouble seeing objects that are close up. Hyperopia is caused by light rays focusing behind the eye's retina instead of on it.
ICL is the acronym for implantable Collamer lens. The term ICL is also sometimes used for implantable contact lens. The Visian ICL is FDA-approved to treat myopia.
Induced astigmatism is astigmatism caused by eye surgery. It may be seen in the increase of existing astigmatism or it may be a new occurrence of astigmatism.
An intraocular lens, or IOL, is an artificial lens that is implanted, usually during cataract surgery, to replace the eye's natural crystalline lens. Intraocular lenses can be made from acrylic, silicone, and Collamer and may be designed as a one-piece lens or a multipiece lens.
IOL is the acronym for intraocular lens.
The iris is the colored part of the eye. Its primary function is to control the amount of light that enters the eye.
LASIK, which stands for Laser-Assisted In-Situ Keratomileusis, is laser correction surgery that reshapes the cornea in order to correct myopia, hyperopia, or astigmatism.
A microkeratome is a surgical blade used to form a corneal flap during ALK and LASIK, to make an incision in the cornea during cataract procedures, and to create the incision for Visian ICL implantation.
Myopia, also called nearsightedness, is a condition in which people can see near objects very well, but have trouble seeing distant objects. Myopia is caused by light rays focusing on a point in front of the eye's retina instead of on it.
Nearsightedness, also called myopia, is a condition in which a person can see near objects better than distant objects.
The term "phakic" refers to the natural crystalline lens. A "phakic" individual is one who has their natural lens intact. A phakic IOL then, is an intraocular lens that is in the eye of an individual who has their natural lens intact.
Photorefractive keratectomy, or PRK, is a corrective laser eye surgery used to correct myopia, hyperopia, or astigmatism. Unlike LASIK, PRK does not involve the creation of a corneal flap.
The posterior chamber is the space in the eye that is between the crystalline lens and the iris.
Presbyopia is an age-related eye condition in which the eye's ability to focus on near objects diminishes. Presbyopia is often confused with hyperopia, but unlike farsightedness, presbyopia is caused by a loss of flexibility in the eye, not an irregularly shaped eyeball.
PRK is the acronym for photorefractive keratectomy.
Refractive surgery refers to a surgical procedure that is designed to reduce or eliminate dependency on corrective eyewear. Common refractive surgical procedures include phakic IOL (including the Visian ICL) implantation, LASIK, and PRK.
A toric implantable lens is an ICL used for correction of myopia with astigmatism. The Visian Toric ICL™, which like the Visian ICL is made from Collamer, is currently under review from the FDA for use in the United States, but is already being used outside of the United States.
A YAG laser iridotomy is a procedure in which a beam from a YAG laser is used to produce a small hole in the iris. Typically used to reduce intraocular pressure for glaucoma treatment, the laser iridotomy is also used prior to ICL implant surgery to allow fluid to circulate around the ICL.
To learn more about the Visian ICL, contact STAAR Surgical Company today or find a myopia eye doctor who is familiar with the Collamer lens.
For more information on the Collamer-based Visian ICL, contact STAAR Surgical Company today.