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If you want to stop wearing glasses, you may want to consider Implantable Contact Lenses, especially as an alternative to LASIK.
Call 704-295-3000 to Schedule an ICL consultation
An implantable contact lens, or ICL, is a lens inserted into the eye and positioned between the iris and natural lens, where it stays indefinitely. It can be removed and replaced if needed.
EVO is the most modern implantable contact lens on the market. It is a synthetic lens that is gently inserted into the eye by a skilled surgeon and positioned between the iris and your eye's natural lens indefinitely.
ICLs are made of collamer, an advanced lens material that has unique properties. Collamer transmits light and reduces reflections that can interfere with vision, so you see clearly. Made of a copolymer and collagen, collamer is also highly compatible with living tissue. This allows the ICL to rest quietly in position while accurately correcting vision. Collamer is the only lens material made with collagen — the best choice for a lens that is going to remain inside your body for a lifetime.
EVO ICL are made with a proprietary polymer that make it stable yet flexible. These particular implantable lenses treat an of prescriptions between -3 to -20 diopters.
Unlike LASIK or PRK, an EVO ICL implantation is not a procedure that changes the shape of your cornea. Instead, the implanted lens works in combination with your existing lens to enhance your eyes' ability to focus. Once implanted, the EVO is not noticeable at all and cannot be felt.
ICLs are ideal for patients who have myopia (nearsightedness) with and without astigmatism. ICLs are also good for people who don’t meet the requirements for LASIK. For example, their corneas are too thin, they are predisposed to dry eye, or their glasses prescription is too high for LASIK to be effective.
In addition, patients who are currently dealing with dry eye syndrome are suitable for this procedure. Cornea tissue is not removed during the process.
The following conditions may reduce your likelihood for candidacy for an EVO ICL:
Here are each stages for your ICL procedure before, during, and after the treatment.
Before you schedule your EVO ICL procedure, your physician will perform a series of standard tests at your pre-op exam to measure your eye's unique characteristics. From there, your physician will provide you with all of your vision correction options.
Note that it is important that those who wear soft contact lenses to remove them one week before this consultation, and patients who wear rigid gas permeable lenses to remove them three weeks before the consultation.
If it is determined that an ICL procedure is optimal for you, your physician will further explain the surgery and what to expect during and afterwards. Their surgery scheduler will work with you to determine the best time to visit the SouthPark Surgery Center (SPSC) on the 3rd floor of CEENTA's SouthPark location for the procedure.
At the beginning of the surgery, your physician will administer anesthesia that you have planned with the anesthesiologist. To prepare for the implant, the surgeon will create a tiny opening at the base of your cornea to insert the ICL. The lens can then be folded and inserted through the incision and placed behind the iris (colored part of the eye) and in front of the natural lens to improve vision. Once the lens is gently inserted, the physician will make any necessary adjustments to ensure proper positioning in the eye.
At this point, the procedure is over and many patients will demonstrate improved vision immediately. For other patients, it will take more time.
Following your procedure, you will have a same-day recheck with a member of your physician's staff approximately 1-2 hours after the surgery. This is to check your eye pressure and ensure that you are off to a great start. You will need someone to drive you home and rest with an eye shield provided by your physician for 24 hours. After this, you will wear the shield while you sleep for seven days.
Your first postoperative appointment will take place in the morning immediately following your procedure. You will then see your physician for a 1-week appointment as our second postoperative visit unless otherwise noted. After this appointment, questions concerning your recovery should be directed to your co-managing optometrist or ophthalmologist first.
It is important to know that healing after implantable contact lens surgery is rapid but not immediate. For many patients, this adaptation process can be seen in the first week after the procedure, while for others it may take longer.
The actual procedure only takes about 15 minutes and is performed on an outpatient basis.
If you're interested in learning more about implantable contact lens surgery, including EVO ICL, call below to schedule your consultation with a CEENTA ICL surgeon.
