Pros and Cons of Implantable Contact Lenses – In eye surgery, implantable contact lenses, or ICLs, are becoming more popular. Just like the lenses used in cataract surgery, ICLs are another option for fixing vision problems without needing laser surgery like LASIK or PRK. Our team at the Garg Eye Hospital will look at the advantages and disadvantages of choosing to get ICL as an outpatient procedure.
ICL surgery is sometimes used instead of LASIK for fixing eye problems. If the patient has any of these problems, the eye doctor may decide that they should not get laser eye surgery.
- Severe nearsightedness with a small space in the front of the eye, for which the Visian Toric ICL is a good choice.
- Irregularly shaped corneas
- Keratoconus
- Tending to get dry eyes.
Pros Of Implantable Contact Lenses
By learning about the advantages of Implantable Contact Lenses, you can see why more people are choosing them instead of other surgeries.
Accommodation for people with strong eyeglass prescriptions.
One of the best things about ICL is that it can help people with a lot of different eyeglasses or contact lens prescriptions. This is much better than other ways to fix your vision. The FDA has approved Visian ICL to fix nearsightedness from -3. 00 to -2000 D and astigmatism from 1. 00 to 400 This means ICL could be a good option for people who can’t have LASIK or PRK because of their glasses prescription.
No need for a specific thickness of the cornea.
ICL eye surgery doesn’t need the cornea to be a certain thickness, unlike LASIK or PRK. This means it is a good choice for people with thin or oddly shaped corneas. This special benefit of ICL eye surgery helps people with thin corneas see better.
Reduced chance of dry eyes.
ICL vision surgery has a benefit because it usually doesn’t affect the nerves in the eye, which lowers the chance of having dry eyes after the surgery. This is an important thing to think about for people who already have dry eyes.
Sun protection for your skin.
ICL eye surgery has a special benefit because it protects the inner part of the eye from UV rays, including the macula. This feature helps the eye’s natural lens, but you still need to wear sunglasses to protect other parts of your eye like the cornea and eyelids.
A procedure that can be changed back.
ICL implantation can be undone, which gives people more comfort and options compared to other permanent vision correction surgeries like LASIK. This is like when certain types of cataract surgery can be undone if the new lens needs to be changed.
Biocompatibility
Implantable contact lenses are made of a special material called Collamer, which is made from purified collagen. This means the body will accept the lens and not see it as a foreign object, making ICL a good choice for the body.
No need for maintenance
ICLs don’t need to be cleaned, disinfected, or taken out every day. Once the lens is put in, it will stay there for a very long time and you won’t need to use glasses or contacts anymore.
Fast and small surgery
The ICL implant surgery is fast, usually only taking about seven minutes, and you won’t need much time to recover. Also, because the procedure is done with very small cuts and removes less tissue, it is not as invasive as other surgeries like LASIK, which require larger incisions and more tissue removal.
Long-term safety and effectiveness
ICL has been approved by the FDA since 2005 and has been successful in over 800,000 procedures. It is a safe and effective option for long-term vision correction. Most patients can see better right away and recover quickly.
Excellent Success Rate
The best thing about ICL surgery is that it can fix strong nearsightedness very well. Research shows that 96. 7% of patients could see 20/40 or better after one year, and 94. 7% could see 20/40 or better after three years without needing extra help for their vision.
Cons Of Implantable Contact Lenses
ICL surgery can help your vision, but it also has some things to think about before deciding.
Age limits
The ICL is approved by the FDA for people aged 21 to 45. ICL eye surgery has a smaller age range compared to LASIK.
Restrictions in conditions that can be treated
It’s important to find out your specific eye problem before thinking about surgery. ICL can fix nearsightedness and blurry vision caused by curved cornea, but it cannot correct farsightedness for now.
Extended recovery time
While ICL recovery is usually easy, it may take a little longer than LASIK – about one week. The time it takes to recover is like PRK.
Am I the Right Candidate For ICL (Implantable Contact Lens)?
People who need strong glasses or contact lenses are good candidates for ICL. An ICL can help you see clearly without any blurry areas or bright light around objects. People aged between 21 and 45 are preferred for this treatment because vision problems like presbyopia and cataracts usually happen when people get older.
It’s important to think about the good and bad things about implantable contact lenses before deciding on this eyesight surgery. If you are thinking about getting this treatment, talk to Garg Eye Hospital’s doctor now to see if ICL is the best option for you.
