A decline in our vision is something that happens to most of us as we get older – it's a fact of age...
Implantable Contact Lenses (ICL)
Multifocal lens implants from the UK's leading surgeons
Why would you recommend ICL over Laser?
ICL is the treatment of choice for those patients found unsuitable for Laser treatment due to abnormal or thinner corneas or with out of range prescriptions (it is unsafe to treat patients with over -10D of myopia with Laser eye surgery). It can also be used in Keratoconus patients who have had cross linking first.
Some UK clinics marker themselves to treat patient up -12D or +8 with Laser but long term secientific studies have proved that Laser treatment over -10D or + 5 D is not only unsafe but un ethical . ICL is the standardized treatment for higher prescriptions recommended by American association of Cataract and Refractive surgery (ASCRS) and European association of Cataract and refractive surgery. (ESCRS)
Is it safe?
Absolutely. ICL has been performed for 10 years and the international surgical team at Advanced Vision Care who conduct these procedures are highly experienced. The fact that one of AVC Surgeons had ICL treatment 7 years ago speaks for itself!
In addition, further confirmation is the US Army has approved ICL as the treatment of choice for their recruits. Over 500,000 procedures have been performed successfully worldwide and it is very popular in USA and Europe.
Does it look like a contact lens?
An ICL is much smaller than a contact lens and is implanted behind the iris (the coloured part of the eye). It is invisible to those looking at you unlike older lenses such as the iris clip Artisan lens which is clearly visible and can cause distortion. There are a range of ICLs available and Advanced Vision Care only use the most sophisticated design.
Is there a chance my body will reject it?
No-there is no chance of rejection as the ICL we use is made of a material (collamer) that is biocompatible with your body’s natural chemistry.
How long does surgery take and what is involved?
Surgery is micro incision, stitch and injection free. It takes 30 minutes per eye with British regulations stating that both eyes cannot be treated on the same day (usually a gap of 1-2 weeks or the next day where a normal contact lens can be worn in the untreated eye).
What kind of anesthetic is used?
Anesthetic is applied in the form of drops which numbs the eye area so you do not feel anything during the procedure. As it is local and also in this form it wear off without any side effects soon after the procedure is complete.
What prescriptions can be treated with ICL?
ICL is suitable for a large range from -23D to +12 with astigmatism up to 7D. Advanced Vision Care recently made history by being the first clinic to treat an astigmatic hyperope (ie. the patient had high hyperopia as well as significant astigmatism)
I wear varifocals; is this best treatment for me?
This depends on what you want to achieve after surgery. If you only want distance vision corrected and are happy with wearing glasses for close vision then yes it is. If you would like both distance and near treated, then Clear Lens Exchange with multifocal implants would be the treatment of choice. A suitability assessment would determine the best option for you.
How long has your clinic been conducting ICL treatments?
Advanced Vision Care has been offering this treatment for 4 years now. However, the world renowned surgical teams that perform this surgery have been doing it for more than 10 years and we are proud to say we are the country’s leaders in ICL treatment.
Can I have ICL treatment if I have had Laser surgery before?
Yes Laser eye surgery is not a contraindication to this treatment
A Whole New World - Beyond Laser
The majority of patients are found to be suitable for Laser vision correction. However, there are a small percentage of people who are unsuitable candidates due to various reasons such as their prescription falling outside the recommended parameters or their corneas being too thin. Fortunately, with implantable contact lenses, there is a non- Laser alternative available at Advanced Vision Care.
Rather than changing the shape of the cornea implantable contact lenses (ICL) are permanent miniature contact lenses that are implanted into the eye to enhance the natural focussing ability of the eye. This provides excellent quality of vision for a wide range of prescriptions. These lenses are widely used in Europe and USA and AVC uses the latest lens models which are highly safe and effective.
Advanced VisionCare are proud to say they are the leaders in the field of implantable contact lenses and were the first in the UK to perform this procedure for a patient ( a Doctor ) who was hyperopic and had astigmatism; an extremely difficult combination! (see Daily Mail article link.Prescription range)
The Implantable Contact Lenses can be used to correct a wide prescription range from -25.00 (short-sighted) to +12.00(long--sighted). In addition to this, specialist lenses are available to correct astigmatism of up to 5.00D (toric ICLs)
Implantable Contact
Lens Procedure
The treatment takes 30 minutes per eye and if both eyes are being treated they will be done so with a 1-2 day or 1-2week interval between each eye . A local anaesthetic (in the form of eye drops) is used to numb the eye and antibiotic eye drops are also administered to prevent any infection during the surgery. There is very little discomfort associated with the procedure and patients are able to leave the clinic the same day. You are required to return to Harley Street the following day for your one-day post operative check up. The surgeon will also conduct two week, 3 month, and 12 month aftercare appointments. It is recommended you return on an annual basis for a comprehensive check up.
The ICL materialThe ICL is made of Collamer which is accepted by the eyes and therefore the body's immune system does not react or reject it as a foreign body. As the ICL is so tiny, soft and flexible it can be folded up and injected into the eye in seconds through a tiny self-sealing opening. Once it has been injected it unfolds into its correct shape in the liquid inside the eye. There are no stitches in the eye and as the lens is behind the iris (Coloured part of the eye), unlike other lenses, it is not visible to the naked eye.
The ICL surgeonsThe surgical team in AVC consists of internationally reputed surgeons who are not only experts in this field but also international trainers for other surgeons in Europe and other parts of the world.
Advantages of the Visian ICLQuality of vision - The Visian ICL not only results in improved visual acuity but also superior high definition visual quality thus patients experiencing an immediate 'wow' factor after the procedure.
Bio-compatibility - Collamer, the 100 percent pure collagen copolymer lens material of the Visian ICL, is not viewed as a foreign object by the body's immune system and therefore is not rejected.
Versatility - The Visian ICL offers a wider treatment range for myopia than LASIK or LASEK procedures. Simplicity - Unlike traditional contact lenses, once the Visian ICL is implanted in the eye, there is no additional maintenance needed.
Safety - To date approximately 500,000 ICL implants have been performed worldwide, demonstrating an established track record of safety. Hence US Military have approved these lenses for their personnel.
Undetectable - The placement of the Visian ICL makes the lens invisible to the patient and any observer.
Removable - The Visian Implantable Contact Lenses are designed to be permanently placed in the eye. However, the lenses can be removed if a patient's vision changes or if they otherwise need to be removed or replaced. This means that if there is a prescription change with time it can be corrected and superior vision maintained.
ICL in the Press
