WHAT IF LASER TREATMENT WILL NOT WORK FOR YOU? - THE ARTISAN INTRAOCULAR LENS AND LENSECTOMY
Most people who need glasses or contact lenses to see clearly may have LASIK or LASEK laser treatment to correct their vision. However laser treatment does not work for people who need very strong glasses. If your glasses prescription is more than about -9 dioptres (shortsighted person) or about +4 dioptres (longsighted person) there are two ways of correcting your vision:
The Artisan Intraocular Lens
The Artisan Intraocular Lens alters the focus of the eye and may correct even the most severe short sight. It is a tiny focusing lens which is inserted into the eye through a keyhole incision. Once inserted it is held permanently in place on the iris (coloured part) of the eye by special attachments. It works together with the eye's natural lens which is not removed.
The Artisan Intraocular Lens is appropriate for persons under the age of about 45 whose short sight is too great for LASIK or LASEK treatment.
No aftercare or cleaning is needed other than medicated eye drops for a few weeks after insertion. The correction is permanent. The Artisan Intraocular Lens is invisible inside the eye. The procedure may be done under local or general anaesthetic. Long term follow-up by a suitably qualified person is required after Artisan Intraocular Lens insertion.
As will all vision correction procedures there is a small risk. This subject will be discussed in detail before you decide to have treatment.
In this very short
sighted eye the
image is focused in front of the retina
The Artisan Intraocular
Lens is placed
in the eye where it is attached to the iris.
The image is now focused on to the retina
The Artisan is inserted inside the eye and securely attached to the iris (right).
It is invisible under normal circumstances
Lensectomy
This procedure may correct any degree of short or long sight no matter how severe. Lensectomy is the removal of the natural lens of the eye and its replacement by a new, artificial focusing lens. The new lens is smaller than a fingertip and is inserted through a keyhole incision into the space previously occupied by the natural lens.
Lensectomy is similar to cataract surgery. It is appropriate for persons older than about 45 who are too short or long sighted for LASIK. It may sometimes also be used for very long sighted persons younger than 45. The procedure may be done under local or general anaesthetic. Astigmatism is corrected during the same procedure using a technique called 'Astigmatic Keratotomy'.
Medicated eyedrops are necessary for a few weeks after insertion. The correction is permanent. The new lens is normally invisible inside the eye.
As with all vision correction procedures there is a small risk. This subject will be discussed in detail before you decide to have treatment.
In this very short
sighted eye the
image is focused in front of the retina
In
Lensectomy the natural (grey) lens of the eye is removed
and replaced by an artificial (blue in this drawing) intraocular lens.
The image is now focused onto the retina
