It may seem like the only vision correction option available is LASIK, but that’s not true. These days, there are many options for vision correction, especially if you find out you’re not a good LASIK candidate.
In the past, the only options for patients with a refractive error were glasses and contact lenses. But now, multiple vision correction surgeries are available that can give you visual freedom from traditional visual aids.
One popular procedure is the Visian ICL. The Visian ICL is an implantable collamer lens. It’s much like a contact lens that goes into your eye and never needs to be taken out.
There are several benefits to choosing the Visian ICL. Many people make great candidates for the procedure. Keep reading to learn about some factors that make someone a good candidate for the Visian ICL and find out if it could be right for you!
They Don’t Qualify for a Procedure like LASIK
One of the more popular forms of vision correction is LASIK. LASIK is also the most well-known and popular vision correction procedure.
It’s often the first procedure that people think of when thinking of a vision correction surgery. While LASIK is a safe and effective procedure, it isn’t for everyone.
Some people don’t make good candidates for the procedure due to the size of their cornea, which is the transparent front part of the eye.
To have LASIK safely, you need to have corneas of a certain thickness. LASIK works because it makes a flap in the cornea to reshape the tissue underneath it to correct your vision.
If your cornea is too thin, making this flap is unsafe. Some people are perfectly healthy but have thinner corneas, meaning they don’t qualify for LASIK.
Patients with large pupils can also experience night vision problems after LASIK, so LASIK isn’t suited for patients with large pupils. LASIK isn’t right for you if you have thin corneas or large pupils.
There are other laser vision correction options, like PRK, but these procedures can have a longer recovery period before you see results. However, visual improvement from the Visian ICL is immediate, so it’s often preferable to PRK.
They Want a Removable Vision Correction Option
Even for patients who otherwise qualify for LASIK or other laser eye surgeries, the Visian ICL may be more appealing because the procedure is reversible. Other laser vision correction procedures like LASIK, SMILE, or PRK are not reversible.
These procedures involve permanently reshaping the cornea. But the Visian ICL does not reshape the cornea in any way.
You never need to have the Visian ICL removed or changed, but it can be if the patient ever changes their mind. It’s also possible to have it removed if your prescription changes and you need an IOL during cataract surgery.
The procedure to implant the ICLs is minimally invasive and only requires a small incision in the eye. If you ever decide you want to have the Visian ICL removed, you can undergo a similar procedure at any time to have them taken out.
The non-permanence and reversibility of the Visian ICL procedure provide many patients with peace of mind, and they may find it’s a lower commitment than other vision correction options.
They’re Nearsighted or Have Astigmatism
The Visian ICL has limits, as it’s only FDA-approved for the correction of nearsightedness and astigmatism. It cannot correct farsightedness.
But it can correct nearsightedness to a truly extraordinary extent. Laser vision correction procedures like LASIK can correct up to a maximum of -12.00 diopters of nearsightedness.
The Visian ICL can correct up to -20.00 diopters. The Visian ICL may be the only vision correction surgery that can fully correct your vision if you are severely nearsighted.
It can also correct between 1.00 and 3.00 diopters of astigmatism, which covers a relatively wide range of prescriptions for people who are nearsighted or have astigmatism.
They Want a Comfortable Implant
The Visian ICL is made from a material called collamer. Collamer is a proprietary material derived from the same chemical structures as collagen. Collagen is a protein naturally found and produced by your body.
Because the Visian ICL is made of collamer, it’s a material very closely related to a material that exists in your body, making the implants highly biocompatible. Being biocompatible means that the Visian ICL works well with your eyes’ natural composition and quickly integrates with them.
This means that you won’t be able to feel them at all soon after they are in your eyes. You’re also far less likely to experience dry eye symptoms after the procedure since the implants don’t irritate your eyes as much as a foreign material might.
If you have dry eye syndrome, you should have your eyes adequately treated before undergoing any vision correction procedure. But if you’re prone to dry eyes, the Visian ICL is a good choice for vision correction because it’s much less likely to dry out your eyes after having the procedure.
They’re Between 21-45 Years Old
To have any vision correction surgery, you should be over 21 and have a stable prescription. Otherwise, you’re more likely to experience significant changes to your prescription after surgery.
If your vision is stable before having any vision correction procedure, it’s more likely to remain stable afterward. While there’s no upper age limit for the Visian ICL, it is best for young adults because it only corrects nearsightedness and astigmatism.
Adults over 45 often suffer from presbyopia, which is the decreased ability to focus up close. If you have presbyopia, other vision correction surgeries like Refractive Lens Exchange or Monovision LASIK may be a better fit for your needs.
If all the factors listed here describe you, the Visian ICL may be a suitable vision correction procedure for you to consider! Schedule an appointment at New England Eye Center in Boston, MA, to find out more.
