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The FDA approved the first implantable lens for nearsightedness, giving people in Indianapolis with extremely poor eyesight a new way to see the world around them. The lens is attached to the iris or colored part of the eye and is an alternative to glasses, contact lenses and LASIK surgery. Dr. Price participated in the approval study and has implanted over 100 of these newly approved lenses over the past 6 years.
This lens has been used in Europe for 17 years and is manufactured by Ophtec USA Inc., of Boca Raton, Fla., under the trade name Artisan. Advanced Medical Optics will distribute it under the Verisyse brand name in North America. During surgery Dr. Price slips the tiny lens through a small incision and attaches it to the iris to hold it in place. Similar to a photographer bringing a camera lens into focus, the plastic lens helps create sharper images.
The implantable lens comes in different powers to fit the patient's needs. The lens provides crisp and clear vision especially to those who have high myopia. 92 percent of the 662 study patients who had moderate or severe nearsightedness ended up with 20/40 or better vision. Over half of the study patients could see better after receiving the Verisyse lens than they could ever see with glasses or contact lenses. Some people may still need glasses for night driving and other activities preformed in low light conditions even after the surgical procedure. There's a risk of cataracts or infection with the procedure, but none of the patients in the U.S trials at our center developed cataracts. People with thick glasses and corneas that are too thin for LASIK are among the best candidates for the new implantable lens. The procedure costs approximately $3,000 per eye.
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