Seeing Clearly With A New Procedure

There is an alternative to Lasik eye surgery. It's a procedure that uses next-generation technology to implant a lens inside the eye. News On 6 anchor Jennifer Loren followed a patient through the procedure as her bad vision faded out of sight and out of mind.

Danya Scheiderer is a mother and a teacher in Springdale, Arkansas. All her life she's been frustrated by her terrible eyesight.

"It makes you feel like you can't function. I mean my husband laughingly says he doesn't want me driving with my kids. I have an 11-year-old and a three-year-old and they're very active. I go to sporting events and I can't see my own child. I can't see TV. I can't read road maps," said Scheiderer.

When her vision began to worsen, Scheiderer visited Dr. Brian Williams at Eye Care Associates in Tulsa. She wanted to have Lasik eye surgery, but Dr. Williams said Lasik would be risky for her and suggested something else, called ICL surgery.

"A lot of times what you'll find is patients who are near-sighted like that will do much better with an ICL versus Lasik surgery. They don't lose so much contrast sensitivity so their vision is very good with the ICL," said Dr. Williams.

Dr. Dan Langley is one of three ophthalmic surgeons in Oklahoma licensed to do ICLs. After just a few minutes of prep, Scheiderer was ready for the quick procedure.

Dr. Langley rolled the corrective lens into a cartridge and made two tiny incisions. Then Dr. Langley used a special instrument to tuck the lens into place. He then added some fluid and he's done.

"It just takes a couple minutes to do that procedure," said Dr. Langley.

And with virtually no healing time, Scheiderer's results are immediate.

"I can see! It's crazy!" said Scheiderer.

In one day she went from severely near-sighted to 20/20.

"It's like you've been given the gift of sight. It's just nuts. It's been amazing and it's only been four hours and so I'm looking forward to the next 40 years," said Scheiderer.

ICL surgery is more expensive than Lasik, but doctors say there are fewer side effects.

If you have any questions, e-mail Leigh Dougherty with Staar Surgical at ldougherty@staar.com.