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Implantable contact lenses, known as phakic intraocular lenses (IOLs) to ophthalmologists, are presently being investigated as another refractive procedure. Phakic IOLs hold promise as potentially powerful refractive tools with almost unlimited potential to correct refractive errors (nearsightedness and farsightedness). At the present time, however, phakic IOLs are being studied in clinical trials to determine efficacy and safety. If FDA approved, phakic IOLs are expected to gain wide acceptance from ophthalmologists who have implanted IOLs in cataract patients for the past four decades with excellent results.
The phakic IOL is unique, however, in that the thin intraocular lens implant is placed in the eye without removing the natural lens of the eye, as is completed in cataract surgery. At present, phakic IOLs are being studied which are implanted both in front of, and just behind, the iris of the eye. Given that the natural lens of the eye is not removed, the patient retains the natural focusing capability (accommodation) of the eye for near focusing tasks.
The phakic IOL must be shown to be as accurate in correcting refractive errors as other refractive procedures (e.g., LASIK, PRK, CK, and SUPRALASE) and have a comparable safety profile prior to FDA approval. At present, data regarding the potential risks, such as cataract formation, corneal decompensation, and glaucoma, is being gathered.
