While laser-based vision correction surgeries have been popular for decades, their prominence may be masking another flexible option for fixing refractive errors in your eyes.
Implantable contact lenses (ICLs), also called implantable collamer lenses, are a permanent (yet reversible) maintenance-free way to enjoy better vision, and they may be flying under your radar.
Ophthalmologist Randa Garrana, MD, and our team at Advanced Lasik in Midtown East, New York City, and Duarte, and Long Beach, California, offer ICL surgery for patients who may not be candidates for conventional laser correction procedures.
In this month’s blog, we’d like to introduce ICL technology to those who haven’t encountered this option before. Here’s what you need to know about implantable contact lenses.
An ICL is simply a form of contact lens designed to be implanted permanently in the eye, though it can be removed if necessary later. The implanted contact lens sits between the iris (to the front) and the natural lens (to the rear).
The “collamer” of the ICL’s alternate name is a combination of collagen and plastic, a material that makes a biocompatible flexible lens that’s better suited for nutrient movement in the eye.
Collagen is a common protein in the body that attracts moisture and, in the eye, the cornea receives sustenance from the diffusion of tear components and the vitreous gel inside the eye, since it has no blood vessels for nutrient supply. Collamer lenses permit easy movement of fluid within the eye.
ICLs treat myopia (nearsightedness) and astigmatism. About one million lenses have been implanted in eyes around the world.
ICL surgery has a high success rate, and the procedure usually takes less than 30 minutes to perform. There are plenty of advantages and benefits to ICL procedures, including:
While the goal of ICL surgery is to bring your vision as close to 20/20 as possible, you may still have minor errors that require solutions like reading glasses. Talk to Dr. Garrana about what to expect from your procedure.
To learn more about implantable contact lenses, contact your nearest Advanced Lasik location online or over the phone today: We have one East Coast office in Midtown East, New York City, and two West Coast offices in Duarte and Long Beach, California.
