Corneal Onlays and Inlays
Corneal inlays and onlays are made of biocompatible materials that closely resemble the tissues in the eye. Corneal onlays and inlays are still in the experimental stages, but will work to correct all types of refractive errors in the eye including nearsightedness, farsightness and astigmatism.
In this procedure, corneal inlays or onlays inserted just beneath the eyes and lasers are used to reshape this material instead of the eye itself, thus stabilizing the cornea preventing the risk of regression.
Even without laser reshaping, corneal inlays or inlays alone also may work much better than contact lenses to provide vision correction. However these corneal onlays and inlays will never require regular removal or ongoing care. And they differ from surgically implanted lenses because they are not placed behind the cornea but on top instead where they merge on the eye’s surface.
Through use of inlays and onlays for vision correction, eye surgeons may avoid complications sometimes associated with procedures such as LASIK, PRK, and implantable lenses because the eye's natural surface tissue is left virtually undisturbed.
Clinical trials began in early 2006 for one device created by AcuFocus that is designed to correct near vision focusing problems caused by aging (presbyopia). With this inlay, a thin flap is created on the eye's surface where the device is applied. The flap then is replaced over the inlay to hold it in place.
The procedure takes less than 15 minutes and can be performed in the eye surgeon's office. Sutures are not required, and only topical anesthesia in the form of eye drops is used.
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