Implantable Contact Lenses: Frequently asked questions from Optimax patients
What is ICL surgery?
ICL (Implantable Contact Lens) surgery – also known as Phakic IOLs – is a great vision correction alternative to laser eye surgery. Our ICL of choice at Optimax is the EVO Visian ICL by STAAR. The implantable lens is inserted into the eye via a small incision, where it sits behind the iris but in front of the natural eye lens. Unlike with other lens surgeries, ICL surgery leaves your natural lens in place so that, should your visual requirements change in the future, the procedure is entirely reversible. We typically recommend ICL treatment for patients under the age of 40 who do not yet need reading glasses, although we can also offer it to patients up to the age of 60.
What prescriptions are suitable for ICLs?
One of the main benefits of ICLs is that they are suitable for a wide range of prescriptions. For short-sighted prescriptions, we can treat up to -20 with the EVO Visian ICL (compared to -10 with laser eye surgery), while for long-sighted prescriptions, we can treat up to +10 (compared to +6 with laser eye surgery). This makes ICL treatment a great option for people who have strong prescriptions.
How successful is ICL surgery?
Over 2 million EVO Visian ICLs have been implanted worldwide and, of these patients globally, 99.4% said they would do it again. That figure is even better at Optimax – 99.78% of our patients were satisfied with the results of their ICL surgery.
What are the benefits of ICLs?
We’ve already touched on one of the main positives of ICL surgery, which is that it can treat a very wide range of prescriptions. People who rely on their glasses or contacts lenses every moment of the day, and for whom laser eye surgery has never been an option, now find themselves with a very effective vision correction surgery option. We’ve also briefly mentioned the removability aspect of the lens which is great for patients who may find that their prescription changes in the future. It also means that you’re prepared for any technological advancements, with nothing stopping you from having the latest lens implanted further down the line.
On top of these two advantages of the EVO Visian ICL, there are further benefits. The lens is made from a biocompatible collamer material which helps it to work in natural harmony with your eye. This collamer material also provides UV protection. UV rays are known to damage the eyes by bringing on a variety of eye conditions like macular degeneration and cataracts. The ICL helps to lower your risk of this.
Other advantages include a reduced dry eye risk compared to laser-based vision correction procedures, as the ICL is implanted by a small incision, and doesn’t involve reshaping your corneal tissue. ICL patients may also experience improved night vision with the EVO Visian lens, which is especially beneficial when it comes to driving in the dark, or working in poorly lit environments.
One of the main benefits of ICLs, however, is that it is a very quick procedure and recovery. Patients are in and out of the treatment room within thirty minutes and can continue recovery from home. The initial improvement in vision is usually seen on the same day and some of our patients even said that they felt ready to return to work the day after surgery!
Does ICL surgery hurt?
You will be given numbing eye drops before the surgery to ensure that you do not feel discomfort during the treatment. You may experience some discomfort after the surgery and during recovery as your eyes heal, but this can usually be managed by soothing eye drops.
How much does ICL treatment at Optimax cost?
We have a fixed price of £3,245 per eye for ICL surgery. This price does not vary according to your prescription – even implantable contact lenses which account for astigmatism and stronger prescriptions will be £3,245 per eye. This price includes the lens, surgery day and all your appointments up until you’re discharged from our care (usually between 3-6 months after surgery).
How long will the ICL last for?
The ICL is designed to last in your eye for the remainder of your life. You should have good vision as long as your prescription remains stable, although the lens cannot prevent the need for reading glasses once you enter your forties. This change to your near vision occurs naturally with age, but reading glasses can be worn in order to help you see fine detail and small print.
How long is the actual ICL surgery?
As we mentioned previously, the ICL surgery itself is very quick. From entering the treatment room to leaving it with your new vision, the process is typically between 20-30 minutes.
Can both eyes be treated on the same day?
Yes, we offer most of our patients the opportunity to receive treatment to both eyes on the same day. We treat each eye separately as if this were two individual operations, scrubbing down the theatre and disinfecting between each eye. This is in order to minimise the risk of infection. If you would prefer to have your first eye treated and then wait for it to heal before having your second eye treated, then you can do this at no extra cost.
What ICL aftercare appointments are there
Your first aftercare appointment will be 1-2 days after surgery to assess your initial healing and check your vision. We will see you again 7-10 after surgery, then for a third visit at 4-6 weeks. Most patients have their final appointments with us between 3-6 months after which the majority of patients are discharged, if the optometrist and patient are both satisfied with the recovery and healing of the eyes. We offer our ICL patients a year’s free aftercare from the date of surgery.
ICL patients must return to us for an endothelial cell count (ECC) test once a year for us to check the level of endothelial cells in the eye. This provides a good indication of the health of the eye and, in very rare cases, shows us when a lens removal is necessary. These ECC appointments are chargeable at £50.
What makes Optimax a great choice for ICL treatment?
We are one of the longest established providers of vision correction surgery in the UK, having offered eye surgery for more than 30 years. We have treated hundreds of thousands of patients, so you can be sure that our surgeons are experts in their field. We also have 20 clinics across the UK, so you’re sure to have an Optimax branch close to you. We offer ICL surgery in 10 of these clinics, while you can have your aftercare appointments at any one of the clinics.
We mentioned our fixed price of £3,245 per eye earlier, but did you know we also offer interest free payment plans? This allows you to spread the cost of your treatment over a number of months, in order to make ICL surgery more affordable and accessible to more people. You can read more about details of our payment plans here.
If you’re somebody who likes to read reviews from previous patients to help you choose a provider, then we’d encourage you to have a look at our Trustpilot page. We have over 2,500 patient reviews and are proud of our ‘Excellent’ rating on there. As well as this, all of our ICL surgeons are Fellows of the Royal College of Surgeons, registered with the General Medical Council and are Fellows or Members of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists.
How can I book an ICL consultation?
You can book your free consultation on our website here, or by giving us a call on 0800 093 1110. If you’d like to speak to a patient advisor before booking, you can do so over the phone, or by emailing any questions you have to enquiry@optimax.co.uk. This is a free no-obligation consultation held in order to assess your suitability for ICL treatment and to give you all the information you need before proceeding to surgery.
