If LASIK or PRK is not suitable for your eyes due to either a high prescription, thin cornea, abnormal corneal shape or significant dry eye, then implantable contact lenses (ICL) may be your best option for treating your myopia (short-sightedness), hyperopia (long-sightedness), or astigmatism.
ICL is proven to be effective in patients under 50 years of age with a wide range of refractive errors.
The procedure involves implanting a very thin artificial lens in front of the eye’s natural lens – but behind the iris, so that it is practically invisible to outside observers. Once implanted the lens stays indefinitely – but should your vision change dramatically the ICL can be replaced or removed.
The implantable contact lens procedure differs from cataract surgery in that it is a phakic procedure, meaning the eye’s natural lens is not removed.
Advantages compared to LASIK or PRK
- Can correct a wider range of refractive (focusing) errors and so it can be done for those who are outside of the range of LASIK
- Does not remove any corneal tissue so is safer if there is any doubt about corneal shape
- Does not cause dry eye
- Higher quality of vision for higher short sighted (myopic) corrections particularly when more than minus 8 dioptres
- The ICL can be easily removed making it more reversible.
Disadvantages compared to LASIK or PRK
- Costs about twice as much per eye and it involves an operation in a private hospital operating theatre and the Staar Visian ICL is expensive
- Involves an inside the eye operation with a 1 in 4000 chance of infection inside the eye
- Staar Visian ICL surgery can result in the formation of a cataract (cloudy natural lens)
- There is a 3% chance of cataract at ten years after the surgery