Freedoom from Thick Glasses: Everything You Need to Know About ICL Surgery
Imagine Life Without Thick Glasses
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Tired of thick glasses slipping, fogging, or getting in the way of life?
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Want to ditch contacts and glasses altogether—but feel you’re not a candidate for standard laser surgery?
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Want clear vision without changing your cornea and want the “undo” option?
If you nodded yes to any of those — then the procedure called ICL surgery might be the vision-correction game-changer for you. Let’s dive into what it is, who it’s for, how it works, how it compares to LASIK, how much it costs in India, precautions, and much more — in simple language.
Who Needs ICL Surgery? Indications
You might be a candidate for ICL if:
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You suffer from moderate to high nearsightedness (myopia) —with glasses no from -4D to -18D meaning you have very thick glasses.
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You have astigmatism (irregular shape of the eye/cornea) along with myopia.
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You are not suitable for LASIK (maybe because your cornea is too thin, you have dry eyes, or your prescription is too high) — ICL offers an alternative.
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You’re seeking freedom from glasses/contacts and want a reversible option (if needed) — ICL can be removed or changed later.
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You have a stable prescription (i.e., your glasses or contact lens power hasn’t changed much for about a year) — many experts recommend this.
Who is not ideal?
Some examples:
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If you have serious eye disease (glaucoma, advanced cataract, severe retina problems) the surgeon may advise against it.
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If you are very young and your vision is still changing rapidly.
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If your eye anatomy (for example, depth of the front chamber of the eye) is not suitable.
What is the Procedure? How does ICL Surgery Work?
What is an “ICL”?
ICL stands for Implantable Collamer Lens. It’s a thin artificial lens made of a special material called “Collamer” (a combination of plastic & collagen) designed to live inside the eye.
Rather than reshaping the cornea (as in LASIK), ICL adds a lens inside the eye — between your iris (the coloured part) and your natural crystalline lens.
Step-by-Step Procedure
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Pre-operative evaluation: Your eye surgeon will check your eye health, measure your eye’s anatomy (corneal thickness, anterior chamber depth, angle), check your prescription stability and suitability.
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On the day of surgery: Your eye is numbed with drops. Sometimes mild sedation is used. The surgeon makes a very small incision (often ~ 3 mm or so) in the cornea.
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The ICL lens is folded and inserted through that incision, then positioned behind the iris and in front of the natural lens. The tiny incision often heals by itself without stitches.
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Post-implant, sometimes a small laser or some pre-treatment may be needed depending on the model (older versions required iridotomy — tiny holes in iris to allow fluid flow, newer versions may integrate this).
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Recovery: Usually same-day or next day vision starts improving, with full stabilisation over 5 days/weeks.
Brand Names & Types
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One of the popular brand names is EVO ICL by STAAR Surgical.
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You may also find lenses referred to as “phakic IOLs” (intra-ocular lenses) though they are different from cataract IOLs.
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For astigmatism correction, “Toric ICL” variants exist.
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ICL vs iPCL: There’s another lens type commonly called “iPCL” (Implantable Phakic Collamer Lens) marketed by other companies. Which is better depends on your case — surgeon’s preference, eye anatomy, cost and availability.
Size & Power Measurement
Before surgery, several key measurements are done:
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Corneal topography / corneal thickness (pachymetry)
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Anterior chamber depth (distance between cornea’s back surface and front of lens)
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White-to-white measurement (width of visible iris)
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Angle measurements (how open the front chamber is)
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Eye’s optical prescription: sphere and cylinder (astigmatism)
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Endothelial cell count (health of cornea’s inner layer)
These measurements help choose the correct size of ICL (so it fits snugly in the eye without touching structures) and the correct power (so your vision is corrected appropriately). If not sized/powered properly, there is risk of complications.
After Surgery & Recovery: What to Expect, Precautions
Immediately after
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You may be advised to rest for a few hours, avoid heavy work, rubbing your eyes, swimming or dusty environments for a short period.
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Eye drops (antibiotic + anti-inflammatory) will be prescribed for days/weeks.
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Your vision may improve within 24 hours, though it may continue to refine over days.
Short-Term Precautions
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Avoid strenuous activity (heavy lifting, gym, intense sports) for at least a week or as advised.
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Avoid water entering the eye (swimming pools, hot tubs) for ~1-2 weeks or as advised.
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No rubbing eyes.
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Wear protective sunglasses, especially outdoors (sensitivity to light may happen).
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Attend all follow-up visits — doctor will check lens position, intra-ocular pressure (IOP), corneal health.
Long-Term
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Your ICL can stay in your eye for many years (often decades) and vision may remain stable. Some changes with age (presbyopia/cataract) may still occur.
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Annual eye exam is important to check health of eye (especially cornea, lens, retina).
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Rarely, if your vision changes significantly, the ICL can be removed or replaced.
ICL vs LASIK: Key Differences
Indications
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LASIK: Laser reshapes the cornea to correct myopia/hyperopia/astigmatism for those with sufficient corneal thickness and stable refraction.
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ICL: Ideal for people not good LASIK candidates (thin corneas, high myopia-High Glasses no,--5 to -18, dry eyes) and offers an alternative.
Procedure
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LASIK: Surgeon uses a laser (and sometimes a flap) to reshape cornea. Irreversible tissue is removed.
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ICL: Surgeon implants a lens inside eye; cornea largely untouched. Reversible (lens can be removed) in many cases.
Recovery & Risks
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LASIK: Recovery is fast (often days), but there is risk of flap-related issues, dry eye, corneal ectasia in some cases.
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ICL: Recovery also fast, but because it is intra-ocular surgery there are different risks (see below). Advantage: less risk of dry eye because cornea untouched.
Cost
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LASIK: Usually lower cost per eye i— from around ₹25,000–₹80,000 depending on technology and city.
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ICL: Higher cost — in India around ₹75,000 to ₹1,50,000 or more per eye (depending on lens type, city, surgeon) a common range.
Which to choose?
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If you’re a good LASIK candidate (good corneal thickness, moderate prescription-glasses power ), LASIK may suffice.
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If you have high prescription, thin cornea, or want a reversible option, not fit for LASIK, ICL is often the better choice.
Cost of ICL Surgery in India
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Typical cost range: ₹75,000 to ₹1,50,000 per eye, depending on city, hospital, lens type (standard vs toric), surgeon.
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Costs can be influenced by: lens brand, premium technology ( EVO ICL), hospital infrastructure, surgeon’s experience, city (Delhi/Mumbai vs smaller city) etc.
ICL and iPCL — Which Lens Brand/Type?
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ICL = Implantable Collamer Lens (many use brand names like EVO ICL by STAAR).
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iPCL = Implantable Phakic Collamer Lens (a variation by other manufacturers)
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Which is “better”? It depends on your eye’s anatomy, the surgeon’s experience with each lens type, availability and cost, and your specific needs (prescription, astigmatism, age).
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For example, the EVO ICL (by STAAR) is well-known with long track-record.
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One key difference: some newer ICL models have a “central port/hole” built into the lens that allows aqueous fluid flow, reducing some older risks.
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So the decision should be made after detailed evaluation by your ophthalmologist.
Rare Complications of ICL Surgery
Though ICL surgery is generally safe for properly selected patients, some of the rare complications include:
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Lens-related cataract formation (especially if lens touches the natural lens)
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Increased intra-ocular pressure (IOP) or glaucoma if fluid drainage is impaired
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Lens displacement or rotation (especially toric lenses requiring correct alignment)
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Endothelial cell damage (cornea’s inner layer) leading to long-term corneal issues
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Infection or inflammation (like any intra-ocular surgery)
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Vision disturbances: halos, glare, double vision, etc especially at night.
The key is: proper pre-operative screening, precise sizing and power, and good post-operative follow-up reduce these risks significantly.
Call to Action (CTA)
Ready to explore your vision correction options and are keen to be “glasses free”?
๐ WhatsApp us now for a free screening appointment
๐ Visit our website to book your consultation and see real-patient testimonials
⭐ Check our Google reviews to hear from patients who’ve had ICL and are living glasses-free
Frequently Asked Questions (Q&A)
Q1. Will the ICL completely eliminate my glasses?
A: In many cases yes, for distance vision you may be free of glasses or contacts. However, reading glasses for near vision may still be needed later (especially with age).
Q2. How long does the surgery take and when will I see clearly?
A: The procedure for both eyes often takes ~20-30 minutes. Many patients see improved vision within 24 hours, with further improvement over days.
Q3. Is ICL surgery reversible?
A: Yes — unlike LASIK which permanently alters the cornea, an ICL is an additive lens and can be removed if necessary.
Q4. Can everyone do ICL surgery?
A: No. You must meet certain criteria (stable prescription, good eye health, suitable anatomy). Your surgeon will evaluate you for eligibility.
Q5. What is the cost for ICL surgery in India?
A: Typically in the range of ₹75,000 to ₹1,50,000 per eye, depending on location, lens type, surgeon and hospital.
Q6. How does ICL compare with LASIK?
A: If you have moderate prescription and good corneal thickness, LASIK may be sufficient and usually less expensive. But if you have high prescription, thin cornea or want a reversible option, ICL is often better. (See differences above.)
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