The Visian™ Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL)

The Visian™ Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL) is a soft gel-like lens implant, as flexible as a soft contact lens. Unlike Lens Implants (IOL) used during Cataract Surgery, the Visian™ ICL does not replace the eye's natural lens. Instead, the Visian™ ICL is placed between the Iris and the natural lens. It is sometimes referred to as an Intra-ocular Contact Lens. This lens is usually used for patients who are young and extremely nearsighted. Refractive Eye Surgery is usually not covered fully by insurance while routine cataract surgery with lens implantation usually is covered fully. Operations such as corneal astigmatic keratotomy or implantation of a focusing intra-ocular lens are usually covered partially.

Although the Visian™ ICL is meant to stay in the eye indefinitely, it is removable and replaceable.