What is an Implantable Contact Lens (ICL)?

Implantable contact lens also called as ICL is a type of Phakic Lens.

Phakic intraocular lenses, or phakic lenses, are specialized lenses made of plastic or silicone materials, which are implanted into the eye permanently to reduce a person's dependence on glasses or contact lenses. They are called as Phakic lenses as they are implanted into the eye without removing the eye's natural lens. The phakic lens is inserted through a small incision and placed just in front of or just behind the iris.

The lens is soft and tiny, much like the natural lens, but does not replace it. The ICL is specially shaped to correct nearsightedness and farsightedness.

What do they Treat?

Phakic lenses are used to correct refractive errors, which include near and far sightedness. Phakic lenses have been approved by the FDA are for the correction of both nearsightedness (myopia) and far sightedness.

Our eyes are a complex optical system in which the cornea and natural lens focus light to create an image on the retina, therefore, acting similar to a camera lens which focuses light to create an image on film. This bending and focusing of light is known as refraction and refractive errors are the imperfections in focusing power of the eye. They cause images on the retina to be out of focus or blurred.

People with nearsightedness have more difficulty in seeing distant objects than near objects. On the contrary, farsightedness is associated with difficulty in seeing near objects.

Phakic lenses, once placed in the eye, focus the light rays on the retina providing clear distance vision without the aid of glasses or contact lenses.

What if I have a large cylindrical error?

Advanced phakic lenses, also called as Toric ICL are a step further. They correct the cylindrical errors (also called as astigmatism) also thus providing a very sharp vision..

What makes ICL special?

1. Suitability for different patients: Since ICL treatment is completely safe even if you have thin corneas, dry eyes, or large pupils (as it does not involve removing tissue from the cornea), it can be suitable for candidates who are otherwise unfit for Laser vision correction. Also ICL can correct a large range of visual error.
2. Advantages of ICL: The lens is small foldable and injected through a tiny, pain free, self healing incision in your eye. The ICL provides highly predictable outcomes, excellent quality of vision and can be removed if necessary.
3. Quick Recovery: After this treatment, you can leave the hospital after a couple of hours, due to quick recovery. You will be able to enjoy your new sight almost immediately and go back to your active lifestyle. Your surgeon will give you a detailed advise on this.
4. If during your annual eye exam major changes in your vision are observed, the ICL can be removed or replaced. With the ICL you can still wear glasses or contact lenses if necessary. The lens does not treat presbyopia or eliminate the need for reading glasses due to age.
5. The ICL is invisible: The ICL works similarly to a contact lens. The difference is that the lens is placed inside your eye, rather than on the surface. The lens is invisible. The only way that you, or anyone else will know that it is there, is the improvement in your eyesight. You can neither see nor feel the lens once it is inside your eye.
6. Provides high patient satisfaction: The ICL provides high quality of vision, is a highly precise and predictable treatment and provides exceptional patient satisfaction. The ICL was made available in 1997. Over 55’000 lenses have been implanted since then.
   
   

Deciding to have Surgery

Talk to your doctor about your expectations, medical history, eye history, or past eye examination. This will help you decide whether phakic lenses are right for you. After a detailed eye examination you will be counseled and provided the various options of vision correction.

ICL Procedure

What should I expect after surgery?

Your vision will probably be somewhat hazy or blurry for the first few hours after surgery. It usually takes about 1 to 2 days for the vision to stabilize. Do NOT rub your eyes, especially for the first 3 to 5 days. You can resume your work from the next day onwards, although you will be advised to put a few eye drops over 2-4 weeks.
Can they be removed?

Can they be removed?

Phakic lenses are intended to be permanent, however, they can be safely removed if a patient develops cataract in old age. At the time of cataract surgery, they can be replaced by Intra Ocular Lenses, after removal of cataractous lens.