ICL Contact lens

What is ICL eye surgery?

An implantable collamer lens (ICL) is an artificial lens that’s permanently implanted in the eye. The lens is used to treat:

• myopia (nearsightedness) 
• hyperopia (farsightedness) 
• astigmatism

Implanting an ICL requires surgery. A surgeon places the lens between the eye’s natural lens and colored iris. The lens works the eye’s existing lens to bend (refract) light on the retina, which produces clearer vision.

The ICL is made of plastic and a collagen called collamer. It’s a type of phakic introcular lens. “Phakic” refers to how the lens is placed in the eye without taking out the natural lens.

Though ICL surgery isn’t necessary to correct vision problems, it can eliminate or reduce the need for glasses or contact lenses.

ICL surgery 

You’ll visit your ophthalmologist one week before the surgery. They’ll use a laser to make tiny holes between the front of your eye (anterior chamber) and natural lens. This will prevent pressure and fluid buildup in the eye after the procedure.

You might also be given antibiotics or anti-inflammatory eye drops several days before surgery.
The procedure is done by an eye surgeon. Generally, here’s what happens:

1. You’ll lie down on your back. You’ll be given a mild topical or local anesthetic. This numbs your eye so you won’t feel anything.
2. You might be given a mild sedative to help you relax. You might also get an injection around the eye to temporarily stop you from moving it.
3. Your surgeon will clean the eye and the area around it. Your eyelids will be held open with a tool called a lid speculum.
4. Your surgeon will make a small incision in your eye. They’ll put a lubricant to protect your cornea. 

The procedure takes 20 to 30 minutes. After, you’ll be taken to a recovery room where you’ll be closely monitored for a few hours. You’ll have a follow-up appointment the next day. Your surgeon will examine the eye and check on your progress. Within the next year, you’ll have follow-up visits 1 month and 6 months after surgery. Your doctor will also have you return for regular checkups once a year.

ICL risks

Though ICL surgery has been shown to be safe, it may cause complications such as:

• Glaucoma. If the ICL is oversized or isn’t correctly positioned, it can increase pressure in your eye. This can lead to glucoma. 
• Vision loss. If you have high eye pressure for too long, you might experience vision loss.
• Early cataracts. An ICL can decrease the circulation of fluid in your eye, which increases your risk of cataracts.This might also happen if the ICL isn’t sized properly or causes chronic inflammation.
• Blurry vision. is a symptom of cataracts and glaucoma. You might also have other visual problems, like glare or double vision, if the lens isn’t the right size.
• Cloudy cornea. Eye surgery, along with age, reduces endothelial cells in your cornea. If the cells decrease too fast, you might develop a cloudy cornea and vision loss.

Precautions

ICL surgery isn’t safe for everyone. When considering the procedure, talk to a doctor to determine if it’s right for you. The surgery may not be a good choice if you:

• are pregnant or breastfeeding
• are younger than 21 years old
• are 45 and older
• have a chronic disease that causes hormone fluctuations
• are taking medicine associated with vision changes

Media Contact:
Sarah Rose
Journal Manager Journal of Eye Diseases and Disorders
Email: eyedisorders@emedsci.com
Whatsapp:+1-947-333-4405