- Lens Surgery
Implantable Contact Lens (ICL)
- Treatment
- Lens Surgery
Implantable Contact Lens (ICL)
When most people consider the possibility of life without traditional contact lenses or glasses, they’re usually thinking of LASIK or another type of laser eye surgery.
Unfortunately, not everyone is a good candidate for LASIK. If you are less than 40 years of age and have a very high prescription, then the use of an implantable contact lens (ICL) can be a very good alternative for improved vision. We use both STAAR ICL and IPCL lenses at Laser Vision.
What is an Implantable Contact Lens
The Implantable Contact Lens (ICL) has been available for over 20 years and, to date, over 650,000 Collamer lenses have been implanted worldwide for improved vision. Custom made for each individual, the lens is a micro-thin implant that is able to correct refractive errors in very high prescriptions, ranging from +8.00D longsightedness to -20.00D short-sightedness, whilst also correcting up to 6.00D of astigmatism.
Made from a technologically advanced collagen based Collamer material, the implantable collamer lens is designed to be inert and 100% compatible with the natural environment of the eye. Other advantages of collamer in an implantable lens include UV protection – both UV-A and UV-B protection – anti-reflectivity and exceptional optical clarity.
The implantable collamer lens is implanted through a small 2.2mm entry and the soft lens sits above the natural crystalline lens of the eye, being positioned behind the iris and infant of the natural lens. Once implanted, the flexible lens is invisible to the naked eye unlike traditional contact lenses and cannot be flat within the eye.
The implantable contact lenses procedure takes less than 15 minutes to perform and is often performed under local anaesthetic, meaning patients are able to walk out of the surgical theatre once finished. For patients who are anxious, general anaesthesia or sedation can be administered. The ICL is a reversible procedure meaning that in the future, the lens can be removed should the need arise for any reason
Made from a technologically advanced collagen based Collamer material, the implantable collamer lens is designed to be inert and 100% compatible with the natural environment of the eye. Other advantages of collamer in an implantable lens include UV protection – both UV-A and UV-B protection – anti-reflectivity and exceptional optical clarity.
The implantable collamer lens is implanted through a small 2.2mm entry and the soft lens sits above the natural crystalline lens of the eye, being positioned behind the iris and infant of the natural lens. Once implanted, the flexible lens is invisible to the naked eye unlike traditional contact lenses and cannot be flat within the eye.
The implantable contact lenses procedure takes less than 15 minutes to perform and is often performed under local anaesthetic, meaning patients are able to walk out of the surgical theatre once finished. For patients who are anxious, general anaesthesia or sedation can be administered. The ICL is a reversible procedure meaning that in the future, the lens can be removed should the need arise for any reason
Implantable Collamer Lens Surgery Procedure
- 1.Local anaesthetic eye drops are applied to both eyes
- 2.The area around your eye will be cleaned and a drape applied to ensure
- 3.An ICL is gently inserted through a 2.2mm incision in the cornea, and the lens is positioned behind the iris and floated on the natural lens
