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Phakic IOL or LASIK? This surgeon says do a combined procedure
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ORLANDO, Fla. — George O. Waring, MD, said that a combined procedure of both phakic IOLs and LASIK is “where we’re heading.”
He said that re-treatments after the combined procedure also help lead to the ideal procedure “that eliminates refractive error.”
Dr. Waring spoke at an International Society of Refractive Surgery symposium held at the joint meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology.
He said, “If I asked you if LASIK was better a better procedure than phakic IOLs, most people here would raise their hands. But if we look at the published literature, we find that phakic IOLs are a better procedure, because more than 2 lines of best-corrected visual acuity are gained in more patients.”
Dr. Waring said that the flexibility of phakic IOLs is greater than LASIK. “Most people think implanting a phakic IOL is more complicated than performing LASIK. With LASIK, we have to deal with a laser we don’t know how to fix if it breaks and a microkeratome, which is a complicated piece of equipment. But a phakic IOL can be implanted by any experienced cataract surgeon.”
He said LASIK alters the cornea and is adjustable but not reversible. But he added that phakic IOLs are more adjustable than LASIK and removable.
He added that an advantage to LASIK is that, like phakic IOLs, it can be performed in an ASC.
Dr. Waring added, however, that a combined procedure of phakic IOLs and LASIK still needs to be “refined.”