• What are Artiflex and Artisan lenses?
• Why opt for an Artisan or Artiflex lens?
• What about the implantation? How is this done?
• What is the difference between Artisan and Artiflex?
• What are the most recent developments? 
    

What are Artiflex and Artisan lenses?

Artisan and Artiflex lenses are ultra-thin contact lenses. They are implanted into the eye to correct short-sightedness, long-sightedness as well as cylinder deviations. The small lenses are attached to the iris with two tiny clips and remain permanently in the eye.  Artisan and Artiflex lenses are aimed at anyone who wants to have sharp and clear vision but wants to be free from having to wear glasses or contact lenses. 
  

Why decide on Artisan or Artiflex lenses?

• The treatment is reversible.
  This means that the treatment can be undone. If anything should go wrong, the eye can be returned to its original state. This is not possible in laser treatments where, during the treatment, a layer of the cornea is removed by the laser.
• Excellent visual acuity.
  So you wish to maintain optimum vision? Artisan and Artiflex lenses maintain excellent visual acuity since the central cornea remains intact. During laser treatments, on the other hand, this critical part of the cornea is treated.
• Safe and effective
  We are talking about the eyes here. You want to make absolutely sure that the treatment is safe. Artisan lenses have been implanted for more than 25 years. Extensive studies have shown the lens to be safe and effective, even in the long term.
• Even major deviations can be corrected
  Artisan and Artiflex lenses are also available if you have a high plus or minus deviation. (+12 -23.5 dioptres) with or without cylinders. This in contrast to laser treatments. 
  
   
  
   
   
  Artisan and Artiflex lenses are often seen as a means to further extend the dioptre range of laser treatments. This is not entirely right. In cases where customers are equally suitable for both treatments, many opt for the small lenses on the basis of the benefits stated here.
   

What about implantation? How is this done?

The small lenses are implanted in the eye during a brief outpatient treatment under local anaesthetic. A small incision is made at the edge of the cornea through which the lens is inserted.
 
These small lenses consist of an optical and a haptic part. The optical part contains your required correction. The haptic part makes it possible to attach the small lenses to the iris. It contains a small opening and with the use of a small, special instrument, a tiny fold of iris tissue is clamped between the small clips of the small lens thus enabling the small lens to stay in place securely.

In an Artisan lens implantation the tiny incision is subsequently sutured, in an Artiflex implantation the incision is smaller and does not need to be sutured.

What is the difference between Artisan and Artiflex lenses?

Artisan and Artiflex lenses are made of different materials. The optical part of the Artiflex lens is made of silicone, a flexible material. The Artisan lens is made of PMMA, an inflexible plastic. The flexible material of the Artiflex lens allows the lens to be folded upon insertion in the eye. This has the advantage that only a tiny incision is needed (3.2 mm). This incision heals more quickly than the slightly larger incision needed for the Artisan lens (5 or 6 mm). As such, optimum vision is restored more quickly with the Artiflex lens. 
 

New developments

This year (2009) sees the launch of the toric Artiflex lens which can be applied in cases of cylinder deviations with or without short-sightedness.