Phakic IOLs (Intraocular Lenses) are tiny plastic lenses implanted in the eye to correct refractive errors; the natural lens is left in place. Phakic IOLs are currently under FDA investigational study for use by patients with severe myopia and hyperopia.

Intraocular lenses (IOL's) have been used for years to replace the natural lens of the eye when it is removed during cataract surgery. More recently IOL's have been designed to be placed in the eye without the removal of the natural lens. The word "phakic" is derived from the Greek word, phakos, meaning lens, to indicate the fact that these lenses are implanted with the natural lens of the eye in place.

There are three basic ways in which phakic IOL's are positioned within the eye:

(1) wedged between the back surface of the cornea and the front surface of the iris



(2) attached to the front surface of the iris



(3) located in the space between the back surface of the iris and the natural lens of the eye



There are two basic materials of which phakic IOL's are constructed:

(1) Polymethylmethacrylate, a hard plastic that has been used for years to make IOL's for use after  
     cataract surgery.
(2) Collamer, a flexible material containing collagen, water, and various polymers similar to those 
     used to make soft contact lenses.

No phakic IOL's have been approved for use in the United States, although several designs have been implanted for a number of years outside of this country. There is concern that phakic IOL's might damage the cornea or natural lens of the eye, so the FDA will require long-term clinical data before considering these devices for approval. Balancing the possibility of complications from phakic IOL's is the extremely good quality of vision that patients report with these devices.

Emory physicians are participating in the clinical trials for phakic intraocular lenses. The best candidates for phakic IOL implantation are high myopes and hyperopes.