Benefits of Implantable Contact Lens Surgery for Clear Vision

In the world of refractive eye surgery, implantable collamer lenses (ICLs) have become the go-to option for surgeons and patients. Just like in cataract surgery, intraocular lenses or IOLs are so popular, similarly, implantable contact lens surgery is one of the alternatives to other laser vision correction surgeries.

What is ICL Lens Surgery?

Visian ICL is a vision correction surgery and another form of specialized area of IOL. An expert eye surgeon implants Visian ICL lenses just in front of the natural lenses of the eyes. This surgery offers a permanent solution, especially for refractive issues like astigmatism and myopia. Additionally, this procedure is reversible and rendered with biocompatible lenses.

What are the Benefits of Implantable Contact Lens Surgery?

Owing to the multiple benefits of ICL surgery, it is fast becoming a popular alternative to other medical procedure, particular in those individuals who are not eligible for laser based procedures such as LASIK or SMILE because of high refractive errors or weak corneas.

· Correcting a Comprehensive Range of Prescriptions

Patients wearing contact lenses or glasses benefit immensely from ICL. For example, Visian ICL can correct myopia from -3.00 to -20.00 D. Similarly, in the case of astigmatism, the procedure can help correct vision problems between 1.00 and 4.00 D. Thus, a range of prescriptions can be corrected with the procedure. The range is usually quite wide compared to other methods like LASIK or PRK. 

· Reduced Risks of Dry Eyes

ICL vision surgery is a blessing for people suffering from dry eye conditions. That’s primarily because the procedure does not disturb the corneal nerves. Thus, there are fewer chances of dry eye conditions after the surgery.

· Corneal Thickness is Not an Issue

Procedures like LASIK and PRK have the limitations of a minimum corneal thickness. These limitations, however, do not apply in the case of ICL. Patients with a reduced thickness or irregular structure can also look forward to correcting their vision to a great extent.

· Reversible Process

One of the biggest benefits of ICL Lens surgery is that it is a reversible process, whereas all other known methods of vision correction like LASIK are non-reversible. Thus, there is a lot of flexibility and comfort with the ICL procedure. ICL is similar to some cataract procedures where the lens can be replaced, whenever required.

· Protection From the Harmful UV Rays

The implantable contact lens surgery is a very relevant procedure in present times. When exposure to ultraviolet rays of the sun harm the skin and sense organs in multiple ways, ICL offers the advantage of offering in-built protection from the UV rays. The lens used in this case protects even the macula, the inner eye. However, it does not imply that once treated, patients should stop using sunglasses as these protect even the eyelids and the cornea from UV rays.

· Improved Night Vision

ICL lens surgery improves the vision of the patient in all respects. This is especially true in the case of patients with high prescriptions. Also since the cornea’s natural shape is retained, night vision issues can be enhanced vis-a-vis other vision correction methods.

· Biocompatibility

Made from Collamer, the lenses used in these surgeries are made from certain specialized bio-materials. Collamer contains purified collagen, a natural protein found in connective tissues in the human body. That is why the body readily accepts the lens with minimal chances of rejection of a foreign element. Thus, ICL is considered a biocompatible option.

· Easy to Maintain

The biggest advantage of implantable contact lens surgery is that the lenses are maintenance-free. Patients do not have to remove them, clean or disinfect them, like in the case of standard contact lenses. The procedure includes implanting the lens in a way that they are fixated to the place always. Thus, the need for other kinds of visual aids like contact lens and glasses are removed.

· Minimally Invasive 

The procedure takes minimal time, just about a few minutes. The downtime too is minimal. The reason is that the procedure is minimally invasive. It requires only a tiny incision involving slight removal of tissues. Compared to other vision correction surgeries like LASIK, ICL lens surgery offers the advantages associated with minimally invasive surgeries.

· Safer Alternative

Implantable contact lens surgery has been approved by the FDA since 2005. Ever since, more than 800,000 surgeries have been done successfully. It has been hailed as a safe alternative for the correction of vision for a long-term basis. The efficacy of results are proven too as it has evolved as one of the safest ways of correcting vision-related problems. The results experienced are immediate too.

· Proven Track Record

The success rate of ICL lens surgery has been overwhelming. The technique can help correct nearsightedness of all types - moderate to severe. As per different studies, about 96.7% of patients treated with ICL had improved vision 20/40 after the 1st year. Almost 94.7% could have a vision of 20/40 after 3 years. 

The right candidates for implantable contact lens surgery are those who use glasses or contact lenses. When the procedure is done, patients benefit from clarity of vision. Typically the procedure is best-suited for patients between 21 and 45 years old.