Open Hours
| Mon - Fri 08.00 - 18.00 | Sat 09.00 - 17.00
Free Info Pack
Call Me Back
0800 093 1110

Blog Post

Blog   : :   Blog Post
ICL Surgery
Jerry Chiemeke

Everything You Need To Know About ICL Surgery

What is ICL?

ICL refers to Implantable Collamer Lens and the surgical procedure that involves implanting the thin, biocompatible lens inside the eye to correct refractive errors.

Unlike other types of eye surgery like LASIK or PRK, ICL surgery doesn't require the removal of corneal tissue.

Who Is The ICL Procedure For?

The ICL procedure is often considered for individuals in their 20s and early 30s with a higher than average prescription, or eye surface characteristics (like thinner corneas) that makes them ineligible for laser eye correction.

Although ICL surgery may not be preselected in every instance, it remains a very versatile treatment that can be suitable for patients between 21-60 years old who:

  • Are near-sighted with mild to severe myopia (-0.5D to -20.0D)
  • Are far-sighted with mild to severe hyperopia (+0.5D to +10.0D)
  • Have astigmatism between 0.5D and 6.0D

What Does The Typical ICL Procedure Look Like?

The ICL Procedure is simple, painless and lasts for only 20–30 minutes. It is minimally invasive and the lens is implanted through a small opening, allowing for a quick procedure and recovery time.

The ICL is positioned in front of your eye’s natural lens and behind the iris. With ICL Surgery, the natural lens remains in place, so the procedure is reversible, should your visual requirements change.

Before you schedule your EVO ICL procedure, your doctor will perform a series of standard tests to measure your eye’s unique characteristics for the procedure. Once your doctor determines that the EVO ICL is a good option for you, they will educate you about the procedure and what to expect both during and after the surgery.

When you arrive for your procedure, your doctor will administer eye drops to dilate your pupils as well as anaesthetise your eyes. To prepare for the implant your doctor will create one small opening at the base of your cornea to insert the EVO ICL lens. It can then be folded and inserted through the small incision your doctor has made. Once this is completed, the doctor will make any necessary adjustments to ensure proper positioning of the lens within the eye.

You may experience slightly blurred vision for a couple of days after having ICL eye surgery, which will gradually improve over time. It may take a couple of months for you to achieve the final result, as your eyes will continue to heal following the procedure.

Before considering ICL surgery, you should have a discussion with an eye care professional.

Benefits of ICL Surgery

Taking the decision to have ICL surgery should leave you with vastly improved vision and the ability to see things much more clearly and in greater focus. Some of the benefits include:

  • Wide Range of Treatment: ICL represents an alternative to other refractive surgeries including, laser assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK), photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), incisional surgeries, or other means to correct your vision such as contact lenses and eye glasses.
  • Flexibility: EVO ICLs are easy to implant in the eye because of the soft and flexible structure. You won’t even know it’s there other than the fact that you have great vision.
  • Biocompatibility: The material from which the lens is made contains collagen, helping it to work in natural harmony with your eye.
  • Reduced Dry Eye Risk: There is a much smaller risk of developing dry eyes following treatment, since it doesn’t involve reshaping your corneal tissue.
  • Night Vision: Clinical studies have shown that the EVO Visian ICL provides excellent night vision.
  • UV Protection: The Collamer material of the lens provides UV protection. UV rays can damage the eyes by bringing on a variety of eye conditions like macular degeneration, cataracts, pinguecula, and pterygium. The EVO Visian ICL helps to lower these risks.
  • Reversibility: With Implantable Contact Lens surgery, the natural lens remains in place, so the procedure is reversible, should your visual requirements change.
  • Safety: There is a complication rate of less than 1 in 1,000 (0.1%), so you can be confident that ICL eye surgery is one of the safest medical procedures.

With over 3,000,000 lenses distributed worldwide, EVO ICL is quickly becoming a vision correction procedure of choice for many people around the world. 99.4% of EVO Visian ICL patients globally would have the procedure again.

How Optimax Brings New Dimensions To Vision Correction With ICL Surgery

At Optimax, we use the EVO Visian Implantable Contact Lens produced by STAAR Surgical for all ICL treatments. This lens is an excellent choice as it can cater to very strong prescriptions (up to +10 for long-sighted patients, -20 for short-sighted patients, and +6 for astigmatism). It is made from collamer which means it is biocompatible and works in natural harmony with your eye, as well as providing UV protection.

We pride ourselves on the excellent level of service provided to our customers, and that guarantee extends well beyond the day of your operation. You will receive one year's free aftercare, during which we will meet a number of times to discuss the progress of your ICL surgery recovery. Your first appointment will be scheduled within a day or two of your operation, with two more to come over the subsequent 4-6 weeks. Finally, if all is well and everything seems satisfactory, you will be discharged after 3-6 months.

If you have any questions regarding ICL surgery at Optimax, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. We are more than happy to discuss queries with you over the phone (0800 093 1110) or email (enquiry@optimax.co.uk).