Implantable Contact Lens (ICL) surgery is a refractive error correction procedure designed for patients with nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. It can only be performed by highly qualified doctors, including our ophthalmologists and specialists here at Asian Eye Institute. We use advanced equipment and facilities to ensure optimal results.
Before anything else, your doctor will conduct a thorough eye exam to determine your eligibility for getting an ICL. During the ICL procedure, you will be administered local anesthesia to minimize discomfort. The surgeon will then create a tiny incision in the eye and place the implantable lens there. Research shows that almost 95% of patients who undergo this surgery are highly satisfied with their results.
For nearsightedness or myopia, ICL surgery places a thin, flexible lens inside the eye, directly correcting how light focuses on the retina. This internal lens effectively augments your natural lens, providing clear distance vision and reducing or eliminating the need for glasses or contact lenses.
Implantable contact lenses can correct hyperopia or farsightedness. During the surgery, the doctor places an intraocular lens to adjust the eye's focusing power. This helps light rays converge correctly on the retina, enabling clearer vision for objects both near and far, significantly improving visual acuity without external aids.
ICL eye surgery can also correct astigmatism by using a Toric ICL that has specific curvatures to counteract the irregular shape of the cornea or natural lens. This specially designed lens neutralizes the astigmatism, ensuring light focuses evenly on the retina for sharp, undistorted vision.
ICLs are permanent lenses placed inside the eye to correct vision. Like glasses and regular contact lenses, Implantable Contact Lenses work by bending light into the retina, but without the need to wear anything on your face or eyes daily. It offers clear, long-lasting vision correction for refractive errors.
Eligibility for ICL surgery is determined by a comprehensive eye exam. Generally, candidates are between 21-45 years old, have stable vision, and sufficient anterior chamber depth. It’s often suitable for those with high refractive errors or thin corneas, making them unsuitable for LASIK.
The surgery for ICL typically takes only about 15 to 30 minutes per eye. It’s an outpatient procedure, meaning you can go home on the same day. However, allow extra time for pre- and post-operative care at the clinic.
During the procedure, local anesthesia is administered to numb the eye, so you will not feel pain. You might experience a sensation of pressure. Post-surgery, some mild discomfort or irritation is normal but usually subsides quickly and can be managed with prescribed drops.
Vision improvement is often immediate, with significant clarity seen within a day or two. Full visual recovery and stabilization typically occur within a few weeks. You’ll need to use prescribed eye drops and attend follow-up appointments.
ICLs are designed to be a permanent vision correction solution. They remain in the eye indefinitely but can be removed or replaced by an ophthalmologist if needed, offering a reversible option for vision correction.
