Introducing the Verisyse Phakic ICL: An Overview of Vision Enhancement

This lens is called "phakic" because it's designed to work alongside your eye's natural lens. It doesn't remove or replace your natural lens, which is different from procedures like cataract surgery, where the natural lens is removed. Instead, the phakic ICL is inserted between the iris (the colored part of your eye) and your natural lens.

The purpose of the phakic ICL is to correct the way light enters your eye and focuses on the retina, which can help you see more clearly without the need for glasses or contact lenses. It's a great option for people who want to reduce their dependence on visual aids but don't qualify for LASIK or other refractive surgeries.

The FDA has approved two lenses for phakic lens implantation: the Visian ICL (Staar Surgical) and the Verisyse Phakic IOL (AMO).

A glimpse into the design of the Verisyse phakic ICL 

Unlike ICLs for cataract lens exchange, the Verisyse phakic ICL leaves your natural crystalline lens untouched. The design of the Verisyse lens allows it to sit safely away from the natural lens and the corneal endothelium (inner lining of the cornea).

The lens, fashioned out of medical-grade plastic (polymethyl methacrylate, or PMMA), is rigid and robust. Patients with high myopia (nearsightedness of -5 to -20 diopters) who are ineligible for corneal-reshaping laser vision correction (such as LASIK and PRK) can achieve spectacle independence with this implantable lens.

About the performance and precision of the Verisyse phakic ICL

Given its range for nearsightedness correction, the Verisyse lens offers greatly improved visual acuity for myopic patients.

One study found that patients receiving a phakic intraocular lens surgery had higher contrast sensitivity than patients receiving LASIK for their nearsightedness.

Safety and satisfaction with the Verisyse phakic ICL

In clinical trials of the Verisyse Phakic ICL, patient satisfaction was over 90%.

This is partially due to the unique iris-claw haptic design, which allows the Verisyse lens to affix securely to the iris. When implanted by our skilled surgeons, the lens is held firmly in place by the iris claws. Only about 2% of patients in the Verisyse clinical trials needed to have the lens replaced or readjusted during follow-up appointments.

Potential downsides of the Verisyse phakic ICL 

Like all medical solutions, the Verisyse is not for everyone and does have some potential drawbacks. These can be:

Lens placement 

Because this lens is placed in front of (or behind) the iris rather than in the natural lens pocket, phakic intraocular lens implantation is slightly more complicated than cataract lens replacement. Enclavation — attaching the lens to the iris — requires slightly more surgical finesse than simple intraocular lens implantation as part of cataract surgery.

Astigmatism correction 

While some lens replacement options have toric options for astigmatic patients, the Verisyse is not FDA-approved for astigmatism treatment. Depending on your degree of astigmatism, the Verisyse lens may still improve your vision. Consult with our eye experts to see if the Verisyse phakic lens is appropriate for your eyes.

However, the small incision required for implanting the Verisyse lens does not increase the risk of developing astigmatism in otherwise healthy eyes.

Counterindications 

The Verisyse lens requires an anterior chamber depth of at least 3.2 mm and a sufficient endothelial cell count. Some patients experience endothelial cell loss with the Verisyse, so a low starting cell count may disqualify you from lens placement. Also, use the patient's pupil size as a guide for eligibility.

Assil Gaur Eye Institute for your vision correction

When considering using a brand-new technology that’s going into your body, and especially your eyes, you’ll want to do your homework. At AGEI, we have transitioned from the Verisyse ICL to the Visian EVO ICL due to the enhanced level of safety it provides. This decision reflects our commitment to providing our patients with the highest level of safety and efficacy that the advanced EVO ICL technology offers.

Assil Guar Eye Institute surgeons are internationally recognized leaders in eye care, developing new technologies and great visual outcomes. AGEI was the first practice in the world to use ORA vision measuring technology that lets our surgeons obtain intra-operative refractive error measurements after your natural lens is removed to ensure that you are fitted with lenses that best correct your vision deficits. In fact, the ORA system takes vision measurements that are 25 times more precise than any preoperative vision measuring systems available today. This increased precision translates into better refractive outcomes.

When you select Assil Gaur Eye Institute, you will benefit from our state-of-the-art ophthalmology technology and our physicians’ extensive experience treating a wide range of eye conditions. When it comes to your vision, only the best care will do.

Call 866-945-2745 to schedule your consultation or request a consultation online with our internationally recognized specialists.

We are conveniently located throughout Southern California and the Los Angeles area. Our ophthalmologists are available in or near Santa Monica and Beverly Hills. We are conveniently located near West Los Angeles, Culver City, West Hollywood, Downtown Los Angeles, Marina del Rey, Pacific Palisades, Malibu, Manhattan Beach, Sherman Oaks, and Encino, to name a few.

In addition to outpatient laser cataract surgery, the ophthalmology experts at AGEI are nationally recognized for their eye care and treatment options for a full range of conditions, including glaucoma, retinal detachment, cornea conditions, keratoconus, floaters and flashes, dry eye, presbyopia, refractive surgery such as LASIK and much more.

Sources:

Phakic intraocular lenses outcomes and complications: Artisan vs Visian ICL

https://doi.org/10.1038/eye.2011.355

‘Double occlusion’: black Artisan iris claw intraocular lens insertion following failed occlusion treatment for intractable diplopia 

https://doi.org/10.1038/eye.2014.68

Comment on ‘Phakic intraocular lenses outcomes and complications: Artisan vs Visian ICL

https://doi.org/10.1038/eye.2011.356

Paired-eye comparison of corneal endothelial cell counts after unilateral iris-claw phakic intraocular lens implantation

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26948786/