For 43-year-old Allison Parker, it's hard to remember a time when she didn’t depend on glasses or contact lenses to correct her severe nearsightedness.
As an adult, she hoped that LASIK could improve her vision, but she was not a candidate due to the severity of her myopia. Parker was a candidate for implantable collamer lens (ICL) surgery that can permanently correct myopia. After undergoing ICL surgery, Parker can now drive, work, parent, and see the world clearly, without the hassle and expense of corrective lenses.
Lloyd Williams, MD, PhD associate professor of ophthalmology is a leader in ICL surgery and he performed the outpatient procedure on Parker.
ICL surgery can lead to remarkable improvements in vision and quality of life for ideal candidates. An ICL is an artificial lens made of plastic and collamer that can be permanently implanted between the eye’s natural lens and iris to refract light on the retina, producing clearer vision. In most cases, glasses and/or contact lenses are no longer needed after surgery.
Learn more about ICL, Williams' approach to care, and Parker's journey in this emotional video.
For more information, to schedule a consult, or to refer a patient, email lasik@duke.edu or call 919-668-8619.