Phakic Lens Implants at Pinehill Hospital

What are phakic lens implants?

Phakic intraocular lenses (IOLs) are plastic or silicone lenses that are permanently implanted into your eye to correct near-sightedness, and reduce the need for glasses or contact lenses.

Phakic lens implants redirect light rays on to your retina to allow your near-sighted eye to see distant objects more clearly.

Phakic means that the intraocular lens is implanted into your eye without removing its natural lens. This differs to cataract surgery, where the IOLs are implanted after your eye's cloudy natural lens (cataract) has been removed.

Phakic lens implants are used to correct refractive errors, when you have a problem focusing light on your retina due to the shape of your eye, particularly near-sightedness (myopia).

If you are near-sighted you have more difficulty seeing distant objects than near objects. The images of distant objects come into focus in front of your retina instead of on the retina, so objects faraway are out of focus or blurred.

Phakic lenses allow light entering your eye to be focused on the retina so that you have clear distance vision without wearing glasses or contact lenses.

Surgery is not required to correct near-sightedness. You can decide to wear glasses or contact lenses instead to give you better vision.

An alternative to phakic IOLs is laser eye surgery, including LASIK and PRK, for correcting myopia. However, not everyone is a good candidate for laser surgery, and it may not be suitable if you have: too much near-sightedness, an unusually thin or irregularly shaped cornea, or an eye condition such as keratoconus or dry eye syndrome.

If you have moderate to severe near-sightedness you may be better suited for phakic IOLs than laser surgery.

Pinehill Hospital Specialists

Mr James Bacon

Mr James Bacon is a Consultant Ophthalmologist in Hertfordshire
Read more
Mr Samir Mahmood

Mr Samir Mahmood is a Consultant Ophthalmologist in Hitchin who specialises in management of Medical Retina and Uveitis conditions in addition to general eye conditions.
Read more
Mr George Saleh

Mr George Saleh is a Consultant Ophthalmic and Oculoplastic Surgeon, specialising in cataract, oculoplastic and aesthetic surgery.
Read more
Miss Fariha Shafi

Miss Fariha Shafi is a Consultant Ophthalmologist in Hitchin, Hertfordshire
Read more
Miss Humma Shahid

Miss Humma Shahid is a Consultant Ophthalmologist in Hitchin who can make a diagnosis, manage and treat a range of eye conditions
Read more
Mr Anil J Singh

Mr Anil J Singh is a Consultant Ophthalmologist in Hertfordshire, Hitchin
Read more
Mr Michael Toma

Mr Michael Toma is a Consultant Ophthalmologist at Pinehill Hospital, Hitchin, Hertfordshire who specialises in cataract surgery. medical retina disease and age related macular degeneration.
Read more

Latest from Pinehill Hospital

How Can a GP Help With Anxiety?

A General Practitioner (GP) can be a key resource in helping manage anxiety. While they may not provide specialised mental health therapy (like a psychologist or psychiatrist), they can offer several forms of support and guidance which we will delve into.

Find out more

Cutting-Edge Robotic Prostate Treatment at Pinehill Hospital

Choosing a treatment option for an enlarged prostate can be overwhelming, Pinehill Hospital, part of Ramsay Health Care UK, based in Hitchin, is here to help men make that decision. Pinehill are offering Aquablation Therapy, a new pioneering robotic prostate treatment, for men suffering from BPH.

Find out more

Patients Travel to Pinehill Hospital for Aquablation Therapy

Patients are travelling nationwide to visit Pinehill Hospital for Aquablation Therapy, which they have been offering now for over a year. This is a new minimally invasive robotic treatment for patients suffering from lower urinary tract symptoms due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

Find out more

Specialties

Treatments

Tests & Scans

Your Care

Clinical Information

Funding Treatment

Phakic Lens Implants