Contact lenses have long been the corrective vision solution of choice for patients who do not want to wear glasses but are unhappy about the permanence of laser vision correction. Many people want to enjoy the convenience of contact lenses, but do not want the cost of daily disposables or to have to clean and care for longer-duration lenses. Fortunately, there is an alternative option that offers patients a long-term solution to their refractive vision problem – implantable contact lenses.

Implantable contact lenses (ICL’s) are very similar to conventional contact lenses in their design. However, unlike regular contacts, they do not sit on the surface of the eye, but instead are surgically placed inside the eye, between the iris and natural lens. The procedure is performed using a local anesthetic, with some patients also choosing to be sedated during the surgery. The entire process can be carried out in just 15 minutes, and there is minimal recovery time, enabling patients to get on with their usual activities in just one day.

Implantable contact lenses are made from Collamer, which is purified collagen. Collagen is a substance that is already naturally occurring in our bodies and provides strength and structure that holds our bodies together. Since our bodies already recognize it, the chances of the implantable contact lenses being rejected are extremely low.

 

What are the Benefits of Implantable Contact Lenses?

There is a range of fantastic benefits that you can enjoy when you choose implantable contact lenses. These include the following:

• The superior quality of vision owing to the eye maintaining its natural corneal shape.

• A simple, straightforward surgery that can be performed using just local anesthetic.

• During the placement of implantable contact lenses, the nerves of the cornea are not disrupted in any way, preventing dry eye, which is a common side effect of many types of eye surgery.

• The lenses are biocompatible, meaning that they are suitable for virtually every patient and rejection/infection rates are extremely low.

• There is no need to give your lenses any special care, such as disinfecting or cleaning.

• Your implantable contact lenses can stay in the eye indefinitely.

• Your implantable contact lenses can be removed if the need arises, for example, if your prescription suddenly changes significantly.

Implantable contact lenses are a particularly good choice for patients who want to achieve clear vision without glasses but are deemed to be unsuitable candidates for laser vision correction procedure surgeries such as LASIK due to having corneal abnormalities (such as keratoconus) or very high prescriptions.

 

Am I a Good Candidate for Implantable Contact Lenses?

Every patient is unique and must be assessed individually to determine if they are suitable candidates for implantable contact lenses. You will need to undergo specific tests that will look at your prescription, which should be stable and fall within pre-determined parameters. Generally, these are:

• Shortsightedness from -0.50 to -20

• Farsightedness from +0.50 to +10.00

• Astigmatism from 0.50 to 6.00D

The general health of your eyes and the shape of your cornea will also be evaluated. After this appointment, our team will be delighted to advise you if you are a suitable candidate for implantable contact lenses.

To discover more about this innovative alternative to conventional contact lenses, please contact our offices in Plano, TX to schedule your personal consultation.