Visian ICL: Implantable Collamer Lenses
Implantable Collamer Lens | Implantable Contact Lens in St. Louis
Most people who wear contact lenses would agree that the most disturbing aspect of contacts is having to remove them, but sometimes that is a relief. The maintenance of contact lenses and the irritation some people experience can be downright inconvenient.
Brinton Vision offers multiple refractive options that can help patients see clearly — including many people who have been told they are not candidates for LASIK. Visian ICL, sometimes referred to as an implantable contact lens or implantable collamer lens, is a biocompatible lens placed in the eye in a simple, 15-minute procedure. It corrects myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism, and can be a good choice for patients who have thin corneas, high astigmatism, or too strong of a glasses prescription for LASIK.
An ICL is an placed in the eye’s natural lens, hidden behind the iris. The patient’s natural lens remains intact and no tissue is removed, but the ICL corrects imperfections that are causing vision problems. From the outside, ICLs cannot be seen, but once in place, they deliver incredibly crisp and sharp vision — and without glasses or contact lenses!
Many LASIK centers focus their training, investments, and advertising on LASIK and don’t offer LASIK alternatives. After all, LASIK surgery holds a well-deserved spot as one of the most successful elective procedures in medical history. Just as every person is unique, so are our eyes. There is no one-size-fits-all solution, and for many patients, Visian ICL is the best option.
Your Brinton Vision Ocular Analysis will provide the information needed to develop a customized, personalized plan to help you obtain visual freedom.
Is ICL Safe?
Visian ICL technology may not be as commonly known as LASIK, but it has been proven to be safe and effective for decades. ICL has been used outside of the United States since 1993 and is known internationally as EVO Visian ICL or EVO Visian Toric ICL. More than 800,000 people in 60 countries have received ICL implants, and that number is growing. Every six minutes, someone is given the visual freedom a lens has to offer.
During the procedure, no corneal tissue is removed. Each lens is inserted behind the iris and in front of the lens through a tiny self-sealing incision. Vision is significantly improved immediately after surgery, and upon awakening the next morning, our patients love to talk about their “ultra-high definition” vision. As an added bonus, Visian ICLs contain an ultraviolet blocker protect the eyes from harmful UV rays.
About the ICL Procedure
Your procedure will take about 15 minutes, however, you should plan to be at Brinton Vision for approximately two hours, as we test you before and after the procedure. Come with a friend or family member who can drive you home, since your vision may be blurry in recovery.
Just as when you visit your optometrist for a routine eye exam, you don’t need to wear special clothing or change clothes on your procedure day. The only thing we will add to your ensemble is a blue cap, which you’ll wear during your procedure.
You’ll lie down on a comfortable bed and anesthetic drops will be used to numb your eye. A small, gentle eyelid holder will be put into place so that you do not need to worry about blinking during the procedure.
Once the ICL procedure begins, it lasts only a few minutes. A small slit measuring about 3mm will be made to the side of the cornea. A collamer lens designed for you is rolled up like a scroll and inserted through this slit.
Small slits generally heal quickly, and vision is typically clear within a few hours of surgery. In the following days, it becomes even sharper with healing.
What to Expect After ICL
Following your procedure, our experienced surgical technicians will provide you with instructions as well as eye shields to wear for the first week so that you don’t accidentally rub your eyes while you sleep.
Visian ICL patients typically experience little if any discomfort during or after the procedure. Most patients are able to resume regular activities, including returning to work, the day after surgery. A follow-up examination will be scheduled four hours after your procedure, as well as the morning after surgery so that Dr. Brinton or Dr. Poore can personally ensure that your new vision is progressing well.
Each Visian ICL is positioned behind the iris (the colored part of the eye. You will not be able to feel it or notice that it’s there. Unless you share it with others (and we hope you do), only your surgeon will be aware that vision correction has taken place.
Although the Visian ICL is intended to remain in place permanently, a qualified ophthalmologist can remove or update the lens to meet changes is your vision needs or health circumstances.
Testimonial
It’s been over six years since I’ve had Visian ICL and I still couldn’t be happier with my vision. Now, all I have to focus on is jiu-jitsu, empowering women and being a mom.
FAQs
The Visian ICL is a very effective implantable collamer lens (sometimes called an implantable contact lens) for many people who have moderate to severe myopia, or nearsightedness. Until now, however, people with steep astigmatism were not candidates for ICL, or for many other procedures. Visian Toric ICL was developed specifically for those patients in mind. It treats myopia as well as astigmatism, and it has also been effective in managing an eye disease called kerataconus.
A good ICL candidate is typically 18 years or older and who has a moderate to high prescription for nearsightedness. Patients should not have had previous eye surgery, and they should not have been diagnosed with eye disease. You may be a good candidate for ICL even if you have been told that you are not a candidate for LASIK.
Early after a vision correction procedure it is common to see halos and glare, particularly around lights at night. Our patients say that this is prominent at first, then dissipates over time to the point where it either completely goes away or is less noticeable. Glasses and contacts often have this same effect, as does applying artificial tears before driving at night.
To-date, Visian ICL has been used in over 800,000 patients worldwide with a success rate of over 99 percent. Visian ICL is an excellent LASIK alternative for patients with moderate to severe myopia, or who are not candidates for LASIK.
Vision correction surgeries are, as a whole, among the most successful procedures available today. That being said, every human body is unique. No two eyes are alike, and in rare cases, there may be a risk of complications. At Brinton Vision, we work hard to minimize that risk by taking the time and utilizing the most advanced technology to ensure you are a good candidate for any of our procedures and achieve the outcome you desire. Still, it is impossible to eliminate all risks.
Though they are extremely rare and are specific to each individual, potential complications can be:
- Under correction or over-correction: This is particularly problematic if a surgeon does not pay close attention to evaluation procedures, and it is a risk that can be virtually eliminated with thorough testing and skilled optic specialists.
- Dryness: Dryness is very rarely a long-term side-effect, particularly in practices like Brinton Vision where adequate testing is done to ensure that each patient truly is a good candidate for each available procedure.
- Night vision and other vision disturbances: Some patients report glares, halos, and starbursts at night following surgery. These are fairly common during the healing period, but thanks to technological advances, these are extremely rare once the slit has healed.
- Cataracts: There is a very small risk that cataracts may develop following ICL procedures. If this happens, it is possible to remove the ICL and implant an intraocular lens.
Risks of Visian ICL surgery can be minimized by thorough testing, such as a Brinton Vision Ocular Analysis, which properly ensures patients are ideal candidates for the procedure. Also, there is no substitute for training and experience, and skillful use of the most modern of technology. Any patient considering ICL surgery is encouraged to discuss all relative advantages, disadvantages, risks and benefits with a refractive surgeon trained and experienced in Visian ICL surgery.