How Long Does EVO ICL Last?

Close-up of patient eye during advanced ophthalmic examination to assess candidacy and longevity of implantable contact lenses – how long does evo icl last

You may not know it, but laser eye surgery like LASIK is not the only way to achieve clear vision and eliminate glasses or contacts. EVO Visian ICL is an implantable collamer lens that Dr. Wu inserts over your natural lens to correct your vision. It functions somewhat like a permanent, zero-maintenance contact lens inside your eye, offering you a new level of clarity without reshaping your cornea.

What is EVO ICL (Implantable Collamer Lens)?

If you have nearsightedness (myopia) or astigmatism, the light entering your eye does not focus properly. Light passes through your cornea, the clear front of the eye, and through the lens, a disc-shaped structure that focuses it even more. When this system works perfectly, the focused light lands on the retina, the layer at the back of your eye that absorbs light and sends signals to the brain. When light focuses in front of the retina, EVO ICL can be placed over your natural lens to correct the problem.

How does EVO ICL work?

While laser eye surgery permanently removes a small amount of your cornea to reshape it to correct your vision, EVO ICL is an implant with a fixed prescription that can be removed in the future. EVO ICL is inserted through a tiny incision in the cornea and, therefore, causes little to no dry eye. Dr. Wu and her team will numb your eyes before the procedure and provide relaxing medication. As a result, you will feel calm and experience no discomfort during the 15 to 20 minutes each eye takes. The implantable collamer lens is placed into the space between the iris (the colored part of the eye) and your natural lens, adding an extra layer of focus to incoming light. The implant is clear and not visible.

Once in place, your EVO ICL can remain in place as long as you want. Implantable collamer lenses are designed to last a lifetime. However, Dr. Wu can remove the lens at any time. Unlike laser eye surgery, this procedure does not make any lasting changes to your eye’s natural structures.

While the artificial lens can last a lifetime, other parts of your eye will continue to age over time. Your natural lens will become more rigid, a condition called presbyopia and the reason so many people over the age of 45 wear reading glasses. The natural lenses can also become cloudy over time, called a cataract. As a result, the correction from EVO ICL is long-lasting but not permanent.

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What is recovery like after EVO ICL?

Many people are happy to find that they can see better immediately after their implantable collamer lens procedure (20 minutes after surgery). Your vision will take a day or two to stabilize, so you will need someone to drive you home. Most people return to work within one to two days. Discomfort after the procedure is minimal, but you will need to avoid eye makeup, swimming, and contact sports for one week.

Am I a good candidate for EVO ICL?

Only a consultation and eye exam can determine which type of vision correction surgery may be right for you. EVO ICL is recommended for individuals who:

Are between 21 and 45 years old (older individuals may be recommended for refractive lens exchange, which can treat age-related lens changes).
Have a stable vision prescription for nearsightedness or astigmatism, even if your nearsightedness is severe.
Cannot have laser eye surgery like LASIK due to dry eye conditions, abnormal or thin corneas, or other factors.