Am I a Good Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL) Candidate?

You’re most likely very familiar with temporary and disposable contact lenses – either you currently wear them, you have worn them in the past, or you know someone who wears them. These lenses come in contact with your eye, hence the name, in order to correct your vision. But have you heard of Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL)? Similar to regular contacts, ICLs are often called an implantable contact lens, but this lens does not come in contact with your eye at all. The Implantable Collamer Lens was approved by the FDA in 2004 and is able to treat high levels of nearsightedness and astigmatism.

Am I an Ideal Candidate for an Implantable Collamer (Contact) Lens?

There are several factors that may make you a great ICL candidate:

• You have moderate to severe nearsightedness, all the way up to -20.0
• You have corneal thickness or mapping not adequate for LASIK or PRK
• You are a patient under 40 years old – ICL is not FDA approved for patients over the age of 45
• You are predisposed to dry eye

Who Should NOT Get an Implantable Collamer (Contact) Lens?

• You are over the age of 40 – if you’re over 40, you should consider other options such a Refractive lens Exchange (RLE)
• You are farsighted
• You have mild nearsightedness

Benefits of the Visian ICL

• Permanent procedure, yet removable if necessary
• Sharp clear vision with 99% patient satisfaction
• 20-30 minute outpatient procedure
• Biocompatible lens with UV protection
• Does not induce dry eye syndrome
• Does not alter the shape of your cornea
• Less chance of glare & halos
• Extremely common procedure worldwide and growing in the US

Considerations When Determining the Best Vision Correction Procedure for You

Be sure you are with a reputable experienced vision correction surgeon who offers and can explain all of your options; LASIK, PRK, ICL, and RLE. It is your eye and your vision; make the choice that you and your surgeon feel is best for you. All procedures have different costs that need to be taken into consideration. Make sure you have all pricing in writing and consider the return on your investment (ROI). You should also understand the side effects of each procedure and the longevity of your procedure – the long-term health of your eyes is always our top priority.