Implantable Contact Lens
Permanent implantable (inside the eye) contact lenses to improve your vision naturally.
€4900 - €5200 per eye
What is it?
Overview
Implantable Contact Lens (ICL) is a procedure that implants an artificial lens, called an implantable contact lens (ICL) in the anterior (front) chamber of the eye. The ICL is chosen to correct your prescription and this vision correction procedure can remove the need for you to use glasses and/or contact lenses to see well. At Wellington Eye Clinic, we use the EVO+ Visian ICL™ and Visian® ICL™ which are manufactured by STAAR surgical.
The Benefits Are Clear
- Quick procedures taking approximately 30 minutes per eye but normally done separately, 1 week apart. Often performed on 2 consecutive days and seldom on the same day
- Can correct large prescriptions that may be less suitable for laser vision correction
- Excellent choice for those with dry eye that is not responding sufficiently well to treatment
- Increased freedom from glasses and/or contact lenses
- In the event that the ICL does not fully correct the prescription, the vision can be further improved with a laser eye surgery fine-tuning procedure. At the Wellington Eye Clinic, there is no additional cost for this laser surgery enhancement.
- Reversible (Very unlikely to be required, well below 1% risk)
How does it work?
Implantable Contact Lenses (ICLs) may remove the need for glasses and/or contact lenses by implanting a lens in the anterior (front) chamber of the eye, behind your pupil. The lenses are invisible and cannot be felt. Our ICL procedures are performed at the adjacent Beacon Hospital. The procedure is performed one eye at a time, generally 1-14 days apart. At the Wellington Eye Clinic, we use the EVO+ Visian ICL™ and Visian® ICL™ which are manufactured by STAAR surgical.
Why do I need it?
How do I know if it is right for me?
What to Expect
Initial consultation
The initial consultation is a two step process; first we will complete a 30 minute virtual (video) appointment with you to assess your visual needs. At a later date, you will attend the clinic in person for a full eye health check. This appointment will last up to 2.5 hours. You will undergo tests and scans before a consultation with the doctor. During the consultation, the doctor will discuss the options and advise which procedure you are most suitable for.
Please note: Your pupils will be dilated so you will be unable to drive for the remainder of the day following the appointment. Contact lenses must be left out 2 days (soft lenses) and 3 weeks (for hard lenses) prior to an evaluation as they distort the natural shape of the cornea.
Day of surgery
On the day of surgery, while the procedure only takes 30 minutes per eye, you will be in the Beacon Hospital for approximately 4 hours. This allows time to complete your admission to the Day Unit, preoperative checks such as blood pressure and dilate your pupils before your procedure. The anaesthetist will also discuss sedation with you as the procedure is typically performed under general anaesthesia. When your procedure is over, you will relax (with tea and toast!) in the recovery room for approximately 40 minutes. In line with Beacon Hospital's policies, we ask that you have a family member/ friend collect you at the reception area of the Day Unit in Beacon Hospital after your procedure. On discharge from the Beacon Hospital, you are seen directly afterwards at the Wellington Eye Clinic by one of the clinical team to monitor the early surgical recovery.
Post-operative care
Once you are discharged from Beacon Hospital, you will come to the clinic for a quick intraocular pressure (IOP) check to ensure the IOP is stable before you go home. We advise all patients to go home and rest on the day of their procedure. Most patients find the procedure comfortable with only mild discomfort for the remainder of the day. Prescriptions for pre and post operative care will be provided at the time of booking your surgery appointment and you should have these prescriptions filled prior to going home. You will use 3 kinds of drops for 1 month after the procedure. These are intended to reduce inflammation and infection as your eye heals.
You will return to the clinic for post-operative visits as per the below schedules:
- Day 1
- 1 week
- 6 weeks
- 6- 12 months
Frequently asked questions
How long will it take for my vision to settle after surgery?
How long will it take for my vision to settle after surgery?
You may notice an improvement in your vision the day after surgery but as the dilation drops are still wearing off, we do not expect your vision to be sharp yet. You will notice an improvement in the first week but the vision may fluctuate in the weeks after surgery as it takes 6 weeks for vision to fully settle.
How will I feel leaving the hospital?
How will I feel leaving the hospital?
You will feel tired leaving the hospital as the sedation can take some time to wear off. You will have less energy due to the fact you are fasting so it is normal to feel tired. You may notice some improvement in vision but we expect your vision to be blurry as the dilation drops used before your procedure take 10-30 hours to wear off. If you are experiencing discomfort after the procedure, you should let the nurses in the Day Unit know before you are discharged so they can give you some pain relief. If you are sore/uncomfortable at home after the procedure, you can take over the counter pain relief such as Paracetamol or Ibuprofen.
Is everyone suitable for ICL?
Is everyone suitable for ICL?
There are a small group of patients who are not suitable for ICL procedures. These include:
- Patients who are pregnant or breastfeeding
- Patients with a narrow angle in the front chamber of their eye, because in this case the space for the ICL would be inadequate
What are EVO+ Visian ICL™ and Visian® ICL™ made of?
What are EVO+ Visian ICL™ and Visian® ICL™ made of?
The material is called Collamer®, a collagen co-polymer that contains a small amount of purified collagen which is proprietary to STAAR Surgical; the remainder is made of a similar material to that found in soft contact lenses. It is very biocompatible (does not cause a reaction inside the eye) and stable. It also contains an ultraviolet light filter.
Will I be able to feel the ICL after it is implanted?
Will I be able to feel the ICL after it is implanted?
The ICL is not noticeable after it is implanted. It does not attach to any structures within the eye and does not move around once in place. You cannot feel the ICL and it cannot be seen by others looking at you either.
Where can I get more information about the ICL?
Where can I get more information about the ICL?
You can find out more about the EVO+ Visian ICL™ and Visian® ICL™ on the STAAR surgical patient website.
How long after surgery can I resume normal activites?
How long after surgery can I resume normal activites?
| Activity | Safe to resume post ICL procedure |
| Bending | 1 week |
| Bikram Yoga | 4 weeks |
| Boxing | 6 weeks |
| Bungee Jumping | 6 weeks |
| Cycling | 1 day |
| Driving | 3-5 days |
| Drinking (alcohol) | 1 day |
| Eyelash tinting/ extensions | 6 weeks |
| Eyebrow threading/ waxing | 6 weeks |
| Eye make-up | 1 week |
| Face make-up | 2 days |
| Football | 2 weeks |
| Flying | 1 week (short haul), 2 weeks (long haul) |
| GAA | 2 weeks |
| Gardening | 1 week |
| Golf | 1 week |
| Gym | 1 day |
| Hair-wash | 2 days |
| Hair colouring | 1 week |
| Horse riding | 2 weeks |
| Hurling | 2 weeks |
| Jogging | 1 day |
| Karate | 2 weeks |
| Lifting | 2 weeks |
| Parachute Jumping | 2 weeks |
| Pilates | 1 day |
| Rugby | 2 weeks |
| Sailing | 2 weeks |
| Sauna | 2 weeks |
| Scuba diving | 3 months |
| Shower | 1 day |
| Skateboarding | 1 day |
| Skiing | 2 weeks |
| Smoking | 1 day |
| Squash | 2 weeks |
| Steam room | 2 weeks |
| Sunbathing/ Sun-bed | 1 week |
| Swimming | 2 weeks |
| Surfing | 2 weeks |
| Tennis | 1 week |
| Trampoline | 4 weeks |
| Weight lifting | 2 weeks |
| Yoga | 1 week |
Pricing
Before treatment
Vision Correction Initial Consultation
€150
Treatment
Implantable Contact Lenses
€4900 - €5200 per eye
Follow Ups
Typically you should come for a check up at least once every 2 years.
First 12 months
No Charge
12 months - 4 years
€150
12 months - 4 years (Optometrist Only)
€100
After 4 years (Doctor & Optometrist)
€250
Additional scans may be required with additional cost of €60 each. Maximum 2 scans chargeable per visit.
After 4 years (Optometrist Only)
€150
Additional scans may be required with additional cost of €60 each.Maximum 2 scans chargeable per visit.
Want to begin your journey to clearer vision?
Whether you still need more information or you think this is the right procedure for you, request a consultation and we’ll be able to help you from there.