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Home > Eye
Treatments > Lens Implants
Implantable Contact Lenses (ICL's)
If your prescription falls outside
the treatment range for Laser Vision Correction, then Implantable
Contact Lenses (ICL's) are an option available for you.
Implanted
lenses are used for the correction of more severe levels
of short sight, long sight and astigmatism. They are
similar to a small 'contact lens' which is placed inside
the eye
instead of sitting on the surface. Benefits include;
painfree treatment with rapid visual recovery and very good
visual
acuity results. Success rate is approximately 95%.
Suitability
Using implanted lenses, patients prescriptions
from -23d to +12d with (+/-)7d of astigmatism can be treated.
The treatment is also available for patients who are unsuitable
for laser
treatment due to corneal thickness or after cataract removal.
The treatment is not suitable for people over 60 years of
age or anyone developing cataracts. People with high glaucoma,
recurrent eye infections and other eye diseases may not
be suitable.
Consultation
An initial consultation will confirm your suitability and
determine the strength of lens required. If you decide to
go ahead with treatment, the lenses will be made to your
exact specifications and will be ready in 4 - 6 weeks. Consultations
for Implantable Contact Lenses (ICL's) are currently available
in clinics in London and Croydon. Click here for more details.
Treatment
The lens is inserted through a small incision in the side
of the cornea and sits in front of the eye's natural lens,
just behind the cornea. Antibiotic drops are then administered
to avoid infection.
The whole procedure takes around 20 - 30 minutes to complete.
You will be able to go home on the same day but it is essential
that you have someone to accompany you.
For utmost safety in case of infection or rejection, lenses
are implanted one at a time, allowing a minimum recovery
time of one week between treatments.
After treatment
You will need to rest at the clinic for about an hour after
treatment with a bandage over the eye. Visual recovery is
rapid, with noticeable improvement within a day or two.
You should be able to drive and be back to work within two
weeks of the procedure.
Aftercare
You will need to
be seen by the treating doctor on the day after surgery,
so an overnight stay in a local hotel may be desirable.
You are then seen after one week when the second eye may
be operated on. Aftercare visits are then required after
one month and three months and then as directed by the
surgeon.
Click here for news on ICL treatment
Click
here for Implantable Contact Lens Costs
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