Frequently Asked Questions

It’s a surgical eye procedure during which an implantable contact lens is introduced through a small incision in the eye and is placed behind the iris (the coloured part of the eye), and in front of the natural crystalline lens in order to improve your short-sightedness and astigmatism.

The key benefit of the ICL procedure is the permanent correction or reduction of your short-sightedness or astigmatism, allowing you to see clearly 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.

Follow your eye care professional’s instructions before and after the ICL procedure. Take prescribed medication and schedule all recommended follow-up visits with your eye care professional. After healing from the surgery, annual visits may be recommended by your doctor. Contact your eye care professional immediately if you experience a problem.

The implanted lens is intended to remain in place without maintenance. But it can also be removed by your eye care professional if needed in the future. If your physician removes the lens, you will lose the benefit of your vision correction.

No. It is positioned behind the iris (the coloured part of the eye), where it is invisible to both you and others. Only your eye care practitioner will be able to tell that vision correction has taken place.

No, typically it isn’t noticeable after it is implanted. It does not attach to any structures within the eye and does not move around once in place.

The ICL procedure is performed on an outpatient basis, which means that the patient has surgery and leaves the same day. The procedure itself usually takes 20-30 minutes or less. The patient will need someone to drive them home on surgery day. A light, topical or local anaesthetic is administered. There is typically very little discomfort during or after surgery. Eye drops or medication may be prescribed and a visit with your eye care professional is usually scheduled the day after surgery.