Visian ICL™: The Best Vision Correction Option for Some Nearsighted People

Visian Many nearsighted patients who are not candidates for IntraLase LASIK vision correction, and even some patients whose vision does not allow them to wear contact lenses, can benefit from the Visian ICL.

Drs. Chokshi and Coluccelli were among the first surgeons in the nation to offer Visian Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL) to nearsighted patients.

What it Is

The Visian ICL is a small, foldable lens that is placed inside the eye and provides excellent vision. Dr. Chokshi positions the lens behind the eye’s iris (the colored portion of the eye), where it cannot be noticed by others.

It is designed to remain in place within the eye without maintenance, although it can be easily removed or replaced by the surgeon if the patient’s needs change. One of the principle benefits of the Visian ICL over other implantable lenses is the material used to make it.

This revolutionary lens is made of Collamer®, a material made primarily of collagen that is very compatible with the human body and extremely unlikely to cause adverse side effects.

The Visian ICL Procedure

One to two weeks prior to surgery, Dr. Chokshi will use a laser to make a small opening within your eye that allows fluid to pass between the eye’s lens and the front of eye. This will not affect your vision.

The Visian ICL Procedure itself is brief and painless, much like LASIK. It takes about 15 minutes and is performed while you remain awake and relaxed (you may be given a mild sedative to alleviate anxiety).

Dr. Chokshi will first numb your eyes with anesthetic drops. Next, he will make an incision so tiny that it closes without stitches; competing technology requires an incision at least twice as large. A gel-like substance is then injected into the eye, followed by the Visian ICL.

Once the Visian ICL has been gently moved behind the iris, the gel is removed. The incision will heal naturally in a short amount of time. You will be allowed to return home shortly after the procedure; because you will not be allowed to drive immediately after the procedure, you should make arrangements to have a friend or family member bring you home.

Seeing the Benefits

Worldwide, more than 125,000 Visian ICLs have been implanted with great success. In the U.S. clinical trial, the patient satisfaction rate was very impressive: 99% reported satisfaction three years after receiving the lens. Three years after receiving the Visian ICL, 98.3% of patients in the clinical trial had 20/40 vision or better, the benchmark for passing the driver’s test, without the aid of glasses or contacts.