If you have severe nearsightedness and feel like glasses or contacts are your only option, there’s another solution worth knowing about at Austin Eye. We’ve provided exceptional eye care for over 50 years in Austin, TX. In our Westlake and Northwest Austin offices, our team of board-certified ophthalmologists and optometrists, led by CEO Dr. Shannon Wong, is passionate about helping our patients claim brighter, clearer vision for a lifetime.
We offer advanced vision correction for high myopia with the Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL).
What Is the Implantable Collamer Lens?
The Implantable Collamer Lens, also known as ICL or Visian ICL, is a phakic lens used for vision correction. “Phakic” refers to its placement inside the eye: It goes behind the iris and in front of the natural lens.
It’s made from Collamer, a biocompatible, proprietary material developed by STAAR Surgical that contains collagen and is designed to work in harmony with your eye.
ICL doesn’t reshape the cornea like LASIK, it simply adds a new lens to improve how your eye focuses. It may be ideal for individuals with high levels of myopia who wish to eliminate the need for glasses but may not be good candidates for other procedures.
Benefits of ICL for High Myopia
This lens offers excellent results for patients with more severe prescriptions. Here’s what makes it so appealing:
- Can correct high levels of nearsightedness
- It doesn’t remove corneal tissue
- Provides sharp, clear vision, often within a day
- Invisible once placed in the eye
- It can be removed later if needed
- It doesn’t cause dry eye symptoms
This procedure is often a great option for patients who are not LASIK candidates due to thin corneas or extreme prescriptions.
What to Expect From the ICL Procedure
Implantation is quick and comfortable, usually lasting less than 30 minutes. Your surgeon will place the lens through a tiny incision, which heals quickly. Most people enjoy a significant improvement in vision the next day, with full recovery typically occurring within a few days.
Alternatives to the ICL
We’ve already mentioned LASIK, which could be a good alternative for younger patients with myopia. Another option, particularly for older patients, could be premium lens replacement. It works much like cataract surgery: Your surgeon places a new lens, containing your prescription, in your eye. This replaces your old lens, allowing you to enjoy corrected vision without the need for reading glasses. You also won’t have the threat of cataracts in the future.
PLR can correct even very high myopia successfully, and our own Dr. Wong has even undergone the procedure with great results.
Our team is happy to discuss the ICL, LASIK, RLE, and other vision correction options to make your life much easier with high myopia.
Implantable Collamer Lens in Austin, TX
If you have high myopia and want to be free from glasses or contacts, we can help. Call Austin Eye at 512-250-2020 to schedule a consultation.
