Implantable Collamer Lens – ICL

An ICL is a phakic intraocular lens (IOL) used during refractive surgery for correcting myopia (nearsightedness). Unlike IOLs, which are used during cataract surgery, the ICL does not replace the eye’s natural lens. Instead, the ICL is placed between the iris and the natural lens to allow the ICL lens to work with your natural optical system and allow light to better focus on the retina. Because the phakic IOL does not replace the lens, but supplements it like a prescription contact lens on the surface of the eye, it is sometimes referred to as an implantable contact lens.

An ICL offers another option for treating myopia. Now, patients who are seeking the latest approved procedures for vision correction have another choice for correcting their nearsightedness. Many patients, who in the past have been told they were not good candidates for LASIK or PRK, have successfully had their vision corrected with an ICL.

Quality of Vision

An ICL offers unparalleled quality of vision, providing excellent contrast. Two unique factors help explain this superior optical performance. First, the ICL is made of Collamer – a soft, flexible lens material that contains a small amount of collagen – making the lens extremely biocompatible for a lifetime of clear vision. Second, the lens is placed inside the eye, where it continues to focus light accurately without any maintenance required.

Safe, Proven Procedure

The safety and effectiveness of the ICL implantation procedure has been proven with over 125,000 implants worldwide as well as recent U.S. FDA approval. Unlike corneal refractive surgery, the ICL does not permanently alter the structure of the eye. Instead, the phakic IOL is placed in the eye’s posterior chamber, where it works with the natural lens to correct vision.

Small Incision

The ICL is foldable. This feature allows physicians to implant the lens using a smaller incision. The small incision procedure is a technique that is familiar to eye surgeons. The ICL requires a 2.8mm to 3.0mm incision as opposed to the 6.0mm incision required by other FDA-approved phakic IOLs. This smaller incision is seen as less invasive, does not require sutures, and is astigmatically neutral.

Removable, if Necessary

Although the ICL is meant to stay in the eye indefinitely, it is easily removed by a trained ophthalmic surgeon, leaving the patient’s future options open.

UV Protection

The ICL features UV eye protection, assisting in the prevention of the development of various eye disorders. UV radiation may contribute to the development of macular degeneration, the leading cause of vision loss among older Americans; and cataracts, a major cause of visual impairment and blindness around the world.

Exceptional Patient Experience

Simple, Safe & Invisible Lens

Because the ICL is implanted in the posterior chamber, behind the iris, the lens is invisible to both the patient and any observer. Also, its positioning in the eye maintains normal iris function, promotes stability, and may reduce potential complications. The entire lens insertion procedure can take as little as 15 minutes!

The “Wow” Factor

After the simple 15-minute outpatient procedure, patients experience an immediate improvement in vision quality and are “Wowed” by the results. In fact, the quality of vision achieved is many times better than any previous vision correction solution.

Comfort From The Start – Short Recovery Time

The recovery time for an ICL is very quick and comfortable, and may be as little as a day, due to the very small size of the incision required. The incision needed to implant the foldable ICL is tiny and located on the far edge of the cornea, where there is little danger of it interfering with vision. Once the lens is implanted, sutures are typically not needed to close the incision, further simplifying the procedure.