Implantable phakic contact lens (IPCL)

Who is eligible?

IPCL treatment is suitable for:

• Patients aged between 21 and 50.
• People with very high prescriptions, ranging from −23.5 to +17, and cylinder power up to −6.
• People for whom laser eye surgery is not possible.
• Patients who would like to live without glasses.

Advantages

• An excellent alternative to laser eye surgery
• Painless treatment
• Suitable for higher refractive errors
• Permanent, but removable if necessary
• Rapid recovery

Before the procedure

Before the treatment, you will undergo a thorough eye examination by an ophthalmologist to determine whether you are eligible. The examination assesses:

• Your exact prescription.
• The thickness and health of your cornea.
• The diameter of your pupil.
• The general health of your eyes.
• An ultrasound scan of the eyes

These measurements help the ophthalmologist determine whether IPCL treatment will be safe and effective for you.

Procedure

• Your eyes are numbed with anaesthetic eye drops, making the treatment painless.
• The ophthalmologist makes a small opening in the eye and inserts the folded IPCL into the anterior chamber.
• Once inside the eye, the lens unfolds by itself and is positioned correctly between the iris and the natural lens.

The entire procedure takes 15 to 30 minutes per eye. After the operation, you will remain at the hospital for another 2 hours so that your intraocular pressure can be checked.

After the treatment

• Regular follow-up examinations are essential to check that the lens remains correctly positioned and that your eyes are healing properly.
• Most patients notice an improvement in their vision after 1 or 2 days. Most patients can return to work after 2 days.
• If your vision deteriorates during the first few days after treatment, contact the ophthalmology department or your own ophthalmologist immediately.
• You will be given eye drops to prevent inflammation and infection.