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What are ICL implants?

ICL implants are a form of corrective surgery for the eyes.

ICL stands for “intraocular collamer lens”. It is an artificial lens that sits behind the pupil and in front of your natural lens, acting as a permanent contact lens. ICLs are also known as phakic intraocular lenses (PIOLs).

ICL implant surgery involves operating on the eye to put this lens into place.

Why are ICL implants sometimes needed?

ICL implants are offered if you have a high glasses prescription or astigmatism and you are under the age of 40. The aim of surgery is to give you 20/20 vision or better and reduce your dependence on glasses or contact lenses.

If you have ICL implant surgery in your 20s or 30s, you may still require further surgery such as laser eye surgery or refractive surgery later in life, as your prescription naturally changes as you get older.

You may not be suitable for ICL implant surgery if you have problems with your eyes such as cataracts or glaucoma.

What does the procedure involve?

The procedure involves lying down in a surgical tent while the surgeon looks through a microscopy to perform the surgery. You’ll be given some anaesthetic in the eye, both to block any pain and to help your eye stay still during the procedure.

The procedure involves three steps:

• creating entry points into the eye for the lens implant
• inserting the lens and letting it unfold into place
• washing out the eye and closing up the entry points where necessary

In most cases you’ll need to come into the clinic for two separate procedures, one for each eye. This allows the ophthalmologist to check if the ICL fits the first eye correctly. Some clinics, however, offer to perform the procedure on both eyes in one sitting.

Overall, the procedure takes about 20 minutes per eye.

Aftercare

After the procedure you can return home straight away. You’ll be given advice on any side effects or complications to watch out for, as well advice on how to look after your eye. In particular, it’s important to:

• wearing an eye shield at night (usually for up to a week after surgery)
• avoiding swimming for a week and contact sports for a month
• waiting a few days before driving again
• using antibiotic and anti-inflammatory drops on a regular basis to help the eye heal well

If you experience pain, redness, or blurriness of vision, you should visit your eye surgeon immediately. You are likely to have a number of follow-up appointments scheduled to review your eye health and progress.

What are the alternatives?

ICL implant surgery is one of a number of options when it comes to corrective surgery. The right procedure depends on your prescription level and age. Other types of corrective eye surgery include:

• Laser eye surgery – commonly offered to patients with lower glasses prescription or without astigmatism
• Refractive lens exchange – generally offered to patients with higher prescriptions over the age of 40.

Finally, another alternative is to opt out of surgery altogether and wear contact lenses or glasses. This is a safer option but may restrict your ability to play certain sports, and may be more expensive in the long run.