FDA Approves New Implantable Contact Lenses

One of the benefits of this new implantable lens is its versatility. Surgeons can fold the ICL lens and insert it using a much smaller incision, leaving the patient with fewer problems or complications arising from surgery. This "state-of-the-art" technology is much safer and displays greater stability than the previous lens introduced in 2004.

Patients using the ICL lens report a much higher quality of life and satisfaction rate with the new lenses.

Laser Eye Surgery or ICL Surgery?
Use of the implantable lens is an alternative to refractive surgery to correct nearsightedness. How do you decide whether an implant or refractive surgery is best for you? The answer is of course, "it depends."

Surgeons have used laser correction or refractive surgeries for more than a decade. As time has passed surgeons have improved the techniques they use and increased the types of surgery available to patients. Laser vision correction typically involves reshaping the clear covering of the cornea in the eye. Many patients report seeing 20/20 following surgery. Some will find their vision is even better.

Custom laser vision correction provides even more accurate results than traditional lasik. But as with any surgery, there are risks. Refractive surgery for example, comes with risks including dry eye, irritation, and blurry vision, over or under correction or infection.

While lens implants have not been around as long as laser surgery, they may be a better choice for patients that are not ideal candidates for lasik procedures. People with severe nearsightedness may have better success with an implantable ICL lens than with lasik surgery.

One important difference between the two is the ICL lens isn't permanent. Laser surgery involves the permanent removal of tissue surrounding the cornea to reshape the eye and improve vision. If something goes wrong during surgery, a patient will likely have to have another surgery to try to correct the procedure.

With an implant, if something goes wrong, the surgeon can simply remove the implant and replace it if necessary. This may be a more feasible alternative for patients that are hesitant to undergo the more permanent lasik surgery.

Because ICL lenses are new however, there are no long-term studies that determine the safety and efficacy of implants. While they seem a good choice for now, only time will tell if they are a better choice than lasik surgery or if they are about the same. Keep in mind also the ICL lens is more expensive than LASIK surgery today, in part because the procedure is new and still being developed. Like LASIK, most insurance companies do not cover ICL surgery.

Article contributed by Snappy Writting

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