Phakic Intraocular Lenses - an Innovative Way to a Life Without Glasses - Even With Very Severe Vision Problems

Which patients are phakic intraocular lenses suitable for?

This lens is suitable for all patients who are unsuitable for laser treatment due to particularly high ametropia, dry eyes or too thin corneas. For younger people in particular, severe ametropia often represents an enormous impairment in everyday family and professional life - with the help of phakic intraocular lenses (PIOL) they can experience a completely new quality of life.

In this procedure, the natural lens is not replaced, but an artificial lens is implanted in addition. How can you imagine that?

The phakic intraocular lenses that we implant in our patients are so-called posterior chamber lenses. This means that the additional lens is inserted into the interior of the eye behind the iris and in front of the natural lens of the eye, where it can remain permanently. The artificial lens cannot be seen from the outside. The patients themselves do not feel the artificial lens and do not have an annoying foreign body sensation in the eye.

The posterior chamber lenses are made of a biocompatible plastic that has proven its worth and is very well tolerated. The artificial lens does not cause dryness of the eyes, a side effect that can occur after laser treatment.

Does that mean that the natural structures of the eye are preserved?

Yes, the natural lens is retained, and no tissue from the cornea is removed, as is the case with conventional laser correction. In addition, the implantation is reversible. This means that the lens can be replaced by another lens if necessary. Most lenses, however, last a lifetime.

How is the procedure carried out?

The implantation takes place in a short, minimally invasive procedure that we carry out on an outpatient basis under local anesthesia. The additional lens is inserted into the inside of the eye behind the iris and in front of the natural lens of the eye, where it can remain permanently. The operation is painless and low-risk.

Besides ametropia, can other problems of the eye be corrected?

Yes, not only very severe ametropia, for which laser correction is no longer suitable, can be permanently corrected with this lens, but also astigmatism. The intraocular lenses also offer UV protection. And thanks to an innovative multifocal type of artificial lens, even presbyopia can be corrected.