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Implantable Contact Lens Specialist

Specialty Ophthalmologists serving Goodland, KS, and Broomfield, Edwards and Englewood, CO

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Implantable Contact Lens

Are you looking for a permanent way to correct your vision without LASIK® or PRK eye surgery? At Mile High Eye Institute, which has locations in Denver metro community including Castle Rock, Broomfield, Aurora, Littleton as well as our satellites in Goodland, KS and Edwards, CO, board-certified ophthalmologists William Richheimer, MD, offer implantable collamer lenses, often referred to as implantable contact lenses.  The EVO ICL implantable collamer lens is a surgical option for maintenance-free vision restoration. Call Mile High Eye Institute or schedule an appointment online to learn more.


EVO ICL

What is an implantable contact lens?

The EVO ICL is an implantable contact lens (ICL), an extremely thin collagen derivative that the team at Mile High Eye Institute surgically places in your eye to replace short-term contacts. Once the team places the implantable contact lenses, you can’t feel them. They’re also completely maintenance-free, so you don’t have to replace them regularly like temporary contact lenses.

Am I a good candidate for an implantable contact lens?

The best candidates for implantable contact lenses have stable vision. This means your eyeglasses or contacts prescription has remained the same for several years. Unfortunately, if you have frequently changing prescriptions, implantable contact lenses may not be suitable for you. 

Implantable contact lenses may be right for you if you:

  • Are between ages of 21-45
  • Don’t have glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), or diabetic retinopathy
  • Have a moderate to high glasses or contacts prescription
  • Are not a good candidate for LASIK, LASEK, or PRK vision correction surgery

During your comprehensive evaluation, which includes a complete eye exam and vision test, the team at Mile High Eye Institute can determine if you’re an ideal candidate for implantable contact lenses.

How do I prepare for implantable contact lens surgery?

The team provides a full set of ICL instructions prior to your surgery. You shouldn’t wear contacts for at least seven days before the procedure, so you may need to wear eyeglasses in the meantime. You can take your medications as you normally would, but make sure to tell the team what you’re taking before the procedure.

You should avoid wearing makeup, eye cream, facial lotion, or perfume on the day of your surgery. If you have any questions before the procedure, make sure to contact the team.


What can I expect from implantable contact lens surgery? 

Implantable contact lens surgery is an outpatient procedure that takes about 30 minutes, or 15 minutes per eye. After administering a numbing anesthetic and sedative to ensure your comfort, the team makes a small incision in your eye between the lens and iris. Next, the team inserts your ICL, contained in a small capsule, which automatically unfolds to lay flat on the lens.

After the procedure, you should notice an immediate improvement in your vision. The team may monitor you for about two to three hours after the procedure to ensure there are no complications.

It’s important to have a close friend or relative drive you home and monitor you for the first evening following your procedure. At a follow-up appointment the next day, the team examines your lenses and tests your visual acuity. 

Since the incisions are extremely small, you don’t need stitches. The incisions should heal on their own quickly. While implantable contact lenses are permanent, the team can remove them if you’re no longer happy with them.

To learn more about implantable contact lenses, schedule an eye exam with Mile High Eye Institute. Call the nearest office or book an appointment online today.

The EVO ICL is an implantable contact lens (ICL), an extremely thin collagen derivative that the team at Mile High Eye Institute surgically places in your eye to replace short-term contacts. Once the team places the implantable contact lenses, you can’t feel them. They’re also completely maintenance-free, so you don’t have to replace them regularly like temporary contact lenses.