Comparing two procedures such as iLasik vs ICL isn’t an easy choice to make. Dealing with poor vision can be so distressing it practically makes every daily activity an ordeal. The basic task of identifying someone in the same room becomes annoyingly inconvenient, no matter how close that person is. Short-sightedness (myopia) or long-sightedness (hypermetropia) can be alleviated by wearing glasses, but for most people, breaking, losing or misplacing their glasses would be a terrifying experience. Fortunately, modern techniques in ophthalmic medicine have been developed to obviate the need to wear glasses. Options like ICL or iLasik can help, but what is the best choice when comparing iLasik vs ICL (Implantable Contact Lenses)?
Initially, removable contact lenses were devised to resolve this problem, but many people find them inconvenient, and if they are not used correctly, they can have long term effects. Contact lenses can now be implanted into the eyes without having to remove them.
A small artificial lens made of plastic or silicon is implanted into the eye through a small incision made in front of the eye. In this procedure, the artificial lens is implanted into the eye without removing the eye’s natural lens. For this reason, it is referred to as phakic intraocular lens. The procedure is more suitable for patients with higher degrees of myopia or hypermetropia who are under the age of 40 and whose eyes meet other important criteria required for the procedure to be successful.
iLasik is an innovative vision correction procedure which integrates two advanced lasers with a 3-D mapping process to provide customised correction. The procedure is suitable for patients above the age of 18 who have a stable prescription and whose eyes are otherwise healthy. They must also not be pregnant or be breastfeeding at the time of the procedure.
When we compare iLasik vs ICL, the iLasik procedure is a safe and effective procedure which personalises vision correction based on the specific requirements of the individual patient. The laser eye procedure is not risk-free. Common side-effects such as dry eyes may clear up after a few days but some people may experience halos and glares which can make night driving difficult.
Implantable contact lenses have their own unique set of risks when comparing iLasik vs ICL because they are inserted inside the eyes, as compared with the iLasik technique which is done on the cornea outside the eye. What are these risks? They range from debilitating visual symptoms to loss of vision.
Patients with extreme short-sightedness may not get sufficient correction from iLasik treatment. In such patients, the benefit of having a contact lens implanted is a huge relief from having to wear super-thick glasses round the clock. When deciding between iLasik vs ICL it is important to have your ophthalmologist explain the benefits and risks of each procedure before settling for one option.