Phakic ICL (Implantable Contact Lenses)

Phakic refers to the fact that the lens is implanted into the eye without removing the eye’s natural lens. During phakic lens implantation surgery, a small incision is made in the front of the eye. The phakic lens is inserted through the incision and placed just in front of or just behind the iris.

What is phakic ICL?

Phakic ICL is a laser vision correction treatments and a phakic IOL (intraocular lens) is a tiny, soft lens which is placed in your eye between your natural lens and the iris, or between the iris and the cornea. It’s also known as an ICL (implantable contact lens).

It’s like wearing a contact lens inside your eye instead of on the surface of it. The ICL is practically invisible and can be removed by your Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon if necessary. ICL is an alternative solution to laser eye surgery and ideal if you have a high prescription and are unsuitable for laser eye surgery. With the ICL procedure, we are able to treat patients with prescriptions up to -23d or +12d with +/- 7d of astigmatism. The treatment is also available for patients who are unsuitable for laser treatment due to corneal thickness.

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Benefits for you

• Able to correct high degrees of near-sightedness that cannot be corrected with other surgical procedures
• May be performed in patients who are not candidates for LASIK due to corneal irregularity or thinness
• Less likely to cause or contribute to dry eyes
• May be surgically removed

Am I suitable?

ICL is an alternative solution to laser eye surgery and ideal if you have a high prescription and are unsuitable for laser eye surgery. With the ICL procedure, we are able to treat patients with prescriptions up to -23d or +12d with +/- 7d of astigmatism. The treatment is also available for patients who are unsuitable for laser treatment due to corneal thickness.

This is particularly relevant for those under 40 because the natural lens of the eye is retained, and therefore the capacity for close-up vision, is also retained.

Some patients are not suitable for an ICL because the space where the lens rests is not large enough. The tests carried out at your consultation will check that there is sufficient space in your eye for the lens to be placed and housed safely.

Procedure

When you arrive at the Laser Vision Centre, Nuffield hospital, your consultant and our expert medical team will review you and make you feel relaxed. Anaesthetic eye drops will be administered: once they’ve taken effect, your consultant will begin the treatment.

A small incision is made on the surface of your eye, then the ICL is folded up and placed into your eye using a special delivery device. This is designed to make the incision on the surface of the eye as small as possible. The lens is inserted into the eye through the delivery device and unfolds into position.

Your Journey

Your glasses prescription will be checked by our Optometrist and your eyes analysed with a series of thorough and comprehensive tests to check your suitability.

Mr Anandan will then discuss your specific requirements in detail and will carry out your ICL procedure and your checks at the follow-up appointments.

Your aftercare

You will be contacted the day after your implantable contact lens procedure. A follow-up consultation will be arranged in the first few weeks after your surgery to check on your progress, assess the results of your ICL procedure and provide expert aftercare. It is recommended that regular eye checks be attended following this surgery.

Costs

Call LVCND for more information and pricing.