What is ICL Lens?
ICL is an Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL) designed to correct nearsightedness with and without astigmatism. The small flexible lens is placed behind the iris (the colored part of the eye) and in front of the natural crystalline lens in order to improve vision. It's like having your doctor implant a lens similar to a contact lens into your eye so you can live without the daily hassles and maintenance of typical contact lenses.
ICL Procedure - What to Expec
ICL lens is made of biocompatible Collamer material that works in harmony with your eye. Your eye doctor will create a small opening in your cornea that will be used to insert and position the ICL. For most patients, the procedure is virtually painless with numbing eye drops and it typically takes less than 20 - 30 minutes. Patients typically experience improved vision right away and a quick recovery time.
What Makes the ICL Different?
Although the ICL is often informally named an "implantable contact lens," in the United States, the acronym ICL in the ICL stands for "Implantable Collamer Lens." Collamer is the unique material that the lens is made of.
Quality of Vision
The 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
Unlike other phakic IOLs, 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.
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