Have you ever wanted to have a vision correction procedure? For many people, the first thing they think of for one of these procedures is LASIK.
But LASIK is only one of several vision correction procedures available. One you may be less familiar with but produces excellent results is the EVO VICL.
The EVO ICL is a procedure that differs from laser refractive eye procedures like LASIK and PRK. But what is the EVO ICL, and how does it work?
How is it different from other vision correction procedures currently available? Why should you consider it over other methods of correcting your vision? Keep reading to learn about the EVO ICL with this in-depth guide featuring everything you need to know about it!
What is the EVO ICL?
The ICL in EVO ICL stands for Implantable Collamer Lens. The EVO is short for evolution. The design of the ICL is an advancement in the evolution of vision correction.
The implantable collamer lens is implanted in the eye to correct nearsightedness and astigmatism. Since receiving FDA approval, the EVO ICL has helped millions of patients improve their vision.
How Does the EVO ICL Work?
The EVO ICL works much like a contact lens. When you wear a contact lens, it sits on top of your eye, changing how light refracts before it passes through your cornea to correct refractive errors. These include nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.
The EVO ICL functions similarly, except instead of sitting on top of your eye, it’s placed inside your eye between your iris and natural lens. Instead of correcting how light refracts before it passes through your cornea, it fixes it after it passes through your cornea but before it goes through your natural lens.
ICLs are similar to another implantable lens called an intraocular lens, or IOL. IOLs are used most commonly during cataract surgery, as they are used to replace the natural lens, which is where cataracts form.
The EVO ICL, however, doesn’t replace the natural lens. Instead, the EVO ICL sits on top of the natural lens. Patients don’t have to worry about having tissue removed from the cornea or having the natural lens removed. It also makes the EVO ICL easier to recover from.
How is the EVO ICL Different from LASIK?
The EVO ICL differs from refractive laser eye procedures like LASIK and PRK. These procedures change the overall shape of the cornea using a laser to remove tissue from the cornea to correct refractive errors.
One advantage LASIK and PRK have over the EVO ICL is that they can correct farsightedness, nearsightedness, and astigmatism. The EVO ICL can only correct nearsightedness and astigmatism.
One disadvantage of LASIK is that the procedure requires your cornea to be a certain thickness to create a flap. If your cornea is too thin, you cannot have LASIK.
PRK doesn’t require a corneal flap, but it takes longer to recover. The EVO ICL is a more straightforward and less invasive procedure than LASIK and PRK. Patients recover faster while achieving comparable results, as most attain 20/20 vision or better.
Who is a Good Candidate for the EVO ICL?
Not everyone will be a good candidate for the EVO ICL. It is best for healthy adults over 21 looking to correct nearsightedness or astigmatism.
If you don’t qualify for LASIK because your corneas are thin, the EVO ICL is a great alternative. It’s also a good choice for patients who are nervous about having a vision correction procedure because it’s the only one that’s reversible.
Although it’s meant to be permanent, you can remove it anytime. Most patients don’t choose to have the EVO ICL removed, but the option offers peace of mind to patients who don’t like the idea of permanently altering their vision.
What is the EVO ICL Procedure and Recovery Like?
You’ll have the EVO ICL performed as an outpatient procedure. It only takes about 20-30 minutes to complete. Before beginning, you’ll have your eyes numbed using eye drops to ensure you won’t feel any pain.
Your surgeon will then make a tiny incision into the chamber between your natural lens and iris. The EVO ICL is then folded up and inserted through this incision, where it unfurls and is positioned by your surgeon.
After your surgeon completes the first eye, the same process is repeated on your second eye. Once they’ve made sure the ICL is in place, the procedure is over. The incision is small enough that it heals on its own without stitches.
After the EVO ICL procedure, you’ll need a ride home. As the numbing eye drops wear off, you may start experiencing discomfort.
This discomfort does not last long, so you’ll start feeling better after a few days. You may see immediate visual improvement after your procedure, but if not, you’ll see improvement within days of the procedure.
While your eyes heal, you’ll have to take eye drops for about a week to prevent infection. The ICL causes minimal discomfort and integrates quickly with your eye, causing few post-surgical symptoms.
The EVO ICL is made of collamer, a material derived from collagen. Collagen is a naturally occurring protein in the body.
Because of this, your body recognizes the ICL as biological material, allowing it to integrate with the natural harmony of your eye. The EVO ICL will quickly begin feeling like part of your eye. You won’t even be able to feel it’s there!
It also means that the EVO ICL is an excellent choice for patients prone to dry eye, as the procedure causes fewer dry eye symptoms. If your eyes are already dry, the EVO ICL will help them feel more comfortable.
What are the Long-Term Results of the EVO ICL?
The EVO ICL can provide you with 20/20 vision that will allow you to see clearly in sharp detail during the day and at night. The EVO ICL can give you years and years of incredible sight that you’ll never have to remove if you don’t want to.
However, you can always choose to reverse the effects, especially if you need to have cataract surgery and need an IOL to take its place. When you get the EVO ICL, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
What’s not to love about crystal-clear vision, freedom from contacts and glasses, and a new outlook on the world? Find out if the EVO ICL is right for you by requesting your appointment at Omaha Eye & Laser Institute in Omaha, NE, today! Isn’t it time to love your vision?
