Implantable Contact Lens (EVO Visian ICL)

What are the benefits of the EVO ICL?

Immediate vision improvement at all distances

Visual freedom, reducing or eliminating your need for glasses or contacts. The surgical procedure to insert an implantable contact lens takes less than 30 minutes, the lens is nearly undetectable in the eye, and many patients experience clear vision right away.

High-Definition Vision 

You can enjoy a new level of vision correction that’s sharper, clearer, more vivid and has greater depth and dimension. Night driving is also improved because of its excellent night vision 5 with no induction of halos or glare.

No Dry Eye Syndrome 

Unlike laser vision correction surgery, an ICL procedure is an additive process. It does not involve removing tissue that permanently alters the shape of your cornea, as is the case with LASIK surgery. The surgery does not produce dry eyes because corneal nerves are not disrupted during ICL implantation.

Designed to be permanent, yet it can be removed easily if needed 

One of the essential advantages of the Visian ICL™ is that while it can permanently correct your vision, the lens can be removed and/or replaced if necessary. That’s because the lens rests behind your iris, in front of your natural lens, and works harmoniously with your natural eye. 

Short Recovery Time 

This outpatient procedure’s recovery for the Visian ICL™ is quick and pain-free and could be as little as one day due to the very small size of the opening required to insert the lens. Patients typically experience minimal discomfort and often return to work the next day.

UV Protection 

Long-term exposure to UV radiation can damage your eyes. In fact, longer-term or more intense UV exposure increases the risk of developing severe eye disorders such as cataracts and macular degeneration. The Visian ICL™ is made of a unique Collamer material that blocks harmful UVA and UVB rays from entering the eye, particularly the retina, lowering your risk of developing UV-related eye disorders.

Treatment Flexibility for the Future 

Because your vision changes as you grow older, eventually, nearly everyone will need cataract surgery. An essential benefit of the Visian ICL™ is that you have options for future treatments. Because the insertion of the Visian ICL™ does not alter the structure of the eye, the lens can be removed and replaced if your vision changes substantially or if you have another procedure at any time.

They’re Biocompatible

The soft and flexible Visian ICL is made from a bio-material called Collamer made with purified collagen. Because of this, the ICL will not be rejected by the body as a foreign element or cause a reaction while inside the eye.

Maintenance Free 

There is no daily maintenance as with traditional contact lenses, and no concern of problems from daily activities such as swimming and sports.

Visian ICL™: A LASIK laser eye surgery alternative 

Patients who are not suitable candidates for LASIK or PRK refractive surgery because they have thin or irregular corneas, dry eye syndrome, very high prescriptions, or large pupils may find themselves as great candidate for Visian ICL.

How is the Visian ICL™ procedure performed? 

The Visian ICL™ procedure is an outpatient procedure that generally takes about 30 minutes with a quick recovery. Before the procedure, you will receive topical anesthesia drops to minimize discomfort. Then our eye surgeon creates a micro-opening to insert the lens behind your iris (the colored part of the eye) and in front of your eye’s natural lens.

Once the lens is inserted, it gently unfolds in the eye, and the procedure is complete—the microscopic incision self-seals without sutures. 

Who is a good candidate for EVO Visian ICL™? 

If you are between the ages of 21 and 45 and nearsighted, you may be an excellent candidate for the Visian ICL™. This procedure can treat a range of patients from low to extremely high refractive errors and is especially beneficial to those with thin corneas and dry eyes. 

The Visian ICL™ can now treat nearsightedness and astigmatism at the same time. If you have both astigmatism and nearsightedness, Visian® Toric ICL may be a great option. It is preferable that the patient has not undergone any prior ophthalmic surgery and has no history of eye diseases such as iritis, glaucoma, or diabetic retinopathy.

Who is not a good candidate for EVO Visian ICL™?

At Assil Gaur Eye Institute, we always recommend a vision consultation to determine your best vision correction plan. If the Visian ICL™ is unsuitable, other options are available at AGEI. Vision ICL may not be the best course of action for patients:

• Whose eye prescription has changed significantly in the last six months
• Without enough posterior corneal cell density
• With an anterior chamber depth of less than 3.00mm
• Who are pregnant or nursing
• With uncontrolled dry eye or blepharitis
• With corneal endothelial dystrophy

Is the EVO Visian ICL™ FDA approved?

Yes. The Visian ICL™ received approval from the FDA. 

What is the track record of the EVO ICL procedure?

Extensive research and development preceded the introduction of the Visian ICL™. It has been placed in over one million eyes worldwide. The satisfaction rate among patients is extremely high – above 99%. The Visian ICL™ provides unparalleled quality of vision and has excellent and stable outcomes for patients with mild to severe myopia. The Visian ICL™ has been available internationally for over 20 years.

Why choose Assil Gaur Eye Institute for your ICL surgery 

When you select the ophthalmologists at Assil Gaur Eye Institute for implantable contact lens surgery, you will benefit not only from our state-of-the-art technology and our physicians’ extensive experience but also from our commitment to:

• Utilizing microsurgery technology when appropriate to facilitate faster healing without sutures. This technology also minimizes astigmatism and yields better visual outcomes.
• Performing surgery utilizing just anesthetic eye drops coupled with gentle IV sedation to provide greater comfort and safety.
• State-of-the-art dedication to your post-operative care throughout your healing and after.

Assil Gaur Eye Institute's nationally recognized ophthalmologists are internationally known experts in vision correction. Be it LASIK, PRK, LASEK, ICLs, Refractive Lens Exchange, or cataract surgery for vision correction, we have you covered at our Beverly Hills and Santa Monica eye centers.

We are California’s premier eye institute treating conditions such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic eye conditions, dry eye, and many others, with the best patient care available anywhere.

Assil Gaur Eye Institute team of ophthalmological surgeons is conveniently located for patients throughout Southern California and the Los Angeles area with access near Beverly Hills off Wilshire Blvd and Santa Monica, West Los Angeles, West Hollywood, Culver City, Hollywood, Venice, Marina del Rey, Malibu, Manhattan Beach, and Downtown Los Angeles.

Visian ICL™ FAQs 

 

What are the disadvantages of Visian ICL? 

Like LASIK, the ICL is considered a cosmetic procedure and will likely not be covered under most insurance plans. An ICL is typically more expensive per eye than LASIK since Implantable Collamer Lenses are custom-made for each patient. Luckily, convenient financing options with affordable payment plans are available; our staff can provide more information about outside financing.

 

An ICL is primarily intended for the age group 18-50. Under age 18, your prescription and eyes are still changing. Overage 50, your natural lenses are progressively deteriorating, so a procedure called Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE) is more advisable.

Can the EVO Visian ICL be removed from my eye? 

Although the lens is intended to remain in place permanently, our eye doctor can remove the implant if necessary. Although ICL lenses are intended to stay in place indefinitely, it is still recommended to have regular annual follow-up appointments to ensure that the implants are in position and functioning properly and to check for premature cataract formation and increased pressure that can develop in any post-operative eye.

Is the EVO Visian ICL visible to others?

No. The Visian ICL™ is positioned behind the iris (the colored part of the eye), which is invisible to both you and the observers.

Is the EVO ICL reversible?

Yes, the EVO ICL is removable and can be replaced, allowing for flexibility and adaptability to changes in your vision or advancements in technology.

Is EVO ICL a good option for farsightedness?

EVO ICL vision correction procedures are primarily designed to correct nearsightedness (myopia) and can also address astigmatism. It is not typically used for farsightedness (hyperopia). For farsighted individuals, other vision correction options such as LASIK, PRK, or different types of lens implants may be more appropriate.

Will I be able to feel the EVO ICL lens once it is in place? 

The Visian ICL™ is designed to be completely unobtrusive after being implanted. It stays positioned and does not interact with the eye’s structures.

 

Important Safety Information for Visian ICL: Before considering Evo ICL surgery you should have a complete eye examination and talk with your eye care professional about Visian ICL surgery, especially the potential benefits, risks, and complications. You should discuss the time needed for healing after surgery.

 

Sources

Sanders D. Vukich JA. Comparison of implantable collaer lens (ICL) and laser-assisted in situ keratomileuses (LASIK) for Low Myopia. Cornea. 2006.

Shin, JY. Ahn, H. Seo, KY. Kim, EK. Kim, TK. Comparison of higher-order aberrations after implantable Collamer lens implantation and wavefront-guide LASEK in high myopia. J Refract Surg. 2012; 28(2): 106 -111.

Igarashi, A. Kamiya, K. Shimizu, K. Komatsu, M. Visual Performance after implantable Collamer lens implantation and wavefront-guided laser in situ keratomileusis for high myopia. Am J Opthalmol. 2009.

Parkhurst, GD. Comparison of Night Vision and Contrast Sensitivity in Patients Undergoing Implantable Collamer Lens Implantation or LASIK. Presented at: American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO); October 19, 2010; Chicago, IL.

Parkhurst, G. Psolka, M. Kezirian, G. Phakic intraocular lens implantation in United States military warfighters: A retrospective analysis of early clinical outcomes of the Visian ICL. J Refract Surg. 2011;27(7):473 - 481.7. Gimbel, Howard V et al. Management of myopic astigmatism with phakic intraocular lens implantation. Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery, Volume 28, Issue 5 , 883 – 886.8. Naves, J.S. Carracedo, G. Cacho-Babillo, I. Diadenosine Nucleotid Measurements as Dry-Eye Score in Patients After LASIK and ICL Surgery. Presented at American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) 2012.

Phakic intraocular lenses (IOLs) or implantable contact lenses (ICL). (n.d.). https://www.umkelloggeye.org/conditions-treatments/refractive-surgery/phakic-intraocular-lenses-iols

Kohnen T, Kook D, Morral M, Güell JL. Phakic intraocular lenses: Part 2: Results and complications. J Cataract Refract Surg. 2010;36(12):2168-2194. doi:10.1016/j.jcrs.2010.10.007