Implantable Contact Lens (ICL) surgery

The implantable collamer or implantable contact lens is an option for patients who are not suitable for LASIK because of a very high prescription or a thin cornea, or both. You can schedule a consultation today at Ophthalmic Consultants of London to find out what procedure is best suited for you.

years

of combined Eye
Surgery experience

30k

plus

eyes surgeries
completed

550

plus

lectures nationally
and internationally

What is Implantable Contact Lens surgery?

During Implantable Contact Lens surgery, also known as Visian ICL phakic lens implant, an artificial lens made from a very thin bio-compatible material is inserted in front of the natural lens. It works by providing additional focusing power to the eye’s optical system.

An important advantage of ICL surgery over other procedures is that the surgery is reversible. The lens implants can be removed and replaced if your vision changes substantially, or you can have laser refinement if needed. This allows multifocal ICL lenses to be implanted as people age and begin to lose their reading vision in their 40s.

How does Implantable Contact Lens work?

Your eyes see by allowing light to enter through the cornea and lens, which is focused on the retina. The information is then communicated to the brain via the optic nerve.

Most people with poor eyesight have eyes that are either too long or too short compared to the point of focus created by the cornea and lens. Eyes which are relatively long cause images to focus in front of the retina, making you short-sighted. Eyeballs that are relatively short mean that images focus behind the retina, making you long-sighted.

For people with good vision, the natural lens of the eye can change shape to help them see objects at different distances. However, if you have severe short or long sight, the flexibility of the lens is not enough to correct your vision. Fortunately, artificial lenses like the ICL can provide the eye with additional focusing power, enabling you to see without glasses.

iPad with icl surgery results

ICL Surgery from £6,700 for both eyes

Don’t compromise on eye care! Your eyes are unique and we customise all of our treatments to give you the best vision possible.

Our pricing is transparent, with no hidden extras. We offer a 0% interest credit payment plan over 6, 10 or 24 months to help spread the cost of this life-enhancing procedure.

Click here for a full breakdown of our prices and finance options.

Who is Implantable Contact Lens surgery suitable for?

Ophthalmic Consultants of London offer laser eye surgery to correct most prescriptions. However, as LASIK involves reshaping the cornea using a laser, it is not suitable for people who have very thin corneas.

Equally, if you have a very high prescription, laser eye surgery may be unsuitable because too much of the cornea would have to be treated to achieve good vision. High prescriptions mean very thick lenses and heavy glasses, and sometimes contact lenses may not be an option. ICL surgery is a realistic solution for people with very high prescriptions.

ICL surgery may also be suitable for people who have dry eyes.

Our experienced eye surgeons will examine your eyes thoroughly and will recommend the best procedure for you.

The procedure

The procedure usually takes approximately 10 – 20 minutes and is performed under local anaesthetic with sedation as a daycare.

Your surgeon will first create a micro-opening in the cornea. The folded ICL is then injected into the eye, where the ICL will gently unfold. This is then tucked into the correct position between the natural lens and the iris.

The lens design has been optimised since first introduced in the 1990s making the surgery even safer. To date, there have been over 1 000 000 ICL’s successfully implanted worldwide.

implantable contact lens

Patient recovery

Most patients experience only minimal discomfort and are able to go back to work within a few days of the procedure.

Following surgery, you will probably see better than you ever did with your glasses and can enjoy the activities that were always restricted because of your high prescription.

My eye sight was very bad and I had a very high eye prescription in both eyes, but after my eye surgery (ICL) with OCL I cannot describe how amazing it is having to wake up and see clearly! From the beginning to the end and the recovery time was excellent! Thank you so much to the amazing team at OCL. I highly recommend them to anyone who would consider this type of eye surgery.

What makes our ICL surgery unique?

Treatment tailored for you

You are always at the centre of everything we do. We do not offer a one size fits all approach but rather customise every single treatment to your individual visual needs, so you’ll always get the best procedure for your eyes and your vision

The choice for healthcare professionals

Our surgeons are known the world over and are some of the best in the country, with over 30,000 completed surgeries between them. We treat many surgeons, doctors and anaesthetists who also refer their friends and family to us as they know they will be in safe hands with our expert surgeons.

State of the art technology

We have spared no expense. Eye surgery requires perfect precision, that’s why we have invested in only the latest and most advanced technology. We are not tied into any particular company or manufacturer which means we have complete freedom to chose the best from the many options
available.

Experts you can trust

Patients need to be able to trust us with their eyes. We are honest with our approach and offer the very best evidence-based treatment with your best interests always at heart. We pride ourselves on recruiting and retaining the best staff in the business to ensure that you are supported throughout every step of your journey.

How much does it cost?

The costs below are both eyes and include follow-up appointments.

ICL surgery (excl. anaesthetist)

£6700 (both eyes) or £251 over 24 months

Finance Options/Interest Free Credit

We also offer 0% interest finance options making it easier to spread the cost of surgery over up to 24 months.

A minimum 10% deposit is required and the balance is split over your chosen monthly period of either 6, 10, 12, 18 or 24 months at a rate of 0% APR.

Get in touch to find out more about our flexible pricing options and how we can make it work for you.

Book a consultation

What are my treatment options

Try our Vision Correction Calculator.

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Our dropAdrop App

Our free dropAdrop app serves as a reminder when using eye drops either after surgery or for a particular condition. The App also provides information related to the most common procedures we do and sends notifications to your smart phone or watch to remind you to take your eye drops. Your medication after surgery, or for the treatment of eye conditions, is crucial to ensure the best recovery process. As we spend a significant amount of time on our phones, the App is the best way to keep on top of any medications required.

Find out more about our App and download it for free to your Apple or Android phone today.