Anyone seeking clearer vision may be an ICL candidate, including those with special or extreme vision correction needs. Patients who have previously been turned down for LASIK are often great candidates for the ICL implant. The best way to determine if you are eligible is to schedule your free evaluation. Dr. Gerstein and his staff will conduct a series of tests necessary to determine if the ICL is right for you.

Dr. Gerstein will insert the ICL through a small micro-opening, placing it inside the eye just behind the iris in front of the eye’s natural lens. The ICL is designed to stay in position with no special care.

Prior to being placed on the market, the ICL was subject to extensive research and development. Today, more than 40,000 people worldwide enjoy the benefits of the device. In US clinical study, over 99 percent of patients were satisfied with their implant. The ICL has a track record of stable, consistently excellent clinical outcomes. The lens has been available internationally for over 15 years.

No, most patients state that they are very comfortable throughout the procedure. Dr. Gerstein will use topical anesthetic drops prior to the procedure.

The ICL is made of Collamer, a highly biocompatible advanced lens material which contains a small amount of purified collagen. Collamer does not cause a reaction inside the eye and it contains an ultraviolet blocker that provides protection to the eye.

One advantage of the ICL is that it offers treatment flexibility. If your vision changes dramatically after receiving the implant, your surgeon can remove and replace it, if necessary.

The surgical procedure to implant the ICL is relatively simple for the patient and painless.

As an ICL candidate, Dr. Gerstein will prepare your eyes one to two weeks prior to the procedure by using a laser to create two very small openings in the colored part of your eye which lies between the lens and the front chamber of your eye (LPI- Laser Peripheral Iridotomy.) This allows for the natural passage of fluids between the two areas, thereby avoiding the build up of intraocular pressure following the treatment.

The implantation procedure itself takes about 15 minutes and is performed on an outpatient basis at our onsite ASC (Ambulatory Surgical Center), though you will have to make arrangements for someone to drive you to and from the procedure.

You can expect to experience very little discomfort during the ICL implantation. You will undergo treatment while under a light topical anesthetic, perhaps with the addition of a mild sedative. Following surgery, you may use prescription eye drops. The day after surgery, you will return to Dr. Gerstein for a follow-up visit. You will also have follow-up visits one week, one month and three months following the procedure. Pre-operative Cataract/ICL instructions.

Although the ICL is intended to remain in place permanently, Dr. Gerstein can remove the implant if necessary.

No. The ICL is positioned behind the iris (the colored part of the eye), where it is invisible to both you and observers. Only your surgeon will be able to tell that vision correction has taken place.

The ICL is designed to be completely unobtrusive after it is put in place. It stays in position by itself and does not interact with any of the eye’s structures.