Implantable Contact Lens

An implantable contact lens is considered a treatment option for patients who are not eligible for LASIK or PRK because of extreme nearsightedness, thin corneas or other conditions.

The implant, technically known as a phakic intraocular lens, is surgically inserted without removing the natural lens.

Implantable lenses are a treatment option for patients with nearsightedness.

Lens types

We offer two types of implantable lens:

Soft lens

The first is a soft, foldable lens made of a polymeric material that resembles the natural collagen of the cornea and is biocompatible with the eye.

During the placement procedure, the surgeon makes a small incision at the edge of the cornea. The lens is folded and carefully inserted into the anterior chamber of the eye and placed behind the iris, the colored part of the eye.

Healing is relatively quick and patients often see immediate improvement in their vision. Most patients don’t feel or notice the lens once it is implanted. The lens is intended to be placed permanently but it can be removed if necessary.

Intraocular lens

The second type is a phakic intraocular lens for patients with moderate to extreme myopia who aren’t good candidates for LASIK surgery.

This type of lens is placed behind the cornea and attached to the iris to give the eye additional focusing ability. Microscopic stitches used to close the incision dissolve over time. After patients recover from surgery, they usually have good distance and near vision.

After a phakic lens implant, most patients no longer need glasses. However, as the patient ages, it is normal for natural lens function to decrease, which may make reading glasses necessary.

Cataracts also may develop over time. If cataract surgery is required later, the phakic implant is removed and the surgery proceeds in a standard manner.