Meet Entomologist Phil Torres

Hi, I’m Phil Torres, an entomologist. My work allows me to travel the world, studying different organisms, and keeping a keen eye on the life that’s all around us. ICL allows me to keep my work in focus.

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What led me to ICL

My mom told me I had magic eyes as a kid and that I had this ability to just see things other people were missing. In the fifth grade, I began getting headaches and I needed glasses or something. As a biologist, there was this uncertainty that I had that what if a contact lens falls out when I'm in the wilderness? What am I going to do?

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Phil’s day-to-day & where ICL helps most.

Entomology

As an entomologist I have to be able to see very small things. I study insects which sometimes can be the size of a grain of salt.

Clear headed in the field

For years I would use contacts and when I was out on the field there was this uncertainty that I had that what if a contact falls out when I’m way out remote?

Night vision

One of the things about my job is that a lot of the work happens at night. I will spend hours hiking in the rainforest with just a headlamp on my head. With ICL my eyes are now clearer than ever at night.

Navigating in the rain forest

It’s pretty hard to walk around the rainforest when you can’t see. It’s the biggest thrill when you’re out there in the field and you look at something and realize that nobody else has seen this thing or discovered this.
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“I had my first opportunity to put my ICL eyes to the test recently in the Amazon rainforest, and it couldn’t have been more exciting to be able to spot rare species better than I have my entire life.”

As a biologist, the difference between making a new discovery can come down to how well I can see. I had my first opportunity to put my ICL eyes to the test recently in the Amazon rainforest, and it couldn’t have been more exciting to be able to spot rare species seemingly better than ever. Not only was I seeing certain things for the first time ever, but I felt like I was seeing the world better than I ever had before.

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Questions with Phil

What do you do for a living?

I’m an entomologist, my eyes are a critical tool for the work I do as I am constantly studying these tiny organisms that are sometimes as small as a grain of salt.

How long have you had problems with your vision?

I started noticing that I needed glasses when I was in 5th grade when I started getting headaches every day. I thought it was just something I had to deal with, but later realized it was related to my vision.

What’s your biggest pain point about contacts or glasses?

When I was wearing contacts, my eyes were always so dry. It was only after ICL that I realized that the irritation was from constantly having something on my eye.

What about ICL helped make your decision?

One of the things that really stood out to me about ICL over other procedures is the fact that it is removable [by your doctor]. There’s kind of a lot of fear with the other procedures of what if something goes wrong… you’re kind of stuck with it, but with ICL the doctors assured me that this is something that is removable [if needed].

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This information is presented in the public interest by STAAR Surgical™ to create awareness of options available for those with near-sightedness with or without astigmatism. Please consult your health care provider to determine which option is right for you.

References

1Patient Survey, STAAR Surgical ICL Data Registry, 2018

2Sanders D. Vukich JA. Comparison of implantable collamer lens (ICL) and laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) for Low Myopia. Cornea. 2006 Dec; 25(10):1139-46.

3Naves, J.S. Carracedo, G. Cacho-Babillo, I. Diadenosine Nucleotid Measurements as Dry-Eye Score in Patients After LASIK and ICL Surgery. Presented at American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) 2012.

4Shoja, MR. Besharati, MR. Dry eye after LASIK for myopia: Incidence and risk factors. European Journal of Ophthalmology. 2007; 17(1): pp. 1-6.

5aLee, Jae Bum et al. Comparison of tear secretion and tear film instability after photorefractive keratectomy and laser in situ keratomileusis. Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery , Volume 26 , Issue 9 , 1326 - 1331.

5bParkhurst, G. Psolka, M. Kezirian, G. Phakic intraocular lens implantantion in United States military warfighters: A retrospective analysis of early clinical outcomes of the Visian ICL. J Refract Surg. 2011;27(7):473-481.

*American Refractive Surgery Council