{"id":10063,"date":"2021-02-25T07:42:06","date_gmt":"2021-02-25T07:42:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/?page_id=10063"},"modified":"2022-02-25T10:25:48","modified_gmt":"2022-02-25T10:25:48","slug":"guide-to-implantable-contact-lenses","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/general-practice-optometry\/optical\/guide-to-laser-refractive-surgery\/guide-to-implantable-contact-lenses\/","title":{"rendered":"Guide to Implantable Contact Lenses"},"content":{"rendered":"

Have you been told you cannot have laser eye surgery? ICLs may be the solution.<\/b><\/h2>\n

If you are considering laser vision correction surgery<\/a>, an implantable contact lens (ICL) could be an option to provide you with the best vision.<\/p>\n

The first ICL surgery was performed in 1993, with over 1 million ICLs implanted globally since then.<\/p>\n

With many options in vision correction, it can be difficult to determine which is the best option. While LASIK<\/a> is the well known name for improving vision through laser eye surgery, it may or may not be the best fit for you and your eyes.<\/p>\n

Over the years, ICL surgery has continued to gain in popularity as ICL delivers a lens implant as a no-maintenance and permanent solution to improving vision.<\/p>\n

If you are interested in ICL surgery visit your eye doctor to find out if you are a good candidate.\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n

What is ICL?<\/b><\/h2>\n

The Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL), or Implantable Contact Lens as it is commonly called, is a successful alternative to laser vision correction surgery.<\/b><\/p>\n

During Implantable Contact Lens surgery (ICL), a lens implant made from a very thin biocompatible material is placed inside the eye between the iris and the natural lens. The ICL does not replace the eye\u2019s natural lens, but is specifically shaped to help correct vision problems just like glasses or contact lenses.<\/p>\n

The ICL lens is not like a regular contact lens<\/a> (that is placed on the cornea) but rather the ICL is inserted into the eye. The difference between ICL and glasses or contact lenses is that the lens is surgically placed into the eye and requires no maintenance from the patient.<\/p>\n

The ICL lens implant can not be seen or felt.<\/p>\n

Laser Eye Surgery or ICL<\/b><\/h2>\n

Laser eye surgery, or laser vision correction, uses lasers to reshape the front surface (cornea) of the eyes so that it can focus better. It can correct farsightedness, nearsightedness, and astigmatism.<\/p>\n

Laser eye surgery is suitable for most people over the age of 18, when the eye stops growing. Lens surgery is also suitable for those who have a high prescription or later in life.<\/p>\n

There are 3 main types of laser eye surgery<\/a>: LASIK, SMILE and PRK;<\/p>\n