Procedures

(ICL) Implantable Contact Lens

• Overview
• AcrySof® Cachet™ Phakic Lens

The Phakic ICL is designed to reside inside your eye where the natural lens is still intact. It's like inserting the patient's own glasses or contact lenses inside the eye.

The lens does not alter any structures within the eye or on the cornea and can easily be removed or replaced if required.

Implantable Contact Lens (ICL) are ideal for patients with symptoms of myopia (near-sightedness), hyperopia (far-sightedness) and/or astigmatism. ICL's are also suitable for patients whose corneas are too thin, too flat or too steep to undergo large amounts of laser reshaping required for LASIK.

The custom-made lens is an ultra-thin, foldable lens, which is inserted into the eye through a tiny sutureless corneal incision during a 30 minute local anaesthetic procedure. The Phakic ICL does not affect the appearance or colour of the eyes.

AcrySof® Cachet™ Phakic Lens

Looking for freedom from eyewear?

Does wearing spectacles bother you? Do contact lenses make you uncomfortable too?

Have you already investigated laser vision correction procedures (LASIK, or Laser-Assisted in situ keratomileusis), only to be disappointed when you were told that this type of procedure is not appropriate for you?

For people who have moderate to high short-sightedness, seeing things clearly in the distance (or even up close) is a big challenge and can be very frustrating in so many ways. Individuals with this level of short-sightedness often say that their vision is so bad that they cannot see the alarm clock when they wake up.

If you want to experience a new vision of life without dependency on eyeglasses or contact lenses, implantation with a lens like the AcrySof® Cachet™ Phakic Lens by Alcon® may be able to help you.

Thousands of people all over the world have undergone lens implantation procedures and are now enjoying a new view of the once blurry world around them.

Why might I be suitable for this procedure?

Do you find objects in the distance always seem blurry? This is caused by myopia, or what is commonly called short-sightedness.

In a normal eye, the lens sees images, then focuses them on the retina in the back of the eye, which then sends them to the brain. But for people who are short-sighted, the eye is shaped abnormally, which causes any light that enters the eye to focus in front of the retina, instead of directly on it. This is what causes objects in the distance to appear blurry, and to see properly usually requires some correction.

For people who have moderate to high short-sightedness, seeing things clearly in the distance (or even up close) is a big challenge and can be very frustrating in so many ways. Individuals with this level of short-sightedness often say that their vision is so bad that they cannot see the alarm clock when they wake up. If you have this condition you may have experienced this and other difficulties when you are without your glasses or contacts.

If you want to experience a new vision of life without dependency on eyeglasses or contact lenses, implantation with a lens like the Cachet™ lens may be able to help you.

"The Cachet™ lens is indicated particularly in patients who are not suitable for refractive surgery especially when the cornea is too thin," advises the medical director of personalEYES (Sydney) Dr Kerrie Meades. "It also avoids the need to have corneal pathology, which means patients do not have to wear corrective eyewear as a result of corneal scars related to contact lens infections or trauma and abnormal corneal topography."

Is the Cachet™ lens right for me?

You and your doctor might consider an Cachet™ lens implantation if:

• you have moderate to high short-sightedness
• you are frustrated with your vision
• you want to see the world without glasses or contact lenses.

After examining your eyes, your doctor will be able easily determine if the Cachet™ lens is right for you.

How does the Cachet™ lens work?

The Cachet™ lens is especially designed to improve your vision by working along with your existing natural lens. The lens is implanted so that it sits in the front (anterior) chamber of your eye, between your iris and your cornea. With this lens, images that used to be blurry can be clear.

What’s so unique about the Cachet™ lens?

There are several unique features with the Cachet™ lens that make it appealing to eye surgeons and patients alike. It’s made of a soft, flexible material designed specifically for the eye, which allows it to be folded and inserted through a small incision.

"The Cachet™ lens is made of material that is proven and stable in the eye and is easily inserted through a micro-incision," says Dr Meades, who has been performing refractive surgery now for over 15 years.

"Excessive manipulation of the lens is not required during the procedure and the operating time with the lens is also very short – only 15 mins," explains Dr Meades. "No incision to the iris is required (peripheral iridotomy) and the natural lens is not exposed. When inserting the lens I am working to protect the natural lens giving added safety at the time of surgery."

Once implanted, it unfolds and is held in place by tiny supports. Eye doctors have a great deal of experience with the material of which the Cachet™ lens is made.

"The lens has been extensively trialled to test its effect on the cornea and fluid drainage from the eye," says Dr Meades, "and just as it is easily inserted, it can be just as easily removed if a patient chooses an upgrade in technology later down the track, such as with a multi-focal lens."

What can you look forward to with a Cachet™ lens?

How does no more searching around in the mornings for a pair of glasses to see the alarm clock sound? Or no more need for contact lens cleaning solutions, or fear of losing you lenses in the pool?

With the Cachet™ lens, 96% of patients reported that after implantation with the lens, their distance vision was 20/25 or better without glasses or contacts [1]. In addition, 97% of patients have reported they would have the same lens implanted again [2].

Not all patients have the same experience and you may find that your results may vary, however the Cachet™ lens is designed to reduce or eliminate moderate to high short-sightedness in adults. If you are over 21 years of age and your prescription is between -6.0 dioptres and -16.5 dioptres, you may be a good candidate.

Is there anything else I need to know about an Cachet™ lens implant?

When considering a lens implant, it is important your doctor determines that you have enough cells in your eye to protect your cornea. After your surgery, you should have the health of your cells monitored at least once a year, since the long-term effects of Phakic lenses on cells in the eye have not been established. If the cell loss is too great, you may need to have the lens removed.

Planning for your new view

Lens implantation is an outpatient procedure. Most patients are awake during the procedure, and you may be given something to help you relax. A local anaesthetic will be applied, and your eye and the area around it are cleaned.

During the surgery, your doctor will make tiny incisions in your eye, and the lens is inserted with a special injector that allows it to unfold gently. Typically only one eye is implanted with a lens at one time. The surgery for your other eye will usually be scheduled within a few weeks.

How long does it take to recover?

"One of the big assets of Phakic intraocular lenses is their short recovery time," says Dr Meades of personalEYES. "Most patients see well even within the first hour after surgery."

After the procedure, you’ll have some time to rest before you leave your doctor’s office. You will then be asked to return to the office two to six hours following your procedure to check your progress.

The day after your surgery there may be a follow-up exam with your doctor. If you were asked to wear an eye patch, the doctor will remove it and show you how to administer any eye drops to help the healing process.

It’s very important to follow your doctor’s instructions for your eye care following surgery. Your doctor will ask you to come for regular examinations to monitor the condition of the lens in your eye.

Your new view

Like any surgery, implantation of an AcrySof® Cachet™ Phakic Lens is an important matter that you should thoroughly evaluate along with your doctor. Together, you and your doctor should discuss the potential benefits and risks.

To determine which solution is better for you, make a no obligation, free suitability assessment appointment.

WARNINGS: You may not get the best results if you have more than a small amount of astigmatism (irregularity in shape of the eye) either before surgery or after the surgery. Since this lens is placed into the space in the front of the eye, regular visits to your implanting physician (at least once per year) are required to closely monitor the health of the cells lining the inside of your eye (corneal endothelial cells). More frequent monitoring may be necessary if elevated rates of cell loss are observed. High rates of cell loss over time may also require the lens to be removed.

PRECAUTIONS: A thorough and careful preoperative evaluation, sound clinical judgment and the Physicians Directions for Use provided with the lens should be used by your implanting physician to decide the risk/benefit ratio before implanting this lens. Some adverse reactions that have been encountered with the implantation of this type of lens include raised pressure in the eye (intraocular pressure) requiring treatment and/or hospitalization, clouding of the natural lens behind the pupil of the eye (cataract formation), additional surgery to your eye (surgical reintervention), removal of the lens, adhesion of structures in the eye (synechiae), loss of vision, clouding of the covering of the eye (corneal haze), infection, inability of the outer covering of the eye to maintain its general shape (corneal decompensation), swelling of the eye as a result of excess fluid (edema), blockage of fluid flow from behind the iris (pupillary block), and separation of sensory structures in the back of the eye from their underlying tissue (retinal detachment). Always consult with your physician if you have any questions or concerns prior to or as a result of this surgery.

References

1. Data on file. Alcon, Inc.
2. Patient Reported Outcomes. Physician Labeling, 4/08. Alcon, Inc.