The most prevalent eye condition affecting people of all ages is refractive errors. Since 43% of visual impairments are caused by refractive errors, numerous research and publications from the WHO suggest that refractive errors are the primary cause of visual impairment and the second leading cause of visual loss globally.
Refractive surgeries are becoming more popular as the days go, due to the advances in technologies as, excimer laser, femtosecond laser, and newer treatment modalities. Refractive errors can now be corrected by either refractive corneal surgery in the form of excimer laser, or refractive lens surgery in the form of refractive lens exchange (RLE), which is similar to cataract surgery, and phakic intraocular lenses, which are the focus of our discussion.
The Visian implantable collamer lens (ICL) released by STAAR® Surgical was inspired by Dr. Fyodorov who designed the first posterior chamber phakic intraocular lens in 1986. Collamer is the trademark material for this lens, which is a copolymer of hydroxyethyl methacrylate and porcine collagen.
Several Variables are needed in order to calculate the ICL power using the online calculator provided by STAAR Surgical which includes, 1) pre-operative manifest spherical and cycloplegic refraction, 2) Keratometric power, 3) Corneal thickness, 4) Horizontal white to white, and 5) Central AC depth.