JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – At least 10 million people in the U.S. are severely near-sighted.
For some, their vision is so poor, that LASIK surgery isn’t even an option.
But a new procedure is giving those people an option for more long-term relief.
Dr. Arun Gulani said to think of it as placing permanent contact lenses inside the eye.
“This is a big revolution for patients who are extremely nearsighted and are not candidates for LASIK surgery,” Gulani said.
EVO ICL just got the green light from the FDA, and people from around the globe came to Jacksonville to get the surgery this week.
The procedure takes about 15 minutes and is done using numbing drops.
Gulani said after he’s finished, patients will no longer need contacts or glasses.
“It is really life-changing for me,” said patient Misha Armstrong, who is a surgeon based in New York City.
She said her nearsightedness was starting to affect her work.
“Just being in the operating room, having to wear glasses, them falling down during procedures, always having to adjust them. Just for the lifestyle I have, wearing glasses was no longer working for me,” Armstrong said.
She said she noticed a difference almost immediately.
“I think I’m most excited about now being able to wear a mask and my glasses not fog up, but I do think I’m going to be seeing things differently than I have the past few years,” Armstrong said.
Wade Jones, a professional boxer, had to take a break from the ring because of his poor vision.
“Thankfully, my coach looked some stuff up and we found another option,” Jones said.
He traveled from California for the surgery after not qualifying for LASIK and is now ready to get back in the ring.
“I’m excited. I’m looking forward to being able to see myself train,” Jones said.
Gulani shares the same feeling.
“I’m always excited about making people see. To me there is no such thing as ‘not a candidate,’” Gulani said.
The procedure is gaining so much traction that a patient from Turkey flew in to get it done, too.
Gulani said someone who has had LASIK is most likely not a good candidate for EVO because the procedure has not been established as safe for patients with a history of ocular surgery.