What is Visian Toric ICL?
Visian Toric ICL is an exciting technology that is changing how we think about correcting astigmatism and nearsightedness. It’s like a high-tech, custom-made lens that’s surgically implanted inside your eye, which is different from corrective methods you might be familiar with.
For example, unlike contact lenses, the ICL stays in place permanently once inserted. You don’t have to take them out. It’s also not like LASIK, where lasers reshape the clear outer layer of your eye (the cornea).
Let’s break down the name “ICL” so it makes more sense:
- Implantable. This lens is designed to be placed inside your eye, not just on the surface.
- Collamer. This is a special biocompatible material similar to what’s used in some soft contact lenses.
- Lens. Like a camera lens, this focuses light correctly onto your retina (the back of your eye), improving your vision.
How Does the Visian Toric ICL Procedure Work?
During the procedure, your surgeon makes a very small opening in your cornea. You’ll be under anesthetic drops, so you don’t feel it.
The folded ICL is gently inserted and unfolds behind your iris (the colored part) and in front of your natural lens. And that’s it! The incision heals quickly, and the ICL stays in place—out of sight and mind.
It might sound like science fiction, but ICLs have been around for a while and have a great track record. If you have myopia or astigmatism and are tired of glasses or contact lens hassles, it’s definitely a technology worth talking to your doctor about.
Can Visian Toric ICL Correct Astigmatism?
Astigmatism means your cornea (the clear window of your eye) is shaped more like a football than a smooth, round dome. This bends light, making things blurry.
The “Toric” part of the ICL name is key, indicating it is tailored for astigmatism correction. This means the power within the lens varies, like custom-designed glasses, to counteract your specific astigmatism shape.
Aside from fixing astigmatism, the procedure can also address other vision issues. People who could be good candidates for it include:
- Those with nearsightedness
- People with thin corneas
- People with very high prescriptions
- People with bad dry eyes
The lens power corrects the overall focus of your eye, reducing the need for glasses or contacts to see far away.
What Happens During the Visian Toric ICL Procedure?
Getting Visian Toric ICL surgery is a big decision, so let’s break down what you can expect during the procedure itself and what happens before and after.
Step 1: Pre-Operative Evaluation
Before booking the actual surgery, there’s a lot of measuring and double-checking that happens:
- Comprehensive eye exam. This isn’t just about your glasses prescription. Your doctor will meticulously map the shape of your cornea and do tests to ensure the overall health of your eyes.
- Eligibility criteria. If your prescription has been fluctuating lately, you might be asked to wait before ICL surgery, as you want the final result to be stable.
- Intraocular measurements. Your surgeon will need to take very precise measurements of the space inside your eye, which will determine the exact size of your custom-made ICL.
Step 2: The Surgical Procedure
The ICL procedure itself is quick, usually done as an outpatient procedure, and most people tolerate it really well:
- Numbing and dilating drops. Drops will be put in your eyes to numb and dilate them. This allows the doctor to place the ICL correctly while keeping you from feeling any pain.
- Tiny incision. The surgeon makes a very small opening (just a few millimeters) in the edge of your cornea. This is how the folded-up ICL will be inserted.
- Lens placement. The ICL is gently unfolded inside your eye. They position it carefully behind your colored iris and in front of your natural lens.
- Post-operative care. They might use medication to help your eye heal. Often, there’s no need for stitches; the incision closes on its own.
Step 3: Recovery and Follow-Up
Recovery from ICL surgery is often faster than what people expect. Following your surgeon’s instructions is key, which may include:
- Resting and not using screens much for the first day or two
- Medicated eye drops for several weeks to prevent infection and inflammation
- Scheduled follow-up visits to check your vision and make sure everything is healing as it should
Remember to choose a skilled surgeon, as this can help ensure the best possible results. Your surgeon must have extensive experience measuring eyes and performing ICL implantation.
Benefits and Risks of Visian Toric ICL
Choosing the right vision correction procedure is a personal decision, one that involves weighing the potential benefits against the possible risks.
Here’s an honest breakdown of what you need to know about Visian Toric ICL:
| Pros | Cons |
| Suitable for high refractive errors | Can potentially cause cataracts |
| Keeps the cornea intact | Eye pressure problems from improper measurements |
| Excellent vision, including at night | Rare complications (e.g., infection and retinal complications) |
| Permanent vision correction | |
| Built-in sun protection |
How to Avoid Complications
The vast majority of ICL patients are very satisfied with their outcomes. If you want to avoid complications of the procedure:
- Find the right surgeon. Ask about their experience specifically with ICL, not just lasers. This is a specialized procedure.
- Don’t gloss over the details. Make sure you fully understand what is involved in recovery and follow-up care.
- Be realistic. Vision correction procedures, including ICL surgery, don’t guarantee perfect vision. Some people, especially as they age, may still require glasses for certain tasks.
Visual Outcomes and Patient Experiences
Getting Visian Toric ICL surgery isn’t just about better eyesight numbers; it’s about how it improves your life. Most people achieve excellent visual acuity after ICL surgery and become emotional when describing their newfound ability to perceive everyday things they’ve missed.
Freedom from glasses and contact lenses alleviates anxiety and self-consciousness, fostering a greater sense of ease in social and everyday situations. The convenience factor is also significant, particularly for active individuals or those grappling with contact lenses.
ICLs typically perform well with issues like glare and night vision. However, the ultimate goal is often to be free from corrective lenses. Remember, everyone’s eyes are different, so results can still vary per person.
Advancements and Future of Visian Toric ICL
Technology is actively evolving regarding Visian Toric ICL for astigmatism correction. Today’s EVO/EVO+ Visian ICL models have some key advantages over their predecessors:
- Current models have a tiny central hole to let fluid flow naturally within your eye, meaning many people won’t need a separate laser procedure before ICL implantation.
- The ICL’s material has been improved for better compatibility with your eye’s natural environment.
- Newer ICLs can correct an even wider range of both nearsightedness and astigmatism prescriptions.
The Visian Toric ICL is about constant improvement, on top of having tried and true foundations. Its concept has proven safe and effective in the long term, so you can be confident in the basic technology.
Upgrades may also be possible. Since the ICL is removable, you may be able to swap to a newer model down the road if even better versions become available.
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