Phakic Intraocular Lenses (P-IOLs)

Phakic Intraocular Lenses, or P-IOLs, are lenses made of plastic or silicone that are implanted into the eye permanently to reduce your need for glasses or contact lenses. Phakic refers to the fact that the lens is implanted into the eye without removing the eye’s natural lens. During phakic lens implantation surgery, a small incision is made in the front of the eye. The phakic lens is inserted through the incision and placed just in front of or just behind the iris.

P-IOLs are used to correct refractive errors. All phakic lenses approved by the FDA are for the correction of nearsightedness (myopia).

The cornea and natural lens of the eye focus light to create an image on the retina, much like the way the lens of a camera focuses light to create an image on film. The bending and focusing of light is also known as refraction. Imperfections in the focusing power of the eye, called refractive errors, cause images on the retina to be out of focus or blurred.

People who are nearsighted have more difficulty seeing distant objects than near objects. For these people, the images of distant objects come to focus in front of the retina instead of on the retina.

What is the difference between P-IOLs and IOLs?

The difference between P-IOLs and IOLs: P-IOLs are implanted in the eye without removing the natural lens; IOLs are implanted after the eye’s cloudy natural lens (cataract) has been removed during cataract surgery.

As with any surgical procedure, it is important to consider the risks and benefits associated with an IOL surgery.