4 ms·

A long time ago it was promised that the FDA would eventually approve intraocular lens replacement for vision correction as well. What ever happened to that?

raverbashing 7y ago
It does exist but it's a much more invasive procedure, and I think it's used only for much higher prescriptions (+/-10d and above) - not sure it's approved by the FDA though.
- oyashirochama 7y ago
  It is also used for areas that require a certain color correction as well, usually aircraft or combat roles and is covered under tricare for combat and pilots.
- ReidZB 7y ago
  I think whether or not LASIK is suitable depends on corneal thickness, corneal steepness, and the level of correction needed, just as a baseline, or so it was explained to me. I was investigating intraocular lenses not too long ago as an alternative because my ophthalmologist advised that I'd probably have difficulty seeing in low-light conditions if I underwent LASIK. (Apparently my "parameters" are such that I'm in a gray area where some surgeons will perform LASIK, but others won't. My prescription is pretty high in one eye (around -8). I ended up not being a great candidate for any corrective eye surgery, intraocular lenses included.) Anyway, intraocular lenses are definitely more invasive, but from what I recall they sounded like a better option to me than LASIK in general: apparently vision quality is better than LASIK with IOLs, there's no removal of corneal tissue, and chance for complications was lessened. (Well, as I understood it, there were fewer minor complications, but more possible major complications, which is maybe not a trade-off many people want to make.) Of course, they cost about 2x as much as LASIK. I'm pretty sure they are FDA approved, especially given their use in cataract surgery, although the ones in cataract surgery replace the natural lens whereas the corrective type typically do not...
  - joezydeco 7y ago
    Well I think that's where I was going with this. Cataract patients get their lenses replaced regularly and the surgery appears to be a much lower risk than before. A relative of mine, during his cataract surgery, even had the option to get a corrective factor put into the new lens.

raverbashing 7y ago

It does exist but it's a much more invasive procedure, and I think it's used only for much higher prescriptions (+/-10d and above) - not sure it's approved by the FDA though.

oyashirochama 7y ago
It is also used for areas that require a certain color correction as well, usually aircraft or combat roles and is covered under tricare for combat and pilots.
ReidZB 7y ago
I think whether or not LASIK is suitable depends on corneal thickness, corneal steepness, and the level of correction needed, just as a baseline, or so it was explained to me. I was investigating intraocular lenses not too long ago as an alternative because my ophthalmologist advised that I'd probably have difficulty seeing in low-light conditions if I underwent LASIK. (Apparently my "parameters" are such that I'm in a gray area where some surgeons will perform LASIK, but others won't. My prescription is pretty high in one eye (around -8). I ended up not being a great candidate for any corrective eye surgery, intraocular lenses included.) Anyway, intraocular lenses are definitely more invasive, but from what I recall they sounded like a better option to me than LASIK in general: apparently vision quality is better than LASIK with IOLs, there's no removal of corneal tissue, and chance for complications was lessened. (Well, as I understood it, there were fewer minor complications, but more possible major complications, which is maybe not a trade-off many people want to make.) Of course, they cost about 2x as much as LASIK. I'm pretty sure they are FDA approved, especially given their use in cataract surgery, although the ones in cataract surgery replace the natural lens whereas the corrective type typically do not...
- joezydeco 7y ago
  Well I think that's where I was going with this. Cataract patients get their lenses replaced regularly and the surgery appears to be a much lower risk than before. A relative of mine, during his cataract surgery, even had the option to get a corrective factor put into the new lens.