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For patients seeking vision correction who have been told that laser vision correction isn’t a good option, there may be a better solution. Factors such as a large refractive error, dry eyes, unusual corneal shape, and thin corneas determine which procedure is appropriate for a particular patient. The good news is Gordon Schanzlin New Vision Institute Institute, a fully accredited surgical facility, has an option that will offer you exceptional quality vision! It’s called the Implantable Contact Lens (ICL), also known as a Refractive Lens Implant (RLI).
Contact Us to Schedule an ICL Evaluation
Lens implants have been in use worldwide for over two decades and are considered a safe and effective solution for those who are dissatisfied with the limitations of glasses and contact lenses andwhose vision correction needsfall outside accepted parameters for laser vision correction.
The lenses used for this procedure are similar to small contact lenses that, instead of sitting on the surface of the eye, are placed inside the eye. These lenses are composed of biocompatible materials which provide excellent optical clarity. Once in place, the lens cannot be felt, cannot be seen by the naked eye and requires no maintenance other than a routine, annual visit to your eye doctor.
The Gordon Schanzlin New Vision Institute is dedicated to staying at the forefront of vision improvement technology, and we are excited to offer the first implantable contact lens option that is approved to treat patients with astigmatism. While the Visian ICL collamer lens implant has been used with great success since 2005, patients with astigmatism were not candidates. The Visian Toric ICL has been FDA approved to treat patients with astigmatism and mild to severe myopia (nearsightedness). The Toric ICL greatly expands the field of vision correction options for nearsighted patients who have astigmatism and are not candidates for laser vision correction procedures such as LASIK.
General requirements for good candidates are those who:
Implantable contact lens surgery is a painless procedure and vision improvements usually appear immediately after completion. Prior to the procedure you will be given a mild sedative to help reduce anxiety and anesthetic eye drops will be placed in your eye. The lens is then inserted through a microscopic incision and placed into position in front of your natural lens. After a brief recovery period you will be allowed to leave our facility.
A follow-up visit will be required within 24 hours of your surgery. During the recovery period you will be instructed to use eye drops and protective eye shields in order to protect your eye as it heals.
Due to the sensitive nature of your eyes, ICL surgery may be performed on one eye at a time typically one week apart. After 8 to 12 weeks a laser eye surgery procedure may be recommended in order to correct astigmatism or fine tune the results of your lens procedure.
Lens implant surgery is a sophisticated procedure that your surgeon has recommended because it’s in your best interest medically. Due to the cost of the lenses and staffing requirements, implantable contact lens procedures are customarily more expensive than other laser vision correction options. Therefore, we are pleased to offer many payment and financing options in order to make your procedure affordable.
There are many unique advantages to the refractive lens implant, including:
Michael Gordon, M.D. and David J. Schanzlin, M.D. are among the most experienced and well-trained surgeons in the world with over 70 years of combined experience. Together they have performed thousands of surgical and laser vision correction procedures and continue to lead the way.
Gordon Schanzlin New Vision Institute Institute, a fixture in San Diego for 15 years, is a unique eye care practice comprised of surgeons who have a wide-range of eye care expertise, who hold themselves to the strictest of standards, and who place great emphasis on patient safety and satisfaction. As a result of these high standards, we have received certification from the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC). We are San Diego’s first ambulatory surgery center dedicated to lens implant surgery and the only institute in San Diego with AAAHC accreditation.
Interested in learning more about your vision correction options? Call us at (858) 455-6800 or click here to email us.
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The doctors at Gordon Schanzlin New Vision Institute have either authored or reviewed and approved this content.
