Implantable Contact Lens - the New LASIK?

Despite the fact that they are commonly confused for one another, "visual acuity" (i.e., measuring whether you have 20/20 vision) is markedly different from "visual quality" (i.e., how nuanced and error-free your vision truly is). Many procedures intended to correct refractive errors, LASIK surgery being the most widely known, may indeed improve your vision acuity. However, oftentimes, these procedures will have little to no impact on your vision quality. That is where Visian ICL comes in. Visian ICL provides vision correction beyond LASIK. It helps you enjoy clearer, sharper, more vivid vision, with improved depth and dimension.

The Lowdown on ICL

Visian ICL has been around for more than 15 years, and is now a leader in phakic intraocular (IOL) technology. Over 80,000 Visian ICL implantation procedures have been performed worldwide, and, when asked about the procedure, 99% of patients said they were highly satisfied with the results.

Until recently, the only method of permanent vision correction aside from eyeglasses or contact lenses was corrective laser eye surgery, LASIK being its most popular form. However, that's all changed with Visian ICL. Now, high-definition vision -- vision correction that's sharper, clearer, more vivid, with greater depth and dimension -- can be achieved in a simple, 15-minute outpatient procedure.

ICL Advantages

The main advantage of Visian ICL over all other corrective vision procedures is that patients who undergo ICL surgery increase their chances of seeing significant improvement in vision quality. When compared to corneal refractive surgery, ICL surgery has produced superior vision quality, evidenced by fewer higher-order aberrations. Due to the very small size of the incision required for ICL, patients' visual recovery is speedy, and the results are impressive.

Only a tiny incision is needed to implant the foldable Visian ICL on the far edge of the cornea, where there is little danger of it harming or interfering with vision. Once the lens is in place, sutures are usually not reuquired, which further simplifies the process.

Patients who undergo corneal refractive procedures (e.g. LASIK and PRK) are susceptible to the common side effects associated with corneal surgery -- dry eye, thinning of the cornea, and others. Since the LASIK procedure involves removing tissue from the cornea, some of LASIK's surgical complications may be more difficult to correct than complications that arise after ICL surgery. It's true that all surgical procedures carry some risk; however, in most cases, the side effects and complications associated with Visian ICL can be corrected by the operating surgeon.

knowing that laser eye surgery permanently changes the shape and structure of the eye, people commonly worry about the treatability of any resultant complications of laser eye surgery. Visian ICL, however, has the great advantage of being completely reversible. In the unlikely event that an ICL patient experiences negative post-operative side effects, the lens can be removed or replaced. Concerns involving the cornea typically do not apply to Visian ICL, as no natural tissue is removed or reshaped in any way during implantation.