Verisyse™ Phakic Intraocular Lens (IOL)

The Verisyse™ Phakic Intraocular Lens (IOL) can be implanted temporarily or permanently in the eye to improve vision in patients with moderate to severe nearsightedness. Many of these patients are not candidates for other corrective treatments such as LASIK, and are resigned to wearing thick glasses or contact lenses.

The cornea acts a lens in the front of the eye, bending light rays so that they focus on the retina. In nearsighted patients the cornea is elongated or steepened, so light rays focus in front of the retina and patients suffer from blurry vision. The Verisyse™ IOL is implanted on the iris behind the cornea to correct the way light is focused and to improve vision. The cornea is left in place to retain the ability to focus between near and distant objects. The procedure is outpatient and takes 15-30 minutes under local anesthesia.

Diagram of an eye with the Verisyse™ Phakic IOL

The Verisyse™ IOL has been used in over 150,000 procedures worldwide with precise and predictable results. The lenses are made with PMMA, the material used in cataract surgery for the last 50 years. Please schedule an appointment or consultation to find out if the Verisyse™ lens is right for you. Candidates should be over 21, have good eye health and stable vision, and should not be pregnant or nursing.

Crystalens™

Crystalens™ is a new cataract replacement lens (IOL) that works naturally with muscles in the eye to retain the eye's ability to "accommodate" – shift focus between nearby and distant objects – after cataract surgery. With other IOLs, patients lose this ability and require corrective measures such as glasses or contact lenses.

Unlike rigid lenses, the flexible silicone Crystalens™ features hinges that allow it to move with the eye’s muscles and accommodate seamlessly, thereby reducing or eliminating the need for vision correction.

The Crystalens™ is implanted using the same, nearly risk-free cataract surgery techniques as with other IOLs.

Most people with cataracts or who have had corneal refractive surgery and retained good eye health are acceptable candidates for Crystalens™ implantation, but those who have already had cataract surgery are not. People with eye health problems such as chronic infections or diabetes should check with their doctors about eligibility.

Conductive Keratoplasty (CK^sm)

Conductive Keratoplasty (CK^sm) is a safe, non-laser, FDA-approved technique to eliminate or eradicate farsightedness and presbyopia.

Because of the flatness of the cornea, farsightedness is the most difficult disorder to treat with LASIK and the most likely to cause post-LASIK complications such as dry eye, hazy vision, light sensitivity or poor quality of vision.

CK^SM makes the cornea steeper and
increases it's focusing power

Until recently, only nearsighted patients have had many different procedures available to them that could be used to correct their vision problems, such as LASIK and PRK. Now, one of the first non-laser procedures for farsightedness, CK^sm (Conductive Keratoplasty), has been developed to address the symptoms and problems of the farsighted patient.

CK^sm is one of the first procedures designed specifically for the millions of people with hyperopia. Instead of a scalpel or a laser, CK^sm uses a probe as thin as a strand of human hair to release radio-frequency energy, treating your farsightedness without cutting or removing tissue. CK^sm reshapes the cornea by using a controlled release of radio-frequency energy to shrink the corneal tissue, steepening the cornea and changing the way the eye focuses light. The radio-frequency energy is applied in a circular pattern, causing a peripheral constriction and a relative central lengthening of the eye.

As the first FDA approved method for treating hyperopia, CK^sm is safer and less invasive than the LASIK procedure. It's quick -- less than three minutes per eye, using a topical anesthetic. With minimal post-operative discomfort, return of vision is almost immediate.

CK^sm is for those who:

are tired of reading glasses
have difficulty with close vision
are at least 40 years of age
have not had a significant change in their distance vision for one year
have no health issues affecting their eyes
have not had previous vision correction surgery
are not pregnant or nursing

Realistic expectations:
The decision to have CK^sm is an important one that only you can make. The goal of any refractive surgical procedure is to reduce your dependence on corrective lenses. However, we cannot guarantee you will have the results you desire.

Because CK^sm is minimally invasive, the procedure has exhibited very minimal risk and almost no side effects. During the first 24 to 48 hours after CK^sm, you may experience tearing and some discomfort. You may also experience slight over-correction of your vision, which stabilizes during the following weeks. If you are a good candidate, you will be given additional information about the procedure that will allow you to make an informed decision about whether to proceed. Be sure you have all your questions answered to your satisfaction.

Intacs® Corneal Implants

A new FDA approved option for keratoconus filling the gap between contact lenses and a corneal transplant! Keratoconus is a progressive eye disease, which causes a thinning of the cornea, the clear front surface of the eye. As keratoconus progresses, the quality of one's vision deteriorates and contact lenses or glasses no longer become a satisfactory solution for most people. For many, an invasive corneal transplant was the only option – until now! Intacs prescription inserts are an exciting new option between contacts and a corneal transplant that may be the best possible option to stabilize the cornea and improve vision.

Intacs prescription inserts are indicated for use in the correction of nearsightedness and astigmatism for patients with Keratoconus, where contact lenses and glasses are no longer suitable.

Intacs prescription inserts are approved by the FDA for keratoconus under a Humanitarian Device Exemption (HDE).

Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty)

Blepharoplasty can rejuvenate puffy, sagging or tired-looking eyes by removing excess fat, skin and muscle from the upper and lower eyelids. It may be performed for cosmetic reasons or to improve sight by lifting droopy eyelids out of the patient's field of vision. Blepharoplasty can be combined with BOTOX® treatments to raise the eyebrows or reduce the appearance of wrinkles, crow's feet or dark circles under the eyes.

The procedure is usually performed in an office with local anesthesia and lasts 45 minutes to a few hours depending on how much work is done. Incisions are made along the eyelids in inconspicuous places (in the creases of the upper lids, and just below the lashes on the lower lids). The surgeon removes excess tissue through these incisions and then stitches them closed with fine sutures. In the case that no skin needs to be removed, the surgeon will likely perform a transconjunctival blepharoplasty, where the incision is made inside the lower eyelid and there are no visible scars.

Ptosis Repair

Ptosis is a condition in which the eyelid droops. It is caused by a weakness or separation of muscles deep within the eyelid. Ptosis does not involve excess skin or tissue in the eyelid (a condition called dermatochalasis). It is usually a result of aging, but some people develop ptosis after eye surgery or an injury, and some children are born with the condition. A brief surgical procedure can eliminate the drooping. Many young patients with mild to moderate ptosis do not need surgery early in life. Patients who are also suffering from excess skin may choose to undergo blepharoplasty at the same time as ptosis repair. Children with ptosis should be examined regularly to check for other vision problems including amblyopia ("lazy eye"), refractive errors and muscular diseases.