Surgical Eye Correction with the AquaFlow™ and the Visian ICL™ - Frequently Asked Questions
Below are the answers to some of the frequently asked questions that STAAR® Surgical Company has received about its refractive surgery phakic IOL, its glaucoma implant, and surgical eye correction procedures.
AquaFlow FAQs
Patients whose glaucoma has not responded to eye drop therapy can benefit from surgical eye correction with the AquaFlow glaucoma implant. Below are some questions asked by patients who were considering the surgical eye correction procedure.
- Q. If I choose AquaFlow surgical eye correction to treat my glaucoma, how likely will it be that I will be able to stop using my glaucoma eye drops?
- Q. Is the AquaFlow surgery or recovery after the surgery painful?
- Q. Is the AquaFlow surgery performed in the doctor’s office or a hospital?
- Q. Will I be asleep during AquaFlow surgery?
- Q. What if the AquaFlow surgery does not reduce my eye pressure to levels that stop the glaucoma progression?
- Q. Will I need to use any eye drops after my glaucoma surgery?
- Q. How much does the AquaFlow glaucoma surgery cost?
- Q. What happens to the AquaFlow collagen device that is placed in my eye?
- Q. What complications could occur with AquaFlow surgical eye correction?
- Q. Will my eye look different after the AquaFlow surgery?
- Q. Are there any restrictions in my activities after the AquaFlow surgery?
Q. If I choose AquaFlow surgical eye correction to treat my glaucoma, how likely will it be that I will be able to stop using my glaucoma eye drops?
A. Clinical studies that were conducted to prove the effectiveness and safety of the AquaFlow surgical eye correction procedure indicated that patients were using an average of 2.3 different medications prior to surgery and .3 after the surgery. This data indicates that most patients can eliminate the use of eye-pressure-lowering drops following the procedure.
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Q. Is the AquaFlow surgery or recovery after the surgery painful?
A. Medications are used to numb the eye during the surgery so there will be no pain or uncomfortable feelings. Most patients report little discomfort after AquaFlow surgical eye correction other than the sensation of itching from normal healing or occasional scratchiness from the stitches.
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Q. Is the AquaFlow surgery performed in the doctor’s office or a hospital?
A. This glaucoma surgical eye correction must be performed in a surgical suite, which means your surgery will take place in a hospital outpatient surgery area or an ambulatory surgical center.
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Q. Will I be asleep during AquaFlow surgery?
A. Your surgeon may choose general anesthesia; however, some surgeons prefer to numb the eye, using medication to relax the patient without putting him or her to sleep.
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Q. What if the AquaFlow surgery does not reduce my eye pressure to levels that stop the glaucoma progression?
A. If your eye doctor believes that lower pressures are needed after observing the effect of the initial AquaFlow surgical eye correction, he or she will recommend a laser treatment that enhances the original AquaFlow procedure. The laser will make small openings in a thin membrane created during the original surgery, allowing for more fluid flow and decreased eye pressure. Typical added eye pressure reductions with the laser are 40 to 50 percent greater than that achieved with the original surgery. The laser procedure is short and painless because it is designed to work with your original AquaFlow surgery. The alternative is to return to a reduced amount of the eye drops used to lower the eye pressure prior to surgery.
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Q. Will I need to use any eye drops after my glaucoma surgery?
A. All surgical eye correction cases will require the use of drops to prevent infection and reduce inflammation. These drops are used for the first few weeks and in some cases a month or two and then discontinued.
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Q. How much does the AquaFlow glaucoma surgery cost?
A. The fee charged for the AquaFlow surgical eye correction procedure is established by the surgeon and can vary. Medicare and other managed care/insurance plans provide reimbursement for this procedure.
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Q. What happens to the AquaFlow collagen device that is placed in my eye?
A. The AquaFlow collagen device gradually dissolves over a period of six to nine months after being placed in the eye.
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Q. What complications could occur with AquaFlow surgical eye correction?
A. Any type of surgical eye correction procedure carries risks of complications, with the most common being infection and inflammation. Eye drops are used to prevent these complications. Studies have shown low percentages of complication rates with AquaFlow compared to other types of surgical eye correction designed to treat glaucoma.
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Q. Will my eye look different after the AquaFlow surgery?
A. The appearance of the eye after AquaFlow surgery is usually very normal and natural. During the first week, there may be some redness to the eye, but this clears quickly as the eye heals.
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Q. Are there any restrictions in my activities after the AquaFlow surgery?
A. It is wise to be cautious and minimize strenuous activities for a few days following surgical eye correction. Normal activities can usually resume five to seven days following the procedure.
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Visian ICL FAQs
The Visian ICL (Implantable Collamer® Lens) has been gaining recognition as phakic intraocular lens that produces exceptional quality of vision. It is revolutionizing the refractive correction industry. Below are some of the frequently asked questions about STAAR Surgical Company's implantable Collamer lens.
- Q. Am I a candidate for the Visian ICL?
- Q. What are the advantages of the Visian ICL?
- Q. What if a patient’s vision changes?
- Q. Can they dry out or get dirty like a contact lens?
- Q. Can the Visian ICL be seen by the naked eye?
- Q. What is the Visian ICL made of?
- Q. What is involved in Visian ICL surgical eye correction?
- Q. How long does the Visian ICL stay in the eye?
- Q. Can the Visian ICL be felt once they are in place?
- Q. Where can I get additional information on the Visian ICL?
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Q: Am I a candidate for the Visian ICL?
A. The implantable Collamer lens works best for patients who suffer from moderate to severe myopia, but have not had other ophthalmic surgeries. Those between the ages of 21 and 45 without a history of ophthalmic diseases such as glaucoma, iritis, or diabetic retinopathy make the best candidates for the Visian ICL. The Visian ICL has different treatment ranges which vary by country.
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Q. What are the advantages of the Visian ICL?
A. The Visian ICL can correct a wide range of myopia without removing or destroying the cornea’s delicate tissue. During this surgical eye correction procedure, the doctor makes a tiny incision about 3 mm long. This incision will not require sutures. It is just large enough to insert the Visian ICL, a small, foldable, injectable lens. The lens is made of an advanced biocompatible material called Collamer. Because the Visian ICL is placed inside the eye, refractive outcomes and optical performance are consistent. The result is excellent quality of vision.
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Q. What if a patient’s vision changes?
A. The Visian ICL may be removed or replaced if eyesight changes. Another surgical eye correction can be done to correct the discrepancy. Eyeglasses and contact lenses may also be worn if correction becomes necessary. The phakic IOL cannot be used to treat presbyopia, the need for reading glasses due to age.
Q. Can the lenses dry out or get dirty like a contact lens?
A. No. The Visian ICL is designed to be a maintenance-free eye correction treatment. We recommend you continue to have annual ophthalmology exams to ensure that your eyes stay healthy.
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Q. Can the Visian ICL be seen by the naked eye?
A. No. Your vision correction lens will be completely invisible to you and all observers. The Visian ICL is hidden behind the iris, resulting in a perfect cosmetic appearance. Only medical professionals will be able to determine that there is a lens in place.
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Q. What is the Visian ICL made of?
A. The Visian ICL uses a collagen co-polymer material called Collamer, which is proprietary to STAAR Surgical Company. It contains a small amount of purified collagen and is very stable and biocompatible, which means it will not cause a reaction in your eye. Additionally, it contains an ultraviolet light filter.
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Q. What is involved in Visian ICL surgical eye correction?
A. Before the Visian ICL surgical eye correction procedure, the surgeon will administer a topical or local anesthetic. A tiny incision will be made.
The lens will be injected into the eye, where it gently unfolds.
The surgeon will then place the lens behind the iris.
The Visian ICL is invisible to the naked eye after placement.
Surgical eye correction with the Visian ICL typically involves little discomfort and no pain. In fact, after the surgery has been completed, you will be able to leave the same day. Please note that Visian ICL patients should arrange to have someone drive them home after surgery. The surgeon will check on your eyes’ progress at an appointment scheduled for the next day. After-surgery care may involve prescription eye drops or oral medication.
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Q. How long will the Visian ICL stay in the eye?
A. The Visian ICL is intended to remain in place without maintenance. If for any reason removal of the lens becomes necessary, it can be easily taken out by a trained ophthalmic surgeon.
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Q. Can the Visian ICL be felt once it is in place?
A. Because the Visian ICL does not attach to any eye structures or move around in the eye, most patients do not feel it or notice that it is there.
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Q. Where can I get additional information on the Visian ICL?
A. If you are interested in learning more about STAAR Surgical Company's phakic IOL for refractive surgery, visit the Visian ICL Website at www.visianinfo.com.
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Find a surgeon qualified in the Visian ICL and AquaFlow surgeries to get more information on the surgical eye correction procedures.
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