ICL Implantation Surgery

WHEN WOULD AN ICL BE NEEDED?

An ICL would be needed to help you in cases of,

• Severe nearsightedness that may not be corrected with other surgeries.

• Fixing the lens results in dry eyes.

• Patients who cannot have Laser surgery for their eyes.

• The lens has a great night vision.

• A permanent procedure and cannot be removed.

PROCEDURE

Implanting this type of lens requires surgery often performed by an eye surgeon. The surgeon places the lens between the eyes’ natural lens and colored iris. The lens implanted enables the eyes to bend or refract light on the retina producing a clearer vision.

The ICL lens is made of plastic and a collagen called collamer. In some cases, though it’s not necessary to correct vision problems, it eliminates or reduces the need for wearing specs or glasses or even contact lenses.

Your eye surgeon will ask you to visit 1 week before the surgery. He/she may use a laser to make tiny holes between the front of your eye (anterior chamber) and the natural lens.

This prevents pressure and fluid build up in the eye after the procedure. The surgeon may provide antibiotics or anti-inflammatory drops several days before the surgery. A mild topical or local anesthetic is given to numb the eye. Along with this, you may be given a small sedative to make you feel relaxed. In addition, you may be given an injection to control your eye movements.

Now the surgeon will clean your eye and the surrounding area. Your eyelids will be kept open by a surgical tool called lid speculum. Next, the surgeon makes an incision or cut in the eye. They will then put a lubricant to protect your cornea.

Thereafter, they will insert the ICL through the incision. Lens being thin, may appear folded, so it’s made unfolded in the eye. Your eye surgeon may remove the lubricant and make stitches to close the opening. Later they will put eye drops or ointment in the eye and cover it with a patch.

The surgery takes between 20-30 minutes. After the surgery, you’ll be taken to the recovery room. Here, you would be closely monitored for a few hours. Now the surgeon may prescribe eye drops or oral medications for pain. You are now set to go home. But you would need a ride home.

RISKS INVOLVED

ICL Surgery may sound safe, but could cause complications like:

• Glaucoma: If the ICL is oversized, or positioned incorrectly, it can create pressure in the eyes. This could lead to Glaucoma.

• Vision Loss: If you have high eye pressure, it can lead to vision loss.

• Early Cataracts: An ICL can decrease the circulation of fluid in the eyes, thus increasing the chances of Cataract. This can also happen if there is a chronic inflammation or the ICL is oversized, or positioned incorrectly,

• Blurry Vision:
  These could be probable symptoms of cataracts and glaucoma. Apart from this other factors can arise, such as glares or double vision, if the lenses are not proper.

• Cloudy Cornea: Eye surgery when done among aged people reduces the endothelial cells in the cornea. Once these cells decrease rapidly, you may develop a cloudy cornea and vision loss.

• Retinal Detachment: Eye surgery can increase the chances of getting a retinal detachment from its usual position. This could be a rare complication requiring immediate attention.

• Eye Infection: One of the most uncommon side effects leading to permanent vision loss.

• Additional Surgery: Surgeries to remove lens and correction related issues.

PRECAUTIONS

ICL surgery is not safe and recommended for all. Before undergoing the procedure, you would need to consult your eye surgeon. Some situations in which ICL may not be helpful:

• You’re pregnant and breastfeeding
• You’re younger than 21 years old
• You’re 45 years and older
• Have chronic diseases causing hormone fluctuations
• Taking medicines affecting eye vision
• Conditions that prohibit wound healing
• Don’t meet minimum requirements of endothelial count

RECOVERY

An ICL surgery takes about 20-30 minutes. Therefore, you can go home after the surgery unless recommended by the surgeon. But you would need to recover from the stitches made in your eyes.

The surgeon may place an eye patch to protect your eyes from outside injuries. Normally it’s safe, but if not careful it could lead to vision loss. This reduces the dependency on glasses or specs or even contact lenses for a clearer vision.