Phakic Intraocular Lenses/ICL
Phakic intraocular lenses are used when Excimer laser treatment is unsuitable due to the extent of the patient’s short- or long-sightedness or because the cornea is too thin or irregular. When a patient’s prescription is particularly strong, the Excimer laser must remove a thicker elevated layer of the cornea meaning that the structure of the cornea is altered, the quality of vision impaired and that there is a risk of complications. Phakic lenses offer sharper vision than the Excimer laser for patients that have a strong prescription.
Phakic lenses are both very fine and flexible and made from a biocompatible material. They are placed inside the eye to correct short-sightedness, long-sightedness and/or astigmatism. The phakic lens is inserted without touching the eye’s natural crystalline lens. Depending on where they are located in eye, phakic lenses are classified as the following:
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Posterior chamber phakic lenses or ICLs (Implanted Contact Lens) placed behind the iris.
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Anterior chamber phakic lenses, Artiflex lenses placed in front of the iris.
Another advantage that phakic lenses have is that the procedure is completely reversible. If, for whatever reason, it was necessary for lens to be removed then the patient’s sight would return to how it was before the operation. In some cases, Lasik and Phakic intraocular lens procedures can be combined to correct errors in vision that cannot be solved with just one procedure.
ICL (Implantable Collamer Lens)
The ICL (Implantable Collamer Lens) technique is a revolutionary procedure in the field of refractive surgery which consists of placing a Collamer lens (an innovative material made of collagen) between the iris and eye’s natural crystalline lens.
ICL is the largest growing refractive procedure in the last few years and has been used on more than 550,000 patients around the world.
ICL has many advantages over laser treatments as it can tackle a much wider range of problems related to short-sightedness, long-sightedness and astigmatism. It’s also recommended for patients with a fine cornea, dry eye or large pupils.
Advantages of ICL
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ICL is reversible: Unlike laser treatment ICL is reversible as there is no need to touch any of the eye’s tissue because a lens is inserted. This means that patients can still take advantage of any new, improved techniques that may emerge in the future as the eye can be returned to its original state.
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ICL means high quality vision: ICL guarantees the highest and most reliable quality of vision. Don’t just take our word for it. ICL has the highest satisfaction rating among patients of any refractive procedure.
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ICL lenses are invisible: As the lens is positioned in the interior of the eye, it’s invisible to both the patient and others. You will soon forget that it’s even there.
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Quick and pain free: The operation last only 15 minutes and is carried out using a local topical anaesthetic (drops). The lens is inserted via a 3mm incision that doesn’t require any stitches. Patients can return home just a few hours after the intervention and resume their everyday lives the very next day.
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ICL means performance: ICL is 100% compatible with professional sport and physically demanding working environments such as those experience by pilots and divers or in law enforcement.