What is the difference between ICL vs. LASIK
- By Dr. Yuna Rapoport
- July 9, 2024
- 6:31 pm
Introduction to Vision Correction
Not everyone’s eyes are made equally or perfectly. Some people’s cornea doesn’t perfectly refract light to our retina due to improper shaping causing stuff like blurry or double vision. In eye care we commonly use glasses or contact lenses to fix this, but for those who don’t want to deal with the hassle of wearing glasses or having to put on contact lenses every morning there are operations available that either change the surfacing of the cornea to fix the refractive error or alternatively have a artificial lens between the pupil and crystallized lens in the eye to fix the refractive error.
Table of Contents
Overview of LASIK (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis) and ICL (Implantable Collamer Lens)
LASIK and ICL are two different refractive surgeries(operations that treat refractive errors) with the intended goal of treating your refractive error and moving you away from glasses or contacts. These operations however achieve this in their own unique way with LASIK using a laser to reshape your cornea so light properly hits your retina while in ICL a Collamer lens is placed in between your iris and the crystallized lens in your eye. Both operations do share a similarity with the duration of them with each taking anywhere between 10-30 minutes.
LASIK: A Closer Look
Laser-Assisted IN Situation Keratomileusis or LASIK is a guided surgery that permanently alters the shape of the patient’s cornea with the intended goal of allowing patients to reach their best possible visual acuity without the need of wearing glasses or contacts. The operation which takes place either in the office or in a surgical suite starts with you receiving one numbing drop on each eye while you’re comfortably lying down on a reclined chair. Your physician will then place an instrument to keep your eyes open along with a suction ring to keep you from moving your eyes. They will then create a flap on your cornea and begin reshaping it with a laser.
Benefits of LASIK: reshaping corneal tissue for clear vision
The good thing about LASIK for those who qualify is that it’s highly effective at getting patients close to or on that desired 20/20 distance reading level with 70%-90% of people getting to that level. LASIK is also very affordable compared to other refractive procedures pricing in between $2,000-$3,000 per eye depending on your insurance and the practice you do it at. A third benefit of LASIK is its longevity with the procedure with it intending to last you a handful of years and keeping you from constantly seeking a prescription renewal.
LASIK eligibility: cornea thickness, astigmatism, nearsightedness, farsightedness
Unfortunately not everyone is suitable or a good candidate for LASIK. Your suitability depends on a handful of factors like if you suffer from dry eye disease or not, have large pupils, have a thin cornea, or an unstable prescription. If you also suffer from corneal bulging or keratoconus then LASIK might not be suitable for you.
Potential drawbacks: dry eyes, risk of infection, recovery time
Like every surgical operation LASIK comes with its own unfortunate set of risks. Going through with the operation you run the chances of being over or under corrected and the unfortunate aspect of being possibly over corrected is that it’s much more difficult to do a touch up operation to fix that. Another drawback of LASIK is that while the procedure is permanent the effects of it are not. As you age you might slowly notice the effects of the procedure slowly slip away and might possibly need glasses again in the future. Like all refractive surgeries you also run the risk of albeit a low one of developing an infection from the operation. On top of that there are chances you might start seeing double or develop a glare/halo, however the chances of that are low and are an associated risk with any refractive surgery.
For NYC Patients
Introduction to ICL surgery and EVO ICL
Intra collamer lens surgery or ICL surgery for short is a 20-30 minute refractive operation where unlike laser surgeries such as LASIK, SMILE, or PRK a biocompatible lens is inserted between the pupil and the crystalline lens to treat any possible refractive error without the need to reshape your cornea or create a flap that may put you at risk of developing dry eye syndrome.
The technology behind implantable collamer lenses and UV protection
Intra collamer lenses are almost like a contact lens where an additional lens is placed to aid in the refractive process but instead of being placed externally and having to deal with constant maintenance, its placed internally with zero maintenance required. Like most contact lenses ICLs also provide UV protection which helps decrease the chance of age related cataract development along with other UV associated ocular diseases.
Advantages of ICL: lasting correction for myopia, thin corneas, no removal of corneal tissue
The benefits of going through with ICL instead of a laser treatment is with the flexibility of the procedure. Since none of the structures of your eye are being permanently altered it allows for the procedure to be easily reversed or retouched if necessary. ICL also doesn’t require for a flap to be created for the refractive process which eliminates the risk of developing dry eye syndrome after the procedure. The complete recovery for ICL is also significantly quicker than most laser eye surgeries where most people can be expected to be fully recovered and satisfied with their newly improved vision in just about 2-6 weeks.
Eligibility criteria: good candidate for those with dry eyes or thin corneas
If you’re someone with a steady prescription and are looking for a refractive procedure without running the risk of developing dry eye disease or don’t meet the necessary requirements for a procedure like LASIK then ICL is a great alternative. People between the ages of 18-45 are the best possible candidates for this procedure as their prescription should have stabilized and also aren’t old enough where they might have to start considering doing a lens replacement surgery.
Comparative Analysis: ICL vs. LASIK
Is ICL better or LASIK? Tailoring to individual eye health needs
Both operations are great options to finally make the jump away from glasses and contacts, but deciding on which one might be better for you is entirely situational. If you’re not looking to spend a bunch of money on a refractive surgery and have a healthy eye with low dry eye disease risk then LASIK would be the perfect choice for you, however if the opposite is true and you wouldn’t mind spending a little extra money or don’t meet certain requirements for LASIK then ICL might be the better option for you.
Cost comparison: initial investment in ICL surgery vs. LASIK procedure
Since ICL is a more complex and invasive operation that requires more care and materials it’s unfortunately more expensive than LASIK with the average cost of ICL ranging from $3,000-$5,000 per eye while LASIK only being $2,000-3,000 per eye.
Longevity of ICL implants vs. permanence of LASIK outcomes
Both LASIK and ICl are meant to be life lasting procedures, but as you age the effectiveness of those procedures in keeping you away from glasses will slowly diminish. This is where one of the benefits of doing ICL kicks in, where your physician can remove the lens and replace it with a new one that better suits you with age. The same story more or less applies to LASIK where it’s done with the expectation that it will last you for the rest of your life, but with LASIK it’s permanent and irreversible unlike ICL since a laser is being used to reshape your cornea.
Disadvantages of ICL: potential side effects, halos, night vision issues
Like with LASIK, ICL also comes with its fair share of disadvantages. Since it is a surgical procedure you run a risk of getting an infection from the operation although it is still very rare to do so. Having ICL you also may have a chance of developing halos/glares after the operation like you do with LASIK. Unlike LASIK though you have a chance of developing a high eye pressure which can eventually lead to glaucoma if your lens isn’t the right size and is improperly placed. An improper lens placement can also lead to a decrease in night vision and also disrupt the circulation of fluid in your eye causing the development of early cataracts. While this might sound scary a improperly placed lens can easily be fixed by your surgeon in a touch up operation since its a reversible procedure.
Making the Right Choice for Your Eyes: Eligibility
Before undergoing any ocular operation it’s important to first go see an ophthalmologist and get evaluated to see which operation might be best suited for you based on your ocular health.
It’s also important to take note of certain lifestyle choices like whether you play a contact sport or not, if you suffer or are prone to dry eye disease and if you might possibly need an additional operation in the future such as cataract surgery.
Conclusion
The decision between ICL vs. LASIK is personal and should be made with professional guidance. ICl and LASIK are both great options for you if you’re looking to finally break free from contacts and glasses. Keeping in mind the possible advantages and disadvantages that come with both procedures it is best to first consult with your eyecare physician to determine which procedure might work best for you in transitioning into a glasses free world.
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