Posted by: Laurel Eye Clinic in Lens Options
Are you looking for a way to correct your vision but found out you don’t qualify for LASIK? Although LASIK is the most popular form of vision correction, it’s not the only one.
Another option you may be a better fit for is the Visian ICL. With the Visian ICL, you can finally achieve visual freedom, meaning you no longer need to depend on glasses and contact lenses to see.
Unlike LASIK, which permanently reshapes your cornea to correct refractive errors, the Visian ICL is reversible. You can have it removed from your eye at any time.
With the Visian ICL, you don’t give anything up. You only gain convenience, security, spontaneity, and clear, sharp vision.
You get to enjoy a life free of glasses and contacts, without any boundaries to hold you back. Keep reading to learn more about the Visian ICL and find out if it may be right for you!
What is the Visian ICL?
The Visian ICL is an implantable collamer lens. The Visian ICL is a unique foldable lens implant that allows for a smaller incision for placement within the eye.
Your surgeon places it behind your eye’s natural lens during a short procedure. Since becoming available, the Visian ICL has been implanted in over a million patients worldwide.
The Visian ICL is only suitable for people that are nearsighted, have astigmatism, or a combination of both. If you’re farsighted, the Visian ICL is not a good fit for you.
What Makes the Visian ICL Different?
ICL stands for Implantable Collamer Lens, which describes how the lens is placed and what it’s made of. The Visian ICL is made of a material called Collamer®.
Collamer® is a collagen copolymer that contains a small amount of purified collagen. Collagen is the most abundant protein found in bones, muscles, skin, and tendons in the human body.
It’s also a crucial part of holding the body together. The body produces collagen, which often serves a protective function.
Synthetic collagen is used in cosmetics and for medical applications such as repairing tissues in the body. The collagen used is similar to the collagen found in your cornea.
Collamer® is unique to the Visian ICL and not used elsewhere. In addition to the purified collagen, the lens also utilizes a material similar to what you’d find in soft contact lenses.
It’s biocompatible, meaning it won’t react to anything in the eye while reducing the chance of experiencing dry eye symptoms. The Visian ICL also contains an ultraviolet light filter, which offers UV protection similar to what you’d find in sunglasses.
Who’s a Good Candidate for the Visian ICL?
If you think the Visian ICL sounds like the vision correction procedure for you, the first step is to see your eye doctor for a consultation. You may be a good candidate for the Visian ICL if:
- You are between the ages of 21 and 45
- You have astigmatism between 1.0 and 4.0 diopters
- You have moderate to severe nearsightedness with a prescription between -3.0 and -20 diopters
- Your nearsightedness and prescription are stable and have remained unchanged for at least a year
- You’re not currently pregnant or nursing
- You’re in good health and have no history of eye diseases or prior eye surgeries
The only way to determine if you qualify for the Visian ICL is to schedule a consultation at Laurel Eye Clinic!
What Can I Expect When I Have the Visian ICL Implanted?
On the day of your procedure, plan on having someone drive you to your appointment and remain with you to bring you home. You cannot drive yourself home after.
Getting the Visian ICL implanted in both eyes usually takes less than half an hour. You’ll lie on your back and be given a topical or local anesthetic to numb your eye.
To help you relax, you may also receive a mild sedative. Before the procedure begins, each eye and the areas around them are carefully cleaned.
You’ll have your eye held open during surgery with a lid speculum. Your surgeon will create a small incision and use a lubricant to protect your cornea.
They will insert the folded Visian ICL into your eye through that incision, where it will unfold and be positioned correctly. The Visian ICL is gently placed behind your iris and in front of your natural lens.
You should not experience any pain while having the Visian ICL implanted, but you may feel slight pressure. After the procedure is over, you’ll have eye drops or ointment placed in your eyes.
You’ll receive either an eye patch or a shield to protect your eyes while recovering. You’ll have someone monitor you for a few hours in a recovery room until you are well enough to be driven home.
You may be prescribed eye drops or medication to alleviate any pain. The next day, you’ll have a follow-up appointment with your eye doctor to ensure that your eyes are healing well.
Other Benefits of the Visian ICL
The Visian ICL has numerous benefits, making it a great vision correction choice. Recovery is rapid because the incision is small, and you’ll have nothing removed from your eyes.
Most patients notice an almost immediate improvement in their vision. Nobody will know the Visian ICL is in your eye except for you. You also won’t be able to feel or see the Visian ICL.
Patients with the Visian ICL often attain excellent night vision. You’re also less likely to develop dry eyes from the procedure.
While LASIK is a well-known procedure that millions of adults have undergone to free themselves from glasses and contacts, it’s not suitable for everyone, especially those whose nearsightedness is too severe to correct within LASIK’s treatment guidelines.
If you’ve looked into laser eye surgery but don’t qualify, ask about the Visian ICL. It may be the perfect solution to correcting your nearsightedness and astigmatism while offering the same freedom from glasses and contacts.
Are you ready to find out if you can attain visual freedom with the Visian ICL? Schedule your consultation at Laurel Eye Clinic at one of our 11 convenient locations in Western and Central PA, now!