Are you ready to be free from glasses and contacts? Implantable collamer lens surgery, or ICL, is a refractive surgery for long-term vision correction. ICL is a safe and effective alternative to LASIK, especially for those who are not ideal candidates, who prefer a reversible procedure, or who have nearsightedness beyond what LASIK can treat. With a lens implanted inside the eye, you can achieve clear vision without altering the corneal shape or removing corneal tissue. This advanced lens works in harmony with your natural vision, enhancing clarity while preserving the eye’s natural structure.
Board-certified ophthalmologist Dr. Jordan Stanley is specially trained in placing EVO ICL lenses. He is also a Marietta local and owner of PureSight Surgical, where he takes pride in offering attentive care and fully transparent pricing.
Dr. Stanley is a board-certified ophthalmologist and fellowship-trained glaucoma specialist. As the founder of PureSight Surgical in Marietta, GA, Dr. Stanley is committed to offering excellence in care for cataract surgery, ICL refractive surgery, glaucoma management, and medical eye exams with transparent fee-for-service pricing available for those without insurance. He is also in network with Medicare and many private insurance plans including Blue Cross and United.
What happens during ICL refractive surgery?
During Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL) surgery, flexible collamer lenses are surgically placed in the eyes to correct myopia (nearsightedness) and astigmatism. This allows you to see well at a distance, and at night, without glasses or contacts.
Collamer lenses are made from a biocompatible polymer enriched with collagen, a naturally occurring protein in the body. These lenses are designed to work harmoniously with your natural vision and stay in your eye comfortably for decades, providing clear vision without altering the cornea.
The procedure typically takes about 10-15 minutes per eye. Here is what you can expect:
- Before surgery, Dr. Stanley will discuss your goals and lifestyle, perform a comprehensive eye exam, and determine if you are a good candidate for ICL surgery. If so, he will order custom-sized implantable lenses tailored to your needs. To ensure the best fit, he uses advanced ultrasound technology powered by AI algorithms, providing precise measurements beyond traditional methods for exceptional vision and comfort.
- On the day of surgery, your eyes will be numbed with eye drops. You may also take an oral sedative medication to relax you, if needed.
- Under a surgical microscope, Dr. Stanley will create a small incision in the cornea and place a flexible collamer lens behind the iris, in front of the eye’s natural lens. This precise alignment ensures the implant works seamlessly with your natural lens to correct refractive errors like nearsightedness and astigmatism, eliminating the need for glasses or contact lenses. The incision is so small that it does not require stitches.
- Most patients experience immediate improvement in vision, with full recovery taking place over the next few days and weeks.
No stitches are needed, as the incision is small and your cornea should heal itself naturally. You will be sent home with eye drops to use for several weeks to ensure optimal healing.
Are implantable collamer lenses safe?
ICL surgery has a long track record of safety and success, with the first procedures performed in the early 1990s. As technology and implant design have advanced, the procedure has become incredibly safe and effective. It is now offered as a first-line option for many patients with nearsightedness (myopia) or other corneal issues, such as dryness or thinning, where laser-based procedures may not be ideal.
The newest generation of ICL implants, approved by the FDA in 2022, features a central pore that significantly reduces prior concerns about early cataract formation or elevated eye pressure. Over 2 million ICLs have been successfully implanted worldwide, highlighting its reliability and widespread acceptance.
Serious complications are rare, but they can include early cataract formation or issues with intraocular pressure. Studies, including those supporting FDA approval, report a low complication rate between 1% and 3.8%. When performed by an experienced eye surgeon, ICL surgery is considered a highly safe and effective option for vision correction.
How soon will my vision be corrected?
Your vision will be improved immediately, but you will not see “final” results until your eyes are fully healed—about 1 to 2 weeks.
Even on the first day with their new lenses, patients are often amazed by the improvement in their vision. Those physicians who have traditionally performed LASIK and now offer ICL often comment on this “wow effect” that ICL patients experience.
What is the recovery like?
Recovery from ICL surgery is typically quick:
- Immediate Improvement: Many patients notice better vision almost immediately.
- First Few Days: Mild discomfort or blurred vision may occur but usually resolves quickly.
- Return to Activities: Most people resume normal activities within 5-7 days.
- Follow-Up Visits: Regular check-ups are essential to monitor healing and eye health.
Dr. Stanley is an ICL-trained ophthalmologist
Dr. Stanley trained on ICL with esteemed Argentinian ophthalmologists, Drs. Roberto and Roger Zaldivar, at the Zaldivar Institute‘s Immersive ICL Course in Mendoza, Argentina. He was accepted among a small group of international surgeons for participation, and this training represents the highest level of qualification to perform this unique procedure. Dr. Stanley was one of twelve surgeons selected during his course to perform surgical cases with Dr. Roberto Zaldivar—who was among the three surgeons in the world to perform the first cases in 1993.
The Zaldivar Institute is globally renowned for its expertise in ICL surgery. The institute’s surgeons have used their outcome data to create AI-powered algorithms for accurate lens implant sizing; this is considered the gold standard for achieving the best possible patient outcomes.
Dr. Stanley has undergone specialized training in this advanced technology, including how to use these cutting-edge algorithms to ensure superior accuracy and personalization for each patient. This expertise allows him to deliver outstanding results, combining the latest innovations in ICL surgery with a patient-centered approach.
Dr. Stanley uses EVO ICL™ lenses, the latest advancement in implantable collamer lens technology, offering superior vision correction and eliminating the need for peripheral iridotomies (tiny holes in the iris). The EVO ICL™ also provides UV protection; this is a key way to protect long-term eye health, as unprotected UV exposure can cause several eye issues.
At PureSight Surgical, we provide transparent pricing and personalized care to save you both time and money. For patients who are un- or under-insured, this empowers you to understand what your care costs and avoid unexpected fees and charges.
Am I a good candidate?
ICL surgery may be suitable for you if you identify with the following:
- Have moderate to severe myopia (typically between -3.00 and -20.00 diopters) and/or astigmatism
- Are between 21 and 45 years old
- Have had a stable prescription for at least a year
- Have healthy eyes without a history of eye diseases like glaucoma or iritis
- Have dry eye and/or issues with tolerating your contact lenses. Often laser-based procedures (such as LASIK or PRK) will increase dryness whereas ICL will not.
- Have been told you were not a LASIK or PRK candidate due to the strength of your prescription or a corneal concern such as dry eye or thin corneas
If you think you may be a candidate, we invite you to schedule a consultation in Marietta with Dr. Stanley for a complete evaluation!
ICL does not address or prevent farsightedness
ICL is not approved for the treatment of hyperopia (farsightedness). For patients under age 40, laser based treatment such as LASIK may be an option. For patients over 40 with farsightedness, refractive lens exchange (RLE) can also be considered. Dr. Stanley can explain your best options during your consultation.
ICL vs. LASIK for vision correction
ICL is a superior vision correction option for many patients for several reasons:
- ICL treats greater degrees of nearsightedness, without limitations based on your corneal thickness or contour. By contrast, LASIK can treat a smaller range of vision impairment and requires that your corneas be a certain thickness for you to qualify for surgery.
- ICL lenses contain UV protection. Filtering ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun protects long-term eye health by preventing several eye issues.
- ICL is a reversible procedure. While LASIK permanently reshapes and weakens the cornea, ICL lenses may be removed at any time.
- ICL may provide better night vision, with fewer instances of halos or glares. Studies have shown that patients who undergo Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL) surgery often experience better night vision quality compared to those who have LASIK. ICL preserves the corneal structure, which can lead to superior low-light vision. In contrast, LASIK involves reshaping the cornea, which may result in night vision issues such as halos or glare.
Together, these advantages can provide peace of mind and confidence in your journey to being free from contacts or glasses.
You may also look into ICL if you are not a candidate for LASIK. Common reasons patients cannot have LASIK include:
- Existing dry eye, which could be made worse by LASIK
- Especially severe myopia (nearsightedness), which cannot be corrected with LASIK
- Thin corneas (the tissue covering the front of your eyes), which need to be a certain thickness for LASIK to be performed
- Corneal conditions such as keratoconus
- Key Benefits
- Glossary
- Immediate Results: Most patients notice a significant improvement in vision shortly after the procedure.
- Reversibility: Unlike some other surgical options, the implantable collamer lens can be removed or replaced if necessary.
- Preservation of the Cornea: Since the corneal tissue is not reshaped or removed, the structural integrity of the eye remains intact.
- High Patient Satisfaction: With over 2,000,000 procedures performed worldwide, patients report high levels of satisfaction with their visual outcomes.
Astigmatism: A refractive error caused by an irregularly shaped cornea or lens, leading to blurred or distorted vision. Astigmatism can be corrected with glasses, contact lenses, or surgical procedures.
Artificial Lens: A synthetic lens implanted into the eye to replace or supplement the natural lens. Artificial lenses are used in procedures like cataract surgery (IOLs) and ICL surgery for vision correction.
Cataract Formation: The development of cloudiness in the eye’s natural lens, leading to decreased visual acuity. While cataract formation is a natural part of aging, certain surgical procedures may influence its progression.
Cataract Surgery: A surgical procedure that removes the eye’s cloudy natural lens and replaces it with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL) to restore clear vision. This differs from ICL surgery, where the natural lens remains intact. Regular eye exams are necessary to monitor the development of cataracts or other eye conditions.
Collamer: A biocompatible material used in implantable collamer lenses (ICLs). Collamer lenses are inserted into the eye during ICL surgery to correct refractive errors like myopia and astigmatism.
Cornea: The clear, dome-shaped front surface of the eye that helps focus light onto the retina. Refractive surgeries like LASIK and PRK reshape the cornea to correct vision problems.
Corneal Endothelium: The innermost layer of cells in the cornea responsible for maintaining corneal clarity. Preserving the endothelium is crucial during procedures like ICL surgery to prevent corneal damage.
EVO ICL: A modern version of the Visian ICL featuring tiny holes that allow fluid to circulate between the eye’s natural lens and the implantable lens. EVO ICL surgery offers vision correction for myopia and astigmatism.
Hyperopia: A refractive error, also known as farsightedness, where distant objects are seen more clearly than close ones. While ICL surgery primarily corrects myopia, other lenses can address hyperopia.
Iris: The colored part of the eye that controls the size of the pupil and the amount of light entering the eye. The implantable collamer lens in ICL surgery is placed behind the iris.
LASIK (Laser In Situ Keratomileusis): A laser eye surgery that reshapes the cornea to correct refractive errors like myopia and astigmatism, reducing dependence on glasses or contact lenses.
Laser Eye Surgeries: Procedures that use laser technology to correct vision by reshaping the cornea, including LASIK and PRK.
Laser Treatment: Medical procedures utilizing laser technology to treat various conditions. In eye care, laser treatments correct refractive errors by altering the shape of the cornea.
Lens (Natural Lens): The eye’s natural crystalline lens that focuses light onto the retina. In ICL surgery, the implantable lens is added without removing the natural lens.
Lenses: Optical devices that focus or disperse light rays. In eye care, this includes glasses lenses, contact lenses, and intraocular lenses used in surgeries like ICL and cataract procedures.
Myopia (Nearsightedness): A common refractive error where distant objects appear blurry. Myopia can be corrected with glasses, contact lenses, or surgical procedures like LASIK, PRK, and ICL surgery.
Ophthalmologist: A medical doctor specializing in eye and vision care, including performing surgeries like ICL surgery, LASIK, and cataract surgery.
Outpatient Procedure: A surgical operation where the patient is not required to stay overnight in a hospital. ICL surgery is typically an outpatient procedure with same-day discharge.
Phakic: Refers to an eye that still contains its natural lens. ICL surgery involves implanting a lens into a phakic eye without removing the natural lens.
Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK): A laser eye surgery that reshapes the cornea’s surface to correct refractive errors. PRK is an alternative to LASIK and suitable for patients with thinner corneas.
Refractive Error: A vision problem caused by the eye’s inability to focus light correctly on the retina, resulting in blurred vision. Types include myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism.
Refractive Surgery: Surgical procedures that correct refractive errors to improve vision. Examples include ICL surgery, LASIK, and PRK.
Visian ICL: A brand of implantable collamer lens used in ICL surgery to correct myopia and astigmatism, providing patients with an alternative to glasses, contact lenses, or laser eye surgeries.
Visual Acuity: The clarity or sharpness of vision. Procedures like ICL surgery aim to improve visual acuity by correcting refractive errors.
Nearsightedness: Another term for myopia, where distant objects appear blurry. Nearsightedness can be corrected with ICL surgery, glasses, or contact lenses.
Risks
As with any surgical procedure, there are potential complications of surgery, including:
- Early Cataract Formation: The implanted lens may increase the risk of developing cataracts earlier.
- Increased Intraocular Pressure: This pressure can lead to glaucoma if not monitored by your eye doctor.
- Endothelial Cell Loss: In rare cases, the cells lining the back of the cornea may be lost, potentially affecting corneal health.
- Implant exchange: In rare instances, the implanted lens may sit too close to either the natural lens or the iris. In about 1% of cases, a replacement lens may be necessary to ensure optimal positioning and minimize long-term risk.
These risks have been dramatically reduced with the new EVO ICL along with appropriate lens sizing calculations. Dr. Stanley has invested in the gold-standard technology to ensure the best outcomes: ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM). This technology directly measures the space where the implant will reside in the eye.
Whether or not you have ICL lenses, regular eye check-ups with an eye doctor are absolutely essential to check for cataracts, detect glaucoma before it progresses, and check your vision.
Cost
The cost of ICL surgery in Marietta, GA, with Dr. Stanley is $3,500 per eye. While it may be higher than procedures like LASIK, ICL offers the unparalleled benefit of freedom from glasses or contacts, along with advantages not provided by LASIK alone. For patients who are good candidates, the long-term benefits and enhanced vision quality make it a worthwhile investment in independence and clarity.
The temporary cost of ICL provides a permanent solution to your vision problems, and this one-time fee is typically less than the lifetime expense of glasses and contact lenses.
PureSight Surgical offers transparent self-pay pricing, without hidden fees, so you can easily plan for the cost of surgery if you are not using insurance.
Frequently Asked QuestionsReferences
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AlQahtani BS, Alshamrani AA, Alsulami RE, Vargas JM. A Case of Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL) with Reverse Orientation for 10 Years. Case Rep Ophthalmol Med. 2021 Apr 14;2021:6641475. doi: 10.1155/2021/6641475.
AlSabaani N. A., Behrens A., Jastanieah S., Al Malki S., Al Jindan M., Al Motowa S. Causes of phakic implantable collamer lens explantation/exchange at King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital. Middle East African Journal of Ophthalmology. 2016;23(4):293–295. doi: 10.4103/0974-9233.194076.
Sanders D. R., Doney K., Poco M., ICL in Treatment of Myopia Study Group United States Food and Drug Administration clinical trial of the Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL) for moderate to high myopia: Three-year follow-up. Ophthalmology. 2004;111(9):1683–1692. doi: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2004.03.026.
Chua D, Htoon HM, Lim L, Chan CM, Mehta JS, Tan DTH, Rosman M. Eighteen-year prospective audit of LASIK outcomes for myopia in 53 731 eyes. Br J Ophthalmol. 2019 Sep;103(9):1228-1234. doi: 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2018-312587.
EVO/EVO+ VISIAN Implantable Collamer Lens – P030016/S035. U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Wang Y, Yang R, Huang Y, Zhang C, Liu H, Jia Z, Zhao S. ICL Postimplantation Decentration and Tilt in Myopic Patients with Primary Iridociliary Cysts. J Ophthalmol. 2023 Jan 16;2023:3475468. doi: 10.1155/2023/3475468.
Qin Q, Bao L, He Z, Chen F, Zhu D, Zhang S, Zhang W, Liu Y, Gao R, Xie Z. Pure ICL Implantation: A Novel Ophthalmic Viscosurgical Device-Free Method. J Ophthalmol. 2021 Oct 6;2021:7363267. doi: 10.1155/2021/7363267.
Chen D, Zhao X, Chou Y, Luo Y. Comparison of Visual Outcomes and Optical Quality of Femtosecond Laser-Assisted SMILE and Visian Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL V4c) Implantation for Moderate to High Myopia: A Meta-analysis. J Refract Surg. 2022 Jun;38(6):332-338. doi: 10.3928/1081597X-20220411-01.
Haiting C, Yu L, Xinqiao Z, Xing L, Ying L. The changes and causes of asthenopia after ICL implantation. Int Ophthalmol. 2023 Dec;43(12):4879-4885. doi: 10.1007/s10792-023-02890-0.
Tang C, Zhang Y, Sun T, Xie J, Liu Y, Liu R, Sun Z, Qi H. Prospective clinical study of retinal microvascular alteration after ICL implantation. Front Cell Dev Biol. 2023 Jan 19;11:1115822. doi: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1115822.
Cerpa Manito S, Sánchez Trancón A, Torrado Sierra O, Baptista AM, Serra PM. Biometric and ICL-related risk factors associated to sub-optimal vaults in eyes implanted with implantable collamer lenses. Eye Vis (Lond). 2021 Jul 5;8(1):26. doi: 10.1186/s40662-021-00250-6.
Yamashita K, Kobayashi M, Igarashi A, Hata S. Enhanced ICL Sizing Accuracy Using Advanced Optical Coherence Tomography-Based Predictive Formula. Am J Ophthalmol. 2024 Jul 31;268:86-93. doi: 10.1016/j.ajo.2024.07.026.
Once you’ve made this exciting decision, and you are ready to learn more, we’re eager to help! Here are the next steps:
- Schedule a consultation with Dr. Stanley.
- To ensure accurate measurements, stop wearing your soft contact lenses at least one week before your visit (hard lenses may require a longer period, as advised).
- During your consultation, we’ll guide you through every step of this journey toward gaining freedom and flexibility for your active lifestyle.
Let’s take this life-changing step together! Schedule your appointment with Dr. Stanley by calling (770) 230-2020.
Areas Served:
- Marietta
- Kennesaw
- Acworth
- Dallas
- Woodstock
- Smyrna
Medically reviewed by Dr. Jordan Stanley — Updated on Dec 17, 2024