There is a substantial difference between visual acuity, one that is measured in tenths, and visual quality. All techniques, even laser, promise an improvement in visual acuity, but very often the quality of vision remains as it was before surgery. This is the first reason why you should choose the Visian ICL procedure: the eyesight will be clearer and vivid and will have a greater depth and dimension. We are talking about this “wow effect”: after a simple outpatient procedure of 15 minutes, patients immediately experience an improvement in the quality of vision.
15 Minutes To Change Your Life
15 minutes to change your life: it’s how long it takes to implant the Visian ICL Lens. Micro engraving is performed at the end of the cornea and the soft lens is positioned behind the iris. Given the microscopic opening size, this will naturally cure in no time, 2 days maximum.
The patient will leave the clinic a few hours after the procedure without glasses or contact lenses! The revolutionary lens allows you to solve myopia and hypermetropia, with or without astigmatism.
Why People Choose Visian ICL Lens
The Visian ICL, also known as the Implantable Collamer Lens, is a type of refractive procedure to help correct the most common visual problem, myopia. Simply put, Visian ICL is a removable lens implant that is an attractive alternative to LASIK and other refractive procedures.
Compare Most Common Corrective Eye Procedures
Choosing which eye correction procedure is right for you is an important decision. The table below shows you how Visian ICL compares to the most common corrective eye procedures LASIK and PRK.
Visian ICL Doesn’t Cause Dry Eye Syndrome
The biocompatible Collamer maintains natural eye chemistry and won’t induce dry eye syndrome.
In Harmony With Your Natural Eye
The procedure can be described as an additive vision correction. Unlike other procedures, it does not remove corneal tissue but works in harmony with your natural eye. The lens gently unfolds in your eye, rests behind your iris, and is biocompatible with your body chemistry.
A Removable Option
Visian ICL patients can correct their vision with peace of mind. In the event of a major prescription change or the availability of new vision correction options, Visian ICL is completely removable, assisting our patients, together with their doctor, to make changes to keep pace with technology and their changing needs.
A Quick Procedure & Recovery
The Visian ICL Collamer material enables our insertion method to be minimally invasive. With only a 3.5 mm insert, we can optimize the procedure and recovery time dramatically. Additionally, the procedure is also painless because of the numbing medication. Patients can usually expect a 20-30 minute procedure or less and most people are able to resume daily activities in just a few short days with clearer vision.
Protection From UV Rays
By gently inserting the ICL Lens into the eye we’re able to create a barrier of UV protection. The Collamer material that makes up the ICLs has unique properties that provide UV protection while letting natural visible light pass through unaltered.
Sharp, Clear Vision
Superb Results
99% Satisfaction Rate
Excellent Night Vision
Many patients achieve excellent night vision with Visian ICL.
Quick Results
Often times, patients can achieve improved vision immediately following the procedure.
Great for Thin Corneas
Many patients are excluded from other forms of vision correction because of thin corneas, but not with Visian ICL.
Great for High Nearsightedness
Visian ICL is able to correct and reduce nearsightedness (myopia) of up to -20D.
Visian ICL Treats A Wide Range Of Prescriptions
Visian ICL gives a corrective procedure option to those with moderate to severe myopic vision problems. Many patients don’t meet the requirements for Lasik candidacy because their prescription is too high or they have thin corneas. ICLs provide them a safe and effective treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Visian ICL?
The Implantable Collamer Lens for Nearsightedness is a refractive lens also known as a phakic IOL. “Phakic” meaning that the natural lens of the eye is in place, and “IOL” meaning intraocular lens, or a lens inside the eye. The Visian ICL is a posterior chamber implant that is situated through a small incision in the eye behind the iris (the colored part of the eye), and in front of the natural crystalline lens in order to improve your nearsightedness.
What and Who is the Visian ICL intended for?
The Visian ICL is designed for the correction of moderate to high nearsightedness (-3.0 to –15.0 diopters (D)), and the reduction of nearsightedness in patients with up to -20 diopters (D) of nearsightedness. It is indicated for patients who are at least 21 years of age. In order to be sure that your surgeon will use a Visian ICL with the adequate power for your eye, your nearsightedness should be stable for at least a year before undergoing eye surgery.
The Visian ICL represents an alternative to other refractive surgeries including laser assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK), photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), incisional surgeries, or other means to correct myopia such as contact lenses and eye glasses. The Visian ICL is not intended to correct any astigmatism you may have.
Who should not have the Visian ICL procedure?
Patients who are pregnant and nursing and patients with a narrow angle in the front chamber of their eye, because in this case, the space for the Visian ICL would be too small.
What is the key potential benefit of the Visian ICL?
The key benefit of Visian ICL surgery is the permanent correction or reduction of your nearsightedness allowing you to see clearly at long distances without eyeglasses or contact lenses or reduce your dependence upon them. In addition to the improvement of your uncorrected vision (vision without eyeglasses or contact lenses), your best-corrected vision (best vision with contact lenses/eye glasses) may be improved.
What is the Visian ICL made of?
The material is called Collamer, a collagen copolymer that contains a small amount of purified collagen which is proprietary to STAAR Surgical; the remainder is made of a similar material to that found in soft contact lenses. It is very biocompatible (does not cause a reaction inside the eye) and stable. It also contains an ultraviolet light filter.
What People Say About Visian ICL
Hear from patients about how Visian ICL has changed their lives and listen to doctors answer common questions about the procedure, treatment, and results. Like all medical procedures, there are risks with Visian ICL. Discuss them with your doctor and decide if Visian ICL is right for you.
Patient Dr. James Huang
Dr. James T. Huang is a practicing therapeutic optometrist at the Dr. James Eyecare Center in Houston, Texas.
On 6/13/2013 at around 4pm, I received the Visian ICL implants to permanently correct my vision. The surgery was performed by ophthalmologist Dr. Greg Parkhurst of NuVision whom I met because he did a Continuing Education Lecture on refractive surgery which I attended. After the lecture I asked for his contact information, thinking that the Visian ICLs sounded like a great option for me.
For those who don’t know what the Visian ICL is. ICL stands for Implantable Collamer Lens and is a soft lens (like a contact lens) that is surgically placed into the eye. The lens works similarly to LASIK in that it permanently corrects your vision, except unlike LASIK, it doesn’t require cutting and reshaping corneal tissue and it is removable.
As an optometrist, of course, I’m extra careful with any choices surrounding my vision so I finally decided on the Visian ICLs instead of LASIK for all the reasons below:
- I have dry eyes
- I have relatively thin corneas for a high myopic prescription
- I have large pupils at dim light which would likely result in seeing halos/starbursts at night time
- The cornea in my left eye is thinner on the inferior temporal side which could cause uncertainty in the LASIK result
- Personally, I didn’t like the idea of cutting through a perfectly healthy cornea
- I wanted clear, undistorted and sharp vision during the day and night
- I have almost no astigmatism, which makes me an ideal candidate for Visian ICL in the USA
- I have big enough anterior chamber for Visian ICL Lens implantation
- Visian ICL is the only refractive surgery that is REVERSIBLE!
- Dr. Parkhurst is one of the most experienced Visian ICL surgeons in the country
My prescription was -9.25 with -0.25 cyl at somewhat of oblique axis in both eyes. After the implants, my vision is now outstanding. I am still seeing 20/10 which is twice as sharp as the gold-standard of 20/20 vision.
In regards to my night vision, initially with Visian ICLs I did notice mild halos around light for the first 6-8 weeks. Now I don’t really see the halos anymore. Quite possibly my visual cortex has adapted to the visual aberrations.
Important Safety Information
The Visian ICL is designed for the correction of moderate to high nearsightedness. Visian ICL surgery is intended to safely and effectively correct nearsightedness between -3 diopters to -15 diopters and partially correct nearsightedness to up to -20 diopters in eyes with up to 2.5 diopters of astigmatism. It is not intended to correct any astigmatism you may or may not have. If you have nearsightedness within these ranges, Visian ICL surgery may improve your distance vision without eyeglasses or contact lenses. Because the Visian ICL corrects for distance vision, it does not eliminate the need for reading glasses, you may require them at some point, even if you have never worn them before.
Implantation of the Visian ICL is a surgical procedure, and as such, carries potentially serious risks. Please discuss the risks with your eye care professional. Complications, although rare, may include the need for additional surgical procedures, inflammation, loss of cells from the back surface of the cornea, increase in eye pressure, and cataracts.
You should not have Visian ICL surgery if:
- Your doctor determines that the shape of your eye is not an appropriate fit for the Visian ICL
- You are pregnant or nursing
- You do not meet the minimum endothelial cell density for your age at the time of implantation as determined by your eye doctor
- Your vision is not stable as determined by your eye doctor
Before considering Visian ICL surgery you should have a complete eye examination and talk with your eye care professional about Visian ICL surgery, especially the potential benefits, risks, and complications. You should discuss the time needed for healing after surgery.
