Implantable Contact Lenses

What are Implantable Contact Lens (ICLs)?

An Implantable Contact Lens (ICL) is a very thin custom-made soft lens painlessly inserted into the eye in order to correct a patient's vision. Unlike an external contact lens, ICLs are meant to be placed in your eye and remain there permanently – not requiring replacement.

ICLs represent a feasible alternative to patients want a permanent vision correction solution but who cannot undergo LASIK or PRK surgery Although ICLs are meant to be permanent implants, the procedure is reversible, unlike LASIK laser vision correction. ICLs can correct myopia (near-sightedness), hyperopia (far-sightedness) and astigmatism.

How is it done?

ICL implantation is a surgical procedure where the lens is placed behind the iris (the coloured part of the eye) and in front of the eye’s natural lens (which lies behind the iris). The procedure itself usually takes no more than half an hour and is pain-free thanks to no-needle anaesthetic jelly and light sedation.

The ICL insertion procedure does not require a hospital stay and patients can return home the very same day. Vision starts improving immediately.

Who is suitable?

ICLs are most suitable for patients who:

• Are not able to undergo LASIK eye surgery (laser eye surgery), such as those who have thin corneas, have high nearsightedness (more than -5.0 D and up to -20.0 D), or have high farsightedness (more than +4.0 D and up to +18.0D)

• Have astigmatism (up to 8.0D)

• Are older than 21 years (so that any vision problems are stable)

• Are not pregnant

Unique characteristics of ICLs:

ICLs have a number of unique characteristics over other vision correction procedures. ICLs produce not only offer improved visual acuity but also excellent visual quality. Many patients experience an immediate improvement in the quality of their vision.

ICLs are made from collamer, a 100 percent pure collagen copolymer material which is not viewed as a foreign object by the body's immune system, making it virtually unsusceptible to rejection by the body. The placement of the ICL within the eye makes the lens invisible to the patient and any observer.

Compared to LASIK and PRK procedures, ICLs offer a wider treatment range for myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism. ICLs are designed to be permanently placed in the eye; however, the lens can be removed if a patient's vision changes or if it otherwise needs to be removed or replaced. Also unlike traditional contact lenses, once the ICL is implanted in the eye, there is no additional maintenance needed.

Each ICL is designed and custom made in Switzerland to specifically fit each individual patient. Since the introduction of this technology, more than 55,000 successful procedures have been performed worldwide.

How do ICLs compare with LASIK?

LASIK (Laser-Assisted In situ Keratomileusis) is a permanent vision correction procedure where the cornea is irreversibly reshaped with a laser. It is the most common form of laser eye surgery today. However in some instances, patients are not eligible for LASIK for various reasons such as having corneas which are too thin or high degrees of near-sightedness or far-sightedness for safe LASIK. ICLs are a viable alternative to LASIK in these situations. Unlike LASIK, the use of ICLs is also a reversible procedure.

Several large scientific studies which have compared ICLs to LASIK laser vision correction have shown that ICLs can be better than LASIK for quality of vision, stability of vision and predictability of vision.

Unlike other vision correction procedures like LASIK or PRK laser vision correction, the implantation of the ICL does not remove or alter the eye's tissue. Instead, during the refractive surgical procedure, a small incision is made and the foldable ICL is inserted into the eye to supplement the eye's natural lens.

How long will it take for me to recover from the procedure?

Patients experience as close to normal vision as possible within a few weeks of the procedure. There are no long term physical limitations to getting ICLs and you should be able to have a complete return to normal activity very soon after having the procedure. Most patients can resume their daily routine the very next day.

Both eyes can be implanted with ICLs, although for safety reasons surgery on the second eye is delayed until the first eye has settled. Regular checkups are standard after every procedure to ensure the patient is recovering well.

How much is ICL surgery?

Although ICLs are usually more expensive than laser eye surgery, they are an excellent solution for those who cannot undergo laser eye surgery but who do not wish to rely on glasses or traditional contact lenses.

Do having ICLs mean I can be completely free of glasses?

ICLs are meant to replace existing external contact lenses and glasses, and restore natural focus for your age. However as eyesight changes with age, ICL patients may benefit from wearing glasses when driving or reading as they grow older in just the same way as people with normal vision would.

Are ICLS for me?

As with all medical and surgical procedures, ICLs are not completely risk-free. Ultimately, you need to make up your mind about the risk/benefit balance for the various vision correction options available to you. When considering corrective eye surgery you should always consult a qualified ophthalmologist or eye specialist and seek the most experienced provider of the procedure best suited to your eyes.

See also: LASIK Laser Vision Correction and IntraLase Custom LASIK on GrownUps.