Dishler Laser Institute, is not just a name, it is really an eye research center which has conducted numerous clinical trials over almost two decades to help advance the field of eye surgery and vision.  We have been part of many aspects of laser vision development while maintaining an active clinical practice.  Most recently we have been selected as one of just five clinical sites to implant the Revision Lens into properly selected and informed candidates as part of an FDA clinical trial currently pending final approval.  These patients will all be people who have had great vision all of their lives, and now in their mid-life, are experiencing an inability to see well at near.  The lens is carefully implanted as a minor surgical procedure just  beneath the surface of the cornea, and is totally clear. 

In fact the clarity of the lens is one of the unique things about it.  It has the exact same optical properties as the cornea that surrounds it, and is very permeable to nutrients, just like the cornea and it is essentially "synthetic cornea" that has no optical effect on vision directly.  So how does it work?  This tiny implanted material creates a very very small bump in the center of the cornea or the front of the eye.  This bump acts as a magnifying glass so that when looking up close, words are now visible whereas when looking far away, the bump is almost invisible.  It is only place in one eye at this time, so that the other eye maintains perfect distance vision.  In the implanted eye, the distance vision can be slightly blurred but there is a significant increase in the near vision restoring reading vision in most cases. 

Patients who have had this implant placed at investigative sites outside of the United States have overall been extremely happy with their outcomes.  Business people can read without fiddling for reading glasses, and women can apply their makeup in a normal mirror.  There have been very few problems associated with the device, and the really nice part is that it is removable in just a few minutes should someone not be satisfied with their results. 

Before such a product is available in the USA, it needs to undergo the rigorous testing of a clinical trial at multiple study sites where the results are reviewed by the FDA and a determination is made as to the safety and efficacy of the device.  There are no assurances at this time that this device will ultimately be approved in the United States in spite of the promising initial results.  Patients who enter into this trial are made aware of both the additional risks that they are taking to have this implant and the extra testing of vision that is done for three years after the implant is placed to be sure that the results are excellent and continue without problems.

This is where we come in.  As a study site, we will enroll patients, perform the procedures according to a well designed and controlled protocol. and accurately test and follow-up on the results.  This procedure does not cure any eye disease, but rather is designed to be an aid to those who wish to have an alternative to reading glasses.  It has some similarity to "monovision" which can be created with contact lenses or by LASIK.  It is even closer to a procedure which is being performed but also not approved called "PresbyLASIK" where a laser reshapes the eye in a similar fashion to that created by the implant.  We believe however, that since lasers can only remove tissue, whereas this is an additive procedure, it potentially can have better results than presbyLASIK.  Also, presbyLASIK is not reversible whereas this procedure has the ability to remove the implant or change the strength of the correction at a later time as necessary.

Besides discussing this clinical study which will be conducted during 2010 (and if you want more information please use the contact us form located on this page) we would like to emphasize that unlike many LASIK centers which are one dimensional, we are truly a research institute and as such have technology and expertise that has been developed through our experiences being a partner with industry and the development of vision correction technology.  Please consider us when selecting a center for LASIK or any vision correction procedures.  We are conveniently located in Denver, Colorado, just off of I-25 and Belleview Avenue at our same location for over 25 years.