< Back to Implantable Contact Lenses

Advantages

• They are removable so the procedure can be reversed.
• They can be used in people with a thin cornea.
• Suitable also for dry eyes.
• Even suitable for high prescriptions including astigmatism.
• No induced higher-order aberrations (this means less risk of glare, haloes or problems with low lighting which can result from high laser treatments).
• The procedure does not permanently change the structure of the eye.
• No structural change means that the focussing ability of the eye is preserved in young patients.
• There is no ongoing maintenance of the lens.
• It is an outpatient procedure performed using anaesthetic eye drops.
• There is minimal post-operative pain.

Disadvantages

 As with any surgery there are risks, including complications due to infection. We reduce these risks by operating in the state of the art ophthalmic theatre in our clinic. As well our surgical staff are highly experienced in intra-ocular surgical techniques.

There is a slight long-term risk of inducing a premature cataract. Cataracts are a natural part of aging so cannot be avoided, even without an ICL, but to reduce the risk of a cataract developing prematurely it is advisable to choose an experienced and competent Eye Surgeon.