STAAR EVO ICL

A new alternative for those who are not suitable for laser eye surgery

Implantable Collamer Lenses, i.e. ICL, is a lens that can be implanted in the eye for better vision. ICL can provide an alternative for those who want to get rid of their glasses or contact lenses but have insufficient corneal thickness or too high diopters for laser eye surgery. ICL is actually a contact lens that is not positioned on the surface but in an inner layer of the eye between the iris and the natural eye lens. With ICL the patient will be able to see clearly and get rid of the discomfort of wearing normal contact lenses or glasses.

• Myopes whose diopter value is between -8.00 and -15.00 (between -15.00 and -20.00 the diopter can be significantly reduced)
• In case of hypermetropia the diopter value is between +4.00 and +10.00
• In case of astigmatism, up to -6.00 cylinder diopters
• Between the ages of 22 and 40
• Those who have not experienced greater than half a diopter visual impairment in the past year

• The procedure is completely painless and extremely fast (approx. 15 minutes per eye)
• No tissue is removed from the cornea
• Does not contribute to the aggravation of dry eyes and dry eye syndrome*
• ICL can be removed at any time, so it will not cause any problems if cataract/lens surgery is performed later.
• People with thin corneas may also be suitable
• Provides clear and good vision both day and night**
• Protection against harmful UV radiation

 

* Depending on individual characteristics, temporary dry eyes may be experienced after ICL surgery, just like any other eye surgery.

** Depending on individual characteristics, ICL may cause glare and/or halos around lights, which most patients get used to by the end of the neuroadaptation.

As with all eye surgeries, ICL implantation is preceded by a suitability examination, where it is determined during different eye tests whether the individual characteristics of the eye meet the requirements for implanting ICL. During the examination all important information about the course of the operation is provided, as well as what to expect during the procedure. Suitability examinations require pupil dilation, which will results in blurred vision, so driving is not recommended.

On the day of the operation, pupil dilating eye drops and then anesthetic eye drops are applied, so no pain is expected during the procedure. The surgeon makes a small incision at the edge of the cornea to insert the ICL implant. Once this is done (and the ICL is between the lens and the iris) the doctor will make adjustments to get the implant in the right place and angle.

After the surgery, the majority of patients experience an improvement in visual acuity almost immediately, but this is not the case for everyone. Individual differences are also present during the healing process, so if this process takes more time for you, it is completely normal. Vision may fluctuate for 4 weeks after surgery, but we expect good vision after the fourth week, while complete tissue regeneration may take up to 6 months.

After the operation, you will need to use eye drops, which will help your recovery. If you come to the procedure by car, you will definitely need someone to take you home, as driving is not recommended after the treatment.

When should I go for a check-up after ICL implantation?

After surgery: 1st day, 2nd-3rd weeks, or 2nd months. After that, it is recommended to have an eye examination every year.

Who is not suitable for ICL lens implantation?

Pregnant and lactating mothers, or patients whose results on the suitability tests do not meet the criteria for surgery.

How safe is ICL lens implantation?

The production of ICL lenses was preceded by a lot of research and development, and today more than 2,000,000 pieces have been implanted worldwide. In addition to having positive clinical trial results, a survey found that more than 99.4 percent of people who had ICL surgery would have the procedure done again.*

*Patient Survey, STAAR Surgical ICL Data Registry, 2018