The Visian ICL Intraocular Lens
The Visian ICL is an option for very nearsighted people who are tired of thick glasses and who are not candidates for LASIK.

The Visian ICL is a phakic intraocular lens (IOL) used during refractive surgery for correcting myopia, or nearsightedness. Unlike IOLs that are used during cataract surgery, the Visian ICL does not replace the eye's natural lens. Instead, the ICL is placed between the iris and the natural lens. Because the phakic IOL does not replace the lens, but supplements it like a prescription contact lens, it is sometimes referred to as an implantable contact lens.

What Makes the Visian ICL Different?
Although the Visian ICL is often informally defined as an " implantable contact lens," in the United States, the "ICL" in the Visian ICL stands for "implantable Collamer lens." This designation acknowledges the unique material that comprises the lens.

Unique Lens Composition
Unlike other phakic IOLs the Visian ICL is made from Collamer, a unique, organic lens material, designed especially for the Visian lens. This proprietary lens material has greater biocompatibility than acrylic and silicone lenses. The Visian ICL is also foldable, requiring a smaller incision during the surgical procedure than other available lenses.

Safe, Proven Procedure
The safety and effectiveness of the Visian ICL implantation procedure has been proven with over 55,000 implants worldwide as well as recent U.S. FDA approval.The Visian ICL does not permanently alter the structure of the eye. Instead, the phakic IOL is placed in the eye's posterior chamber, where it works with the natural lens to correct vision.

Small Incision
Unlike other phakic IOLs, the Visian ICL is foldable. This feature allows physicians to implant the lens using a smaller incision. The small incision procedure is a technique that is familiar to eye surgeons. The Visian ICL requires a 2.8mm to 3.0mm incision as opposed to the 6.0mm incision required by other FDA-approved phakic IOLs. This smaller incision is seen as less invasive, does not require sutures, and is astigmatically neutral.

Removable, if Necessary
The Visian ICL is meant to stay in the eye indefinitely. However, if overcorrection or undercorrection occurs, a complication develops, or a patient's vision changes, the Visian ICL can be removed or exchanged by a trained ophthalmic surgeon.