People who are not suitable candidates for LASIK don’t necessarily need to resign themselves to wearing glasses or contacts for the rest of their lives. Having an Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL) procedure might be a viable alternative. In this post, you will learn more about this procedure and its benefits.

What is an ICL?

This is a type of lens that works in much the same way as a contact lens. The difference here is that this is surgically implanted into your eye, just in front of where your eye’s lens is. Once the procedure has been performed, no one other than you will be able to see the difference.

What Are the Benefits?

The chief advantage here is that it can correct mild to severe myopia and that the side effects are not as severe as with LASIK. But here are some others that bear mentioning as well:

No Dry Eye

Dry eye is a condition that many people undergoing LASIK can expect to experience. It’s not a serious condition, but it can be uncomfortable. The eyes might feel dry, as if they are burning or as if they are stinging. These symptoms can continue for around a year of LASIK.

With ICL, this is not an issue.

Will Be Suitable for Patients Not Able to Have LASIK

What do you do if you have severe myopia or astigmatism and so cannot go for standard LASIK treatments? This is a problem that many people who use strong glasses have to face. ICL offers an alternative with more predictable results.

The Cornea is Not as Affected

The surgery here is a tiny incision. There is no reshaping of the cornea, removal of tissue or any need for a flap to be raised. Because of this, those with thinner corneas, or abnormally shaped corneas can also be treated.

Also, because of the tiny cut, healing is rapid.

In-Built UV Protection

This is one of the most impressive side-benefits. The material that the lens is made out of protects your eyes from damaging UV radiation. Exposure to UV radiation has been linked to macular degeneration and the development of cataracts.

Improved Night Time Vision

Lasik has a lot of benefits but does have some setbacks. Problems with night vision can be one of these. The same cannot be said of ICL.

It Can Be Reversed

If something goes wrong with LASIK, you have a problem. It cannot be reversed at all. ICL, on the other hand, can be. So, should it not work out well for you, or you need a stronger prescription later in life, the lens can easily be replaced.

Is There a Catch?

This procedure will cost more, but it is not exorbitantly expensive.

Conclusion

If you have a more severe vision problem, ICL might be a good solution for you. The procedure is a little more expensive but has significant advantages over more common solutions. Healing time is shortened, there is more room to correct significant vision problems, and the procedure can be reversed in need.