Pros and Cons of Visian ICL

February 18th, 2022
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If you are currently dealing with moderate to severe nearsightedness or astigmatism, you may have been told that LASIK vision correction, or other vision correction procedure won’t work for you. But that doesn’t mean that you have to continue dealing with the annoyances of glasses or contact. The Visian ICL or Implantable Collamer Lens could be a treatment option that works for you. An ICL is a special type of lens, composed of bio-compatible, soft plastic and collagen, that is implanted into the eye to fix refractive errors. Visian ICL is another option, besides LASIK or PRK, to help you see the life you love, without compromise. Keep reading to learn more about the advantages of having ICL surgery with ICON Eyecare.

What Is Visian ICL?

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Visian ICL is an implantable lens to correct nearsightedness and astigmatism. It’s placed behind the iris and in front of the eye’s natural lens to supplement the eye’s ability to perceive distant images clearly and distinctly. Essentially, it’s like an implantable contact lens, but instead of having to put it in every morning, it’s already there! And you don’t have to worry about it all! The lens is made of the collagen-based material called collamer. This special composition is biocompatible, meaning it’s likely to be accepted by the eye and its surrounding tissues and provide excellent vision. You won’t have to perform any maintenance on your lens, as it is meant to be permanent if you are satisfied with its performance and results.

To find out if you are a good candidate for ICL surgery, you can schedule a consultation and discuss your treatment options with our ICON Eyecare team. One of the most remarkable parts of our consultation is the state-of-the-art ArcScan Insight® 100, an ultrasound unit that uses high frequencies to take precise measurements of the eye. It is used to verify your candidacy for Visian ICL. Furthermore, it will determine the correct sizing for your ICL to ensure safety, minimize risk, and improve your eyesight.

If you’re a good candidate for the procedure, ICON’s Dr., Eva Kim will perform a 15-30 minute minimally invasive, outpatient procedure. The Visian ICL procedure involves making a small incision in the cornea, the outermost layer of the eye, and implanting the lens. After the lens unfolds in the eye, the lens will be positioned properly. You will not require stitches and you can expect your eyes to heal themselves thoroughly within a couple of weeks to 2 months.

Pros of Visian ICL

The most significant advantage of ICL surgery is its ability to correct moderate to severe nearsightedness In fact, it was found that 96.7% of patients could see 20/40 or better after the first year and 94.7% could see 20/40 or better after three years without the additional use of contact lenses or glasses. It also offers many other benefits, such as:

  • ICL surgery is a safe procedure, approved by the FDA in 2005 in the United States.
  • It can correct severe nearsightedness that cannot be readily achieved by other surgeries, such as LASIK surgery.
  • It can provide excellent night vision
  • It provides UV protection to the inner eye.
  • It offers permanent vision correction, yet it can be removed if desired.
  • There is less risk of dry eye following surgery.
  • It’s a minimally invasive, quick surgery.
  • It doesn’t require a minimum thickness for the cornea, unlike laser vision correction surgery. If you have a thin cornea, ICL may be an ideal treatment choice
  • Improved eyesight is typically immediately noticeable and becomes optimal after a few days.
  • Recovery time is quick.

Cons of Visian ICL

Like all vision corrective surgeries, there are risks.

  1. If the ICL is not sized or positioned properly, it can cause increased eye pressure. One of the potential risks of high eye pressure is glaucoma.
  2. If you do experience high eye pressure, it can lead to vision loss if it is not treated and corrected.
  3. If the ICL is not sized properly, you may experience blurry vision, double vision, or glare. It is also a sign of cataracts or glaucoma.
  4. Any eye surgery can result in eye infection, especially if proper after-care procedures are not followed.

Because sizing is so important when it comes to ICL surgery, ICON Eyecare has invested in the most advanced technology available to allow our team to more precisely measure and fit your ICL. The ArcScan Insight® 100 allows ICON’s team of expert doctors to precisely measure the structures of your eye. These measurements are then used to determine the size of ICL. With these measurements, ICON is able to increase patient safety and satisfaction. ICON Eyecare is the only clinic in Colorado to utilize this technology.

FAQS

You may have lingering questions regarding the specific details of a Visian ICL and the surgical procedure. The following questions and answers will address the most pressing concerns from patients. You can also reach out to our ICON Eyecare staff for further information.

1. Am I a Good Candidate for Visian ICL?

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You may be an excellent candidate for a Visian Toric ICL if:

  1. You are suffering from nearsightedness within the ranges of -3D to -20D.
  2. Your nearsightedness doesn’t change dramatically (more than .5D annually).
  3. You are between the ages of 21 and 45 years old.

You may be a poor candidate for ICL surgery if:

  1. You are pregnant or breastfeeding.
  2. You are younger than 21 years old, or older than 45 years old.
  3. You have a chronic disease associated with hormone fluctuations or poor healing potential.
  4. You have diabetes (there is a risk of diabetic retinopathy).
  5. You are currently taking medication that may result in vision changes.

If you are interested in learning more about your candidacy for Visian ICL, to schedule a consultation to learn how this procedure could potentially improve your vision.

2. How much does Visian ICL cost?

The cost for Visian ICL does vary and it is dependent on various factors like the need for a toric lens to correct astigmatism. At ICON Eyecare, we believe that everyone should have access to necessary eye treatments and vision care, we accept a wide variety of payment methods and options and financing options. During your consultation at ICON Eyecare, a counselor will be able to provide you a customized quote for surgery based on your needs.

3. Visian ICL vs. LASIK?

vision-correction-surgery-comparison-chartIf you are considering refractive surgery, many surgical procedures and treatments are available. One of the most popular options is LASIK, a careful laser eye surgery that reshapes the cornea. LASIK and ICL are very different, but the outcomes are the same: improved vision without the hassle of glasses or contact. LASIK corrects refractive vision issues such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. However, ICLs can treat a wider range of nearsightedness (from -3.00D to -20.00D) whereas LASIK can only treat up to a-14.00D limit. For this reason, ICL may be a more appropriate treatment option for those who suffer from severe myopia.

The surgical procedure between the two is also different. In the LASIK procedure, a surgeon uses a special laser tool to create a thin flap in the cornea. This flap is folded back to reveal the cornea, and a secondary ultraviolet light beam removes a small amount of tissue to reshape it appropriately. Then, the flap is laid back in place, and it adheres naturally. On the other hand, the ICL surgery requires a thin cut to be made and a Visian ICL is inserted carefully behind the iris. Each type of surgery is considered minimally invasive, doesn’t require stitches, and will heal within a few months.

The two surgeries also have unique risk factors. ICL surgery is inherently riskier since the surgeon must go inside the eye to place the ICL. In LASIK, the surgeon only works on the cornea, the outermost structure of the eye.

If you are unsure whether LASIK or ICL surgery is the right choice for you, the ICON Eyecare team will be pleased to consult and assess your eye and eye health history in order to determine if you are an excellent candidate for either procedure.

4. What is the Visian ICL recovery time?

After the ICL surgery is completed, you may experience slight discomfort and be unnaturally sensitive to light. You can expect to return to the ICON Eyecare offices a few hours after surgery and the next day, receiving a quick examination to ensure the recovery process is off to a good start. Our team will evaluate your eyesight, eye pressure, the placement of your ICL, and other important variables. Since the ICL surgery is minimally invasive and requires no sutures, you should have already begun to heal at this point (within 24 hours). However, the complete recovery time depends on many personal health factors. Full healing and recovery can usually be expected between 1-2 months.

5. How Long Does Visian ICL Last?

A Visian ICL implant is meant to be permanently placed within the eye, providing excellent vision until the development of presbyopia or cataracts. When the eyes begin to change with age. ICL lenses can be removed at the time of cataract surgery when the natural lens is replaced with an intraocular lens for cataract treatment.

If you are interested in finding out more about Visian ICL, our ICON Eyecare team will be pleased to answer any questions you may have. Contact us today to schedule a consultation or to discuss your vision care options.