ICL Eye Surgery (Implantable Collamer Lens): Who It Suits, Risks and Recovery
Quick answer: ICL (implantable collamer lens) surgery places a thin, flexible lens inside the eye, behind the iris and in front of your natural lens, to correct short sight and, with a toric ICL, astigmatism. Nothing is removed from the cornea, so it can suit people with high prescriptions or thin corneas who are not good LASIK candidates. It is a surgical procedure with risks such as raised eye pressure and earlier cataract, so suitability is decided by a refractive surgeon after detailed measurements.
Considering eye surgery? Start with an eye examination at Vision Concern for an assessment and referral advice.
What is an ICL?
An implantable collamer lens is a type of phakic intraocular lens: a lens added to the eye while your natural lens stays in place. It is made of a soft collagen-copolymer material and is folded and inserted through a small incision. Newer designs (often called EVO ICL) have a tiny central opening that lets eye fluid circulate, so a separate laser hole in the iris is usually no longer needed.
Who may be a good candidate?
- Adults, usually from about 21 to 45 years old, with a prescription that has been stable for at least a year.
- Moderate to high short sight, with or without astigmatism, including prescriptions too high for laser surgery.
- People with thin or irregular-looking corneas, or significant dry eye, where laser surgery is less suitable.
- Enough space inside the front of the eye (anterior chamber depth) and a healthy cornea, which are measured before surgery.
ICL vs LASIK
LASIK reshapes the cornea with a laser and removes tissue; ICL adds a lens and leaves the cornea untouched. ICL can treat higher prescriptions and is removable or exchangeable, but it is intraocular surgery with different risks and usually a higher cost. For moderate prescriptions with healthy, thick corneas, laser surgery may be the simpler option. Your surgeon compares both after testing.
Risks and recovery
Most people notice clearer vision within a day or two, with eye drops for several weeks and follow-up visits to check the lens position (vault) and eye pressure. Possible complications include raised eye pressure, cataract developing earlier, glare or haloes at night, infection, and loss of cells on the inner cornea over time, which is why long-term check-ups matter.
How Vision Concern can help
Vision Concern is an eye-examination clinic and optical shop in Kathmandu with branches in Lazimpat, Boudha-Tushal and Makalbari. It does not perform surgery or injections. Its optometrists can examine your eyes, explain your prescription and findings, and advise on referral to an eye hospital or specialist; it can also provide glasses and contact lenses before or after treatment elsewhere.
Frequently asked questions
Is ICL permanent?
The lens is designed to stay in the eye long term, but unlike laser surgery it can be removed or exchanged if needed.
Can ICL correct astigmatism?
Yes. A toric ICL corrects astigmatism as well as short sight.
Will I still need reading glasses?
ICL does not prevent presbyopia, so most people need reading glasses after their mid-40s.
This guide is general education and does not replace an eye examination or advice from your treating doctor.
Yes. Many visitors, particularly from Bangladesh and West Bengal (Kolkata), come to Nepal for cataract, retina, or other eye surgery at a hospital and also want new glasses, a general eye exam, or contact lenses at the same time, before or after their procedure. Vision Concern is an optical and eye-examination clinic, not a surgical hospital, so we work alongside hospitals such as Tilganga: we are happy to see you for glasses, contact lenses, or a routine check-up either side of your surgical treatment elsewhere.
No conversion is needed. Eyeglass prescriptions from Germany, France, the UK, the USA, China, Russia, and almost every other country use the same international format, SPH (sphere), CYL (cylinder), and AXIS, measured in diopters. Our opticians read this directly, so you can bring your prescription paper, a photo of it on your phone, or simply your current glasses, and we will use the same values. If your prescription is more than a year or two old, we recommend a quick, free re-check before we make your new pair.
Yes. Above roughly 3,000 metres, UV exposure increases sharply because of the thinner atmosphere and reflection off snow, and ordinary sunglasses (category 2-3) do not block enough UV to prevent snow blindness (photokeratitis). We recommend glacier glasses or category-4 sunglasses with side shields, and can fit these with your own prescription if needed. Vision Concern offers ZEISS polarized, UV400-certified sunglasses with prescription lenses, which we can prepare before you set off on your trek.