Implantable Contact Lens

An implantable contact lens (ICL) is an alternative to contact lenses. They aim at correcting the vision, but unlike traditional contact lenses, these are positioned such that they remain in the eye for a longer duration of time. Implantable lenses are surgically placed inside the eyes, while regular external contact lenses are placed on the surface of the eye.

Nevertheless, if there are any major changes in your vision, the ICLs can be removed as well with no side effects. An ICL is made from Collamer, which is a biocompatible material- a combination of collagen and polymer. This does not cause any side effects or discomfort.

Benefits of ICLs

Implantable contact lens surgery is a very effective, safe, and quick procedure that permanently corrects a patient’s vision. The procedure only takes at least 15 minutes and involves placing a lens between a person’s iris and lens without damaging the corneal tissue. The healing process is also very quick due to the ease of the procedure. ICL proves to be one of the best vision correction alternatives. The quality of vision achieved with ICLs is excellent since the eye maintains its natural corneal shape. Moreover, corneal nerves are not disrupted in any way during the placement of ICLs. Hence, this procedure does not lead to dry eyes.

In addition, the material used to make ICLs (collamer) is purified collagen, so there are zero risks of an infection. The changes of ICLs being rejected by the body are very low since the body does not treat the lens as a foreign body and , as a result, the rates of infection or rejection are very low. They are also user-friendly as they require no maintenance such as disinfecting or cleaning.  They do not need to be removed daily and can stay in the eye indefinitely. Inserting ICLs is noninvasive and takes only a few minutes. ICLs are a very good option for people who cannot undergo LASIK surgery due to large pupils, irregular corneas, or very high prescriptions.

Cons of ICLs

Implantable contact lenses are well recommended to correct vision impairment but that doesn’t mean there are no risks associated with them. Implantable contact lenses are mainly recommended only in people between the age group of 18-50 years. Since ICL is considered to be a cosmetic procedure, it will probably not be included in insurance plans and may become a costly affair for some people. It is highly recommended that anyone who gets this procedure done should be willing to go for regular annual checkups.

The ICL eye surgery recovery time is fairly short and the eye will be completely healed within a month or two. However, people who undergo this procedure need to wait a bit longer to resume their activities of daily living to ensure complete and safe healing.

Most cases of eye conditions can be corrected using glasses or contact lenses. However, if you are looking for a more permanent solution, then an implantable contact lens can certainly be an option.

It is widely known that surgery can be nerve-wrecking, so doctors try to make the process as smooth and efficient as possible. ICL is just another innovative surgery that provides you with clearer vision. ICL is not for everyone, but if you are currently exploring different corrective vision procedures available, we suggest you schedule an appointment with your doctor to get a deeper insight.