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Home > Eye Care > Corneal Inlays and Onlays
Corneal Inlays and Onlays
Corneal inlays and onlays are small lenses or optical devices that can be inserted into the cornea to alter its shape and correct vision problems.
Though these devices and the surgical procedures associated with them are not yet FDA-approved for use in the United States, they are currently in clinical trials and may soon represent a new form of vision correction surgery.
In LASIK and PRK, vision correction is achieved by removing corneal tissue with a laser to reshape the eye. But with corneal inlays or onlays inserted just beneath the surface of the cornea, laser energy some day could be used to sculpt this artificial material instead of the eye itself, and corneal thickness can be preserved.
Corneal inlays and onlays will work much like contact lenses, but with the advantage of never needing removal or ongoing care. And they differ from currently available intraocular lenses, or IOLs, because they are less invasive and aren’t placed in the interior of the eye (behind the cornea or iris).
And because corneal inlays and onlays don’t require tissue to be removed from the cornea, there may be less risk of ectasia (bulging of the cornea), dry eye and other potential complications of laser vision correction procedures like LASIK and PRK.
The corneal inlay procedure
With corneal inlays, a thin flap is created on the eye's surface with a laser or a microkeratome. In this regard, the procedure is very similar to the first step of LASIK. The inlay is then positioned in the center of the cornea, and the flap is replaced 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.
The corneal onlay procedure
Unlike corneal inlays, where a flap is created to place the inlay within the body of the cornea (called the stroma), corneal onlays are positioned under the cornea’s thin outer layer of cells called the epithelium. An instrument is used to create a pocket between the epithelium and the stroma, and the onlay is inserted in this space. The onlay is secure nearly immediately, and within 48 hours, new epithelial cells grow over the surgical wound to seal it completely.
When will these procedures be available in the U.S.?
It’s impossible to predict when corneal inlays and onlays will gain FDA approval for use in the United States. Clinical trials have begun for two corneal inlays designed to correct presbyopia, the age-related condition that results in near vision focusing problems.
For more information on corneal inlays and onlays or presbyopia, visit Good Eye Optometry, located at Brentwood, Los Angeles CA.
If you have vision or eye health concerns, and would like answers, please contact Good Eye Optometry for an appointment.
Good Eye Optometry offer a full range of optometric services including comprehensive eye examinations, dilations, contact lens fittings, diagnosis / treatment / prescriptions for various ocular diseases, consultation / co-management for LASIK and other refractive surgeries.
Our highly trained staff is dedicated to accommodating your needs to the best of our ability and making your visit as pleasant as possible. Our facility also offers an extensive selection of designer eyeglass frames, sunglasses, prescription sunglasses, contact lenses, and other eye care products for men, women and/or kids. We carry over a thousand designer optical frames such as Bottega Veneta, Balenciaga, Alexander McQueen, Salt, Barton Perreira, Alain Mikli, Missoni, Gianfranco Ferre, Tom Ford, Lafont, Gotti, Ray ban, Oko by Oko, Evolution Art, Seraphin, Dolce and Gabanna.
Located at Brentwood, Los Angeles , CA, our facility is a only short drive away from Beverly Hills, Westwood, Santa Monica, Sunset, West Los Angeles, UCLA, Sunset, Beverly Glen, San Vicente, Bundy, Wilshire and Pacific Palisades or zip codes 90025, 90024, 90403, 90077, 90272 and 90404.
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