The Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL), or more commonly known as implantable contact lens, may be a great fit for you. It is one of the most popular alternatives to external contact lenses, but with a significant difference – instead of sitting on the eye’s surface, ICLs are located inside the eye, just behind the iris but in front of the natural lens.
It works together with your eye’s natural lens to tackle a number of common eye problems such as nearsightedness, astigmatism, and farsightedness. Despite its location, the biocompatible Collamer material renders it completely invisible and discomfort-free.
ICL surgery is one of the many choices out there in place of options such as LASIK surgery, Advanced Surface Ablation (ASA), and Small Incision Lenticule Extraction (SMILE). What makes ICL a good option for you depends on the eye problems you experience. After an appointment with an experienced ophthalmologist at Takle Eye, they can recommend you for an ICL surgery if you have higher amounts of nearsightedness, astigmatism, or other factors.
Curious to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of getting an ICL surgery? Let’s zoom in on the more specific implantable contact lens pros and cons when restoring your vision.
Implantable Contact Lens Pros
1. Full Visual Clarity
The ICL helps your eye bounce back to its natural corneal shape. This produces sharp clarity in your vision no matter the lighting or prescription setting.
2. Hydrated Eyes
With an ICL surgery, you can say goodbye to dry eyes and constant eye drops for good.
3. Biocompatible
ICLs are made from a biomaterial called collamer, which is composed of purified collagen. This produces a soft and flexible material that won’t cause a reaction or be rejected by the body.
4. Easy to Maintain
Unlike external contacts, an ICL will stay in place indefinitely and require little care. Daily routines like disinfection, removal, and cleaning will be outdated as you strive forward with perfect vision.
5. Easily Reversible
The ICL is one of the most flexible options with regards to future correction procedures because it can be removed or replaced. It is never a permanent solution, whether you choose to get it or not.
6. Minimally Invasive Surgery
Given the ICL’s small size and flexibility, a procedure can take as little as ten minutes and under with little downtime required.
7. Long-Term Success
Since its FDA approval in 2005, the implantable contact lens has been successfully working for over 800,000 patients. How long do implantable contact lenses last you may ask? The short answer is indefinitely – they’ll work without disturbance for as long as you need.
1. Implantable Contact Lens ConsCosmetic Surgery
Because the ICL is classified as a cosmetic procedure, most insurance plans may not provide coverage. This makes the surgery more expensive than other alternatives because of each implant’s custom-made nature.
2. Age Preferred
Because of natural eye development over the course of aging, the ICL is the most optimal corrective procedure for those between the ages of 18 to 50. Your ophthalmologist is the best point of contact for questions about your options.
3. Check-Ups
To make sure your ICLs are working properly, your ophthalmologist will recommend annual aftercare appointments. They not only focus on positioning and function, but to catch other potential vision problems early in development.
A Future Focused Vision with ICLs at Takle Eye
If you think an ICL may be the right procedure for you, your eye doctors at Takle Eye are ready to weigh in. We welcome you to schedule an appointment or stop by any of our offices in Georgia to talk about all of your implantable contact options. Ready to discuss your next steps forward with implantable contact lens?
