Visian ICL Questions

Visian ICL is one of the most effective vision correction alternatives to LASIK. Instead of using a laser to adjust the cornea for better vision, placement of the Visian ICL is a type of vision correction where a thin artificial lens is implanted within the eye.

Stephen Wilmarth, MD, has extensive experience helping patients see better with Visian ICL. If you have questions about this type of vision correction, please call Wilmarth Eye and Laser Center today at (916) 850-3060 to schedule a free evaluation. Dr. Wilmarth serves patients throughout the Greater Sacramento and Placer Country areas.

Questions About Candidacy

One of the most common questions Dr. Wilmarth hears from patients considering Visian ICL is: “Am I a candidate?” Patients thinking about vision correction with an implantable Collamer lens (ICL) are unsuitable candidates for LASIK due to issues such as:

• Thin corneas

• Chronic dry eyes

• High degree of nearsightedness (myopia)

Questions About the Procedure

If Dr. Wilmarth determines that Visian ICL is the ideal option for correcting your eyesight, he will also discuss the steps involved in the procedure. Many patients ask:

• What is the ICL made of?

• Where is the ICL placed in the eye?

• What happens during surgery?

• When can I return to normal activities?

Though it might look like a contact lens, Collamer is an advanced, highly biocompatible material. While traditional contact lenses are designed to be effective for two to four weeks, the ICL is designed to last a lifetime in your eye.

Dr. Wilmarth will place the Visian ICL in the space between the iris (the colored portion of the eye) and the lens of the eye. This area is called the posterior chamber.

ICL implantation only takes about 15 minutes with topical anesthesia. Patients do not feel pain but may be nervous, so Valium or similar medication is given by mouth.

Once the surgery is complete, you’ll need someone to drive you home. Dr. Wilmarth will prescribe special eye drops or oral medication to facilitate the healing process.

Questions About the Success of Visian ICL

Many questions about refractive surgery revolve around effectiveness. The most common questions our Roseville patients have about ICL are:

• What is the success rate of Visian ICL?

• Can the ICL dry out or get dirty like a regular contact lens?

• What if my vision changes after surgery?

More than 50,000 patients around the world now have Visian ICL. FDA clinical trials found that satisfaction rates exceed 99% and, perhaps more crucially for patients in and around Sacramento, Dr. Wilmarth has regularly helped his patients attain 20/20 eyesight using this surgery.

The ICL is very stable and won’t move around inside the eye. Because it isn’t on the surface of the eye, the lens won’t get dry or dirty the way disposable contacts can.

If your vision changes as you age, it is possible to fine tune your vision with LASIK, contacts lenses or glasses. There is no need to enter the eye again to remove and replace the original ICL.

To find out more about Visian ICL, please contact Wilmarth Eye and Laser Center or call (916) 850-3060 today to discuss your questions and concerns. Dr. Wilmarth serves patients throughout the Sacramento area from our office in Roseville.