Turning Blurred Vision to Clear Vision

Implantable Contact Lens (ICL) Rapid City

Implantable contact lens, known for short as ICL, is a new technology that involves using small, foldable lenses that are implanted inside the eye, between the colored portion of the eye and the natural lens to correct nearsightedness. These small lenses are capable of correcting large amounts of nearsightedness and may be better surgical solutions for those with high corrections or corneas that are too thin to safely allow laser treatment.

How is ICL performed?

The surgery for an implantable contact lens (ICL) at our Eye Institute serving Rapid City, is relatively simple. Your surgeon will make a small incision in the front part of the eye through which they will place the lens behind the iris. The procedure takes minutes to perform and is typically done under mild anesthesia. If needed, the lens can be removed in a similar fashion.

What are the risks and side effects of ICL?

As an implantable contact lens implantation is an intraocular surgery, there exists a risk of infection inside the eye. Several steps are taken to reduce this risk. Other complications that may require more surgical intervention would be development of a cataract and problems related to the cornea. The side effects are generally mild and include a dry sensation, some discomfort in the first 24 to 36 hours and fluctuating vision as the lens stabilizes.

What are the results of ICL technology?

After implanting an ICL, 99 percent of patients were "satisfied/very satisfied" with their results. 98.3 percent of patients had uncorrected visual acuity of 20/40 or better. Once vision was corrected, the correction was stable and did not change over the follow up period. Additionally, the incidence of glare, halos, double vision, night vision problems, and night driving difficulties decreased or remained unchanged from before surgery.

Who is a candidate for ICL?

Currently, implantable contact lenses are only approved for those with nearsightedness.

Vision ICL in the Military

The Military recently released statistics about the success of using the implantable contact lens to improve the sight of our soldiers. Click here to read more about the Vision ICL in the Military.

Learn More about an Implantable Contact Lens

Severely blurred vision is no longer a life sentence, thanks to revolutionary laser eye surgeries, including ICL. So if you are suffering from blurred vision that eyewear and other treatments have been unable to correct, then contact Black Hills Regional Eye Institute to schedule your personal consultation to discuss an implantable contact lens with our Rapid City team.