What is High Myopia?
Understanding High Myopia
Myopia, or nearsightedness, is a common refractive error where individuals can see clearly up close but struggle to see objects at a distance, which appear blurred. The severity of myopia can vary, and in cases of high myopia, the visual impairment can significantly affect daily life.
For mild to moderate myopia, laser vision correction may be an effective solution. However, in cases of high myopia, where laser surgery alone may not be sufficient to achieve optimal results, the implantation of an Implantable Collamere Lens (ICL) offers an excellent alternative. ICLs are specially designed to provide long-term vision correction, giving those with high myopia the opportunity to see clearly at all distances—without relying on glasses or contact lenses.
At EuroEyes, we offer a range of treatments, including ICL implantation, to help restore clear vision and improve quality of life for individuals with high myopia.
Introducing ICL
Implantable Collamer Lenses (ICL) offer a highly effective solution for those with severe near-sightedness, far-sightedness, or astigmatism. They also offer a safe option in very thin or irregular corneas. These advanced lenses, made from the biocompatible material Collamer, are designed to provide excellent vision correction in a single, pain-free procedure.
One of the standout benefits of ICL is that they are invisible and completely undetectable in the eye, positioned comfortably in front of your natural lens. They offer long-lasting vision improvement and can stay in place for a lifetime. However, if needed, the procedure is fully reversible—the lens can be removed or replaced at any time.
For patients seeking a permanent vision solution without compromising comfort or safety, ICLs provide crystal-clear vision and outstanding biocompatibility, ensuring a smooth recovery and durable results.
How does ICL work?
Preparing The Eye
This outpatient procedure typically lasts 10 minutes per eye. Eye drop anesthetics create a pain free procedure. The eye is opened with a key-hole incision in the corneal periphery that heals without a suture.
The implantable contact lens
With ICL, each patient receives a tailor-made artificial biopolymer lens implant that has lifetime durability. The ICL lens is flexible and foldable like a contact lens and is inserted into the eye in a matter of seconds with an injector through the small corneal incision.
Correction of ametropia by implantation of the ICL
Unlike a contact lens, ICL is positioned in the posterior chamber of the eye between the iris and natural lens. It remains there permanently and is neither visible nor perceptible. The custom made ICL collamer® lens together with the natural lens redirect the light to focus on the retina with optical precision. After the treatment the patient can see clearly again.
1. ICL Suitability Assessment
- All relevant eye parameters are measured
- Diagnosis of your suitability for the ICL
- Consultation on your optimal ICL treatment
2. Pre-treatment Examination
- A thorough preliminary medical eye examination is carried out
- Our ophthalmologist and specialist in refractive surgery explains all aspects of your treatment
- Detailed measurements are performed
- The examination lasts approx. 2 hours
- Cease contact lens wear one week (soft lenses) and two weeks (hard lenses)
- You will receive an aftercare set for the days after your treatment, its content and medication will be explained to you in detail by our staff.
3. On the Day of Your ICL Treatment
- Bring someone to accompany you
- Wear comfortable clothes
- Remove any makeup
- Eat a light meal beforehand
- The total duration of this outpatient surgery will be 10 – 15 minutes per eye
- Relax and let us take care of you
4. After Your ICL Treatment
- Do not rub your eyes in the days after treatment
- Antibiotic eye drops are to be used in the first weeks
- Artificial tear eye drops to be used as required
- Resume work after 2 – 4 days as needed
- No sporting activities for 1 month
- No swimming or sauna for 1 month
- Examinations after 1 day – 1 week – 1 months
- Driving can be resumed after doctor’s permission
Advantages of ICL
Refractive errors like nearsightedness and astigmatism make your vision blurry. If you would prefer not to wear glasses or contact lenses to overcome this blurriness, you may be a great candidate for refractive surgery. While LASIK and SMILE are the best-known refractive procedures, they are not your only option. You may be excited to learn about EVO Visian ICL, a highly effective alternative to the traditional procedures. Below, our team of eye doctors review the advantages of Visian ICL.
Leaving the cornea intact
LASIK involves removing some tissue from the cornea. Therefore, if you are someone who has a thin cornea, you may be deemed a weak candidate for Lasik since removing corneal tissue may be risky. EVO ICL does not remove any corneal tissue. Not only does this allow more people to safely undergo refractive surgery, it also makes any subsequent eye surgeries that may become necessary later in life easier to perform since the cornea is still intact.
Avoiding dry eye
If your eyes are regularly itchy and uncomfortable, you may have chronic dry eye. Eye doctors often discourage patients with dry eye from having LASIK/Smile since it can worsen their symptoms. Even patients without dry eye develop temporary dry eye for several weeks after their surgery. Fortunately, EVO Visian ICL does not seem to significantly elevate your risk for having dry eye, and you should still be a great candidate for this refractive surgery even if you have been diagnosed with dry eye.
Protection from the sun's rays
Ultraviolet light isn’t just bad for your skin — it can also damage your eyes. Research has linked unprotected sun exposure to retinal disorders, cataracts, and even tumors. Sunglasses remain the best way to protect your eyes from UV rays, but the collamer in EVO Visian ICL provides additional protection to further minimize your risks and block the sun when you leave the house without sunglasses.
Reversibility
The benefits of EVO Visian ICL are intended to last throughout your life. However, if for some reason in the future you would like to undo this refractive surgery, you have that option. It may seem like an appropriate decision if your vision prescription changes dramatically, or if you experience a traumatic eye injury. Whereas LASIK and SMILE make permanent changes to your eye, you should experience no complications if you remove your ICLs.
Leaving the cornea intact
LASIK involves removing some tissue from the cornea. Therefore, if you are someone who has a thin cornea, you may be deemed a weak candidate for Lasik since removing corneal tissue may be risky. EVO ICL does not remove any corneal tissue. Not only does this allow more people to safely undergo refractive surgery, it also makes any subsequent eye surgeries that may become necessary later in life easier to perform since the cornea is still intact.
Avoiding dry eye
If your eyes are regularly itchy and uncomfortable, you may have chronic dry eye. Eye doctors often discourage patients with dry eye from having LASIK/Smile since it can worsen their symptoms. Even patients without dry eye develop temporary dry eye for several weeks after their surgery. Fortunately, EVO Visian ICL does not seem to significantly elevate your risk for having dry eye, and you should still be a great candidate for this refractive surgery even if you have been diagnosed with dry eye.
Protection from the sun's rays
Ultraviolet light isn’t just bad for your skin — it can also damage your eyes. Research has linked unprotected sun exposure to retinal disorders, cataracts, and even tumors. Sunglasses remain the best way to protect your eyes from UV rays, but the collamer in EVO Visian ICL provides additional protection to further minimize your risks and block the sun when you leave the house without sunglasses.
Reversibility
The benefits of EVO Visian ICL are intended to last throughout your life. However, if for some reason in the future you would like to undo this refractive surgery, you have that option. It may seem like an appropriate decision if your vision prescription changes dramatically, or if you experience a traumatic eye injury. Whereas LASIK and SMILE make permanent changes to your eye, you should experience no complications if you remove your ICLs.
ICL Contact Lens Implantation FAQs
When is an implant/lens surgery carried out?
When a laser treatment is no longer a sufficient treatment, for example, for refractive errors of more than -10 or +4 diopters, or if the cornea is too thin, implants are a good alternative. ICL is mainly used in young patients up to the age of 45, as the ability of the body’s own lens to accommodate is not impaired. Thus, it is even possible for people with extremely high refractive errors to live without glasses or contact lenses until the onset of presbyopia from approx. 45 years of age.
Will I feel the ICL lens in my eye?
No, you will neither feel it, nor be able to see the intraocular lens.
There are two different types of Phakic Intraocular lenses: anterior chamber lenses and posterior chamber lenses.
Where is the anterior and/or posterior lens implanted?
The anterior chamber lens is implanted in front of the iris in the anterior chamber.
The posterior chamber intraocular lens is placed behind the iris and in front of the natural lens. It consists of Collamer, which is a biocompatible polymer.
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