As with any medical field, eye care has continued to evolve over the years through technological advancements and approaches. From surgical procedures to eye exams, there is always a new instrument or test being unveiled. Some are not as well known, while others are making an impact on the industry. ICL (Implantable Collamer Lens) was first introduced in 1997 to treat myopia. Since then, more than one million ICLs have been implanted worldwide. And earlier this year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted approval of the new EVO ICL for the correction of myopia and myopia with astigmatism.
What is EVO ICL?
EVO ICL is essentially an implantable contact lens. It is a semi-permanent, artificial lens that is implanted into the eye, right behind the iris, to correct vision. EVO ICL is a great vision correction choice for patients with thin corneas or dry eye and who have moderate to severe nearsightedness (-2.50 to -20.0), with or without astigmatism. ICL is a lens-based refractive surgical option that introduces a lens into the eye instead of altering the shape of and thinning the cornea, as with LASIK or PRK corneal refractive surgery.
The EVO lens is a game changer for patients with many describing the results as life changing. EVO ICL is a different type of vision correction surgery. Instead of altering the surface of the eye like LASIK, we are repairing vision in the patient’s eye by adding a lens. Unlike other vision surgeries, EVO surgery is 100% reversible. It’s a very exciting option for patients and continues to gain popularity across the country. And we consistently receive excellent patient feedback for this surgery because of the visual quality improvements and post-surgery comfort.
Who qualifies for EVO ICL?
The EVO ICL procedure is an outpatient procedure that generally takes around 15 minutes. In addition to improving patients’ vision, EVO ICL offers UV protection, works in harmony with the natural eye, is completely removable, and has been clinically proven to not cause or worsen dry eye syndrome. A pre-surgical consultation is required to determine a patient’s candidacy.
Using tools, such as ArcScan’s Insight® 100, provide extremely precise measurements of the inside of the eye. The measurements are required to help surgeons precisely determine the correct size of a patient’s lens. The technology has been in development for 20 years and is now only available in Colorado at ICON Eyecare in Denver.
For more information about ICON Eyecare and EVO ICL, please visit: iconeyecare.com.
About the Author:
Eva Kim, MD, is the Front Range Medical Director for ICON Eyecare, as well as a fellowship-trained Uveitis and Cornea/External Diseases specialist and surgeon who specializes in cataract surgery and refractive surgery. In her thirteen years of experience, Dr. Kim has performed almost 7,000 cataract surgeries with a complication rate of less than 0.4%.