An ICL is technically known as an Implantable Collamer Lens, although many patients think of it as an implantable contact lens because it corrects vision from inside the eye. In this video, Professor Dan Reinstein explains how an ICL is made from a soft, flexible and highly biocompatible Collamer material. The lens is placed behind the iris and in front of the eye’s natural lens, where it remains virtually invisible.
ICLs can be used to correct short-sightedness and astigmatism, with certain implantable lens designs also available for long-sightedness. They can be particularly valuable when laser eye surgery is not recommended because of a high prescription, corneal measurements or another individual suitability factor.
Unlike laser treatment, an ICL does not reshape or remove corneal tissue. It provides another route to clearer vision for patients whose eyes are better suited to a lens-based procedure.
