I am seriously thinking about ICL. I have met with Dr. Brown in Ft. Myers and I am a candidate for the study. He did not discuss any of the risks with me. I have heard about cataracts, glaucoma and retinal detachment. Please tell me how this surgery can cause these. Would you also explain to me about glaucoma and retinal detachments. Would you also give me your honest opinion on this surgery. I have been myopic(-14.50, both eyes) all my life and I don't want to do anything to hurt the vision that I have.
Thanks, david

how could he NOT have discussed any risks with you?? go right back down to that office and make sure he fully discusses the risks he considers to be the most important.

the presencce of a foreign object in the eye for many years can have untoward effects- possibly. i've forgotten your age- but think about this lens being in your eye for 40-50 years. the lens may touch the natural lens causing a cataract, or if placed in the front part of the eye, it may damage the structures that allow fluid within the eye to drain, thereby increasing the pressure and causing glaucoma. further, any surgery inside the eye plays with the vitreous or jelly in the eye, which is like the white of the egg, and any tugging on the vitreous can pull on the retina causing a retinal detachment now or later. we simply don't have enough experience to know what will happen over the next ten to 15 years.

on the other hand- you are functionally blind without correction. and if contact lenses are impossible and you absoulutely hate using glasses, you may find the benefit of icl surgery outweighs the unknown risks. every person must make his or her own decision. i will tell you that i am 35 years old, and very farsighted. the best option for me at this point is an icl or just extraction of the lens. i have decided that i am just not that desperate at the moment, although i detest my contacts for allt he reasons most people do. that said, every person must make their own decisions.

dbra tennen, md

#1 Know everything about everything that could happen to you with any investivational device such as the Implantable Contact Lens which actually goes INSIDE the eye.

#2 Most people that opt to enter a medical trial of such devices are "very desperate" and willing risk a lot to get rid of their glasses or contacts.

#3 Quoting the last phrase of your message, "I don't want to hurt the vision that I have," clearly means that you don't want this surgery. At least not yet....Who knows, there may be good, safe options in the future. But for now, even though the vision from such devices is outstanding, there are known and possible unknown consequences too.

Good Luck, Dean Hu

In general, you should also know that reports from the Europian liturature have been very promising with respect to risks & benefits of the lens implants. The ICL which goes behind the iris may have some long term problems with cataract formation. However, still promising. The one that is implanted in front of the iris is very promising too. I agree that I would wait until long term results are in. However, IF these lenses are proven to be safe and effective in the LONG term, it might actually equal or surpass LASIK in terms of frequency of use in that it is reversable and any ophthalmologist who does cataract surgery would be able to do it (i.e. there is no need for access to an excimer laser -- very expensive). Since the laser is out of the loop, the entire procedure might (depending on the cost of the lens) be less expensive than lasik. However, it is a procedure done inside the eye as mentioned by other doctors. The jury is still out. Will be interesting to see how this plays out! Just my philosophy!!!!!

Doctors, thank you so much for the information. This Monday(10/18), I am supposed to have the laser procedure where as I understand it, I will have two holes drilled in my eye that allow drainage of fluid. Then in a couple of weeks I will have the lens implanted. At this moment I have not completely made up my mind. I am looking for anyone that has had this procedure done. I would like to hear from you. Again, doctors, thanks for responding.

david holmes, Jax, Fl.

I would be careful- I went to Dr. Brown for a Custom
LASIK consultation and was told I was not a good
candidate for LASIK (which another doctor told me
was untrue) and then he tried to talk me into doing
the implanatable lens. I went for a second opinion
and found out I would be a unsuitable candidate and
it wouldn't help my vision all that much. I am
nearsighted- 5.5 in on eye and 6 in the other with a
mild (1.0) astigmatism.

I was pretty peeved by the fact that all side effects
were dismissed. My mom and great aunt both have
glaucoma, yet neither Dr. Brown or the study
coordinator who called me would give it more than
two seconds. They both said "if you get it, then you'll
use drops" which is a really terrible answer,
especially to someone who has seen what glaucoma is
first hand.

I decided not to do it, and would suggest you go for a
second opinion. The procedure is in its EARLIEST
stages right now, and the whole drilling and waiting
45 days for each eye was the total turn off.

A P.S. to all docs out there that downplay side
effects- pleasepleasepleaseplease stop. An educated
person will wind up distrusting you more if you glaze
over well known side effects. Every single eye
surgeon I have been to downplays the risks of these
surgeries/procedures, and I HATE that. I know the
percentages are small, but just the fact that you
acknowledge there could be a problem shows me
that you are aware of them and will support me if
something *does* come up.

I didn't realize thesemessages were posted in 1999.
Please disregard my message. I'm sure things have
changed a lot by now!!