Permanent contact lenses can transform your life if you’re tired of dealing with glasses or traditional contacts every day. These implantable lenses correct various vision problems like myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. Doctors often recommend them to patients who want a lasting solution for refractive issues without having cataracts.
These implanted lenses work great especially when you have been ruled out as a candidate for LASIK or other laser vision procedures. ICL surgery gives you sharp, clear vision that often works better than what glasses or regular contacts can provide. Your eyes stay healthier too, since these internal lenses substantially lower the risk of infections and complications that daily contacts usually cause.
The advantages go well beyond better eyesight. You won’t need to bother with daily cleaning or keeping track of replacement schedules with permanent contact lenses. Most patients achieve perfect or near-perfect vision and love their newfound freedom from glasses. Learning about your options is the first step toward better vision, whether you’re just starting to explore permanent eye contact lenses or looking into alternatives to laser surgery.
Why People Are Looking Beyond Glasses and Daily Contacts
People who wear glasses or contact lenses often look for lasting vision solutions. The daily hassles and restrictions of regular correction methods can become tiresome.
Common frustrations with glasses and soft lenses
Glasses create more problems than just being inconvenient. Vision gets blocked when lenses fog up between temperature changes. Active people face bigger challenges with their glasses. These can fall off or break during sports activities.
Regular contact lenses come with their own issues. Users often face:
- Eyes feel dry and irritated after wearing them too long
- Anxiety about lenses popping out at crucial moments
- The boring daily process of putting them in and taking them out
Lucy Bronze, a professional footballer, explains this perfectly: “I think the worst my prescription got to was around minus 3… The amount of times I broke my glasses they fell off, headed the ball and they snapped“. She added that like others, she had “quite a few problems with contact lenses… you wear them past a few hours and you start to feel irritated dry eye, rubbing your eyes“.
Limitations of LASIK for some patients
LASIK might be popular but doesn’t work for everyone. People with thin or flat corneas can’t safely get this procedure. People with severe refractive errors might find LASIK doesn’t fix their vision needs properly. These patients need different options. ICL (Implantable Contact Lens) surgery becomes an attractive choice because it doesn’t remove corneal tissue.
The growing interest in permanent eye contact lenses
Permanent contact lenses have become a compelling choice. These implantable lenses transform lives, particularly for people with moderate to high refractive errors. ICLs deliver stable, lasting results without the upkeep regular contacts need. Wearers can participate in daily activities confidently because the lenses stay firmly in place. Sports and outdoor activities become easier.
The EVO ICL, the newest version of these lenses, has helped approximately one million people worldwide. This advanced technology lets eye fluid flow naturally, which reduces the risk of pressure buildup. “It’s incredible to not have to constantly have an extra pair of contacts or thick glasses on hand at any given time. It has absolutely changed the game in a big way,” says one happy patient.
What Makes Permanent Contact Lenses a Game-Changer
Implantable contact lenses are a breakthrough in vision correction technology that provides a permanent solution without traditional method limitations.
How implanted contact lenses work
Permanent contact lenses, officially known as Implantable Collamer Lenses (ICLs), are soft, flexible implants placed inside your eye between the natural lens and iris. These lenses differ from LASIK because they don’t reshape your cornea – they leave your corneal tissue untouched. The lens material called Collamer blends collagen and polymer, which works naturally with your eye’s environment.
The procedure takes just 15-20 minutes per eye. Your surgeon makes a tiny cut in the cornea and places the folded lens behind your iris. The lens then unfolds by itself, and no stitches are needed because the cut is so small. You won’t see or feel the ICL once it’s in place – it just works silently to correct your vision.
Types of permanent contact lenses available
Different types of permanent contact lenses help with various vision problems:
- Visian ICL: This popular option sits between your natural lens and iris to treat nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism
- EVO ICL: A newer lens with a central port lets natural fluid flow, so you don’t need laser treatment beforehand
- Toric ICL: This lens fixes both nearsightedness and astigmatism at once
- Artisan ICL: The lens sits just in front of the iris and works great for treating myopia
Who is a good candidate for ICL surgery
ICL surgery works best for people aged 21 to 45 who have stable vision prescriptions (no changes for about a year). The procedure helps people with moderate to high myopia from -3.0D to -20.0D, and astigmatism between 1.0D and 4.0D.
Not a candidate for LASIK? Permanent contact lenses also known as Implantable Collamer Lenses (ICLs) could be your perfect solution. They offer sharp, stable vision without reshaping your cornea. Book your ICL consultation today with Precision Vision London’s expert surgeons and take the first step toward a lifetime of clearer sight. Book Now
ICL surgery gives hope to patients with thin or irregular corneas who can’t have laser procedures. The surgery doesn’t affect corneal nerves much, which means less risk of dry eyes afterward. Your eyes should be healthy and free from conditions like cataracts, glaucoma, or frequent inflammation to qualify.
What to Expect Before, During and After ICL Surgery
Starting a journey to better vision with permanent contact lenses follows a well-laid-out process that ensures the best results for each patient. Learning about each step helps ease anxiety and builds your confidence in the decision.
Pre-surgery consultation and diagnostics
Our ophthalmologists at Precision Vision London conduct a detailed eye examination to check if you’re suitable before scheduling your ICL procedure. This full picture has measurements of your eye’s shape, size, and refractive error. We review your corneal thickness, anterior chamber depth (which must be at least 2.8mm), and endothelial cell density (requiring at least 1800 cells/mm²). The best candidates usually have stable prescriptions that haven’t changed for about a year.
The day of surgery: what happens
Your eyes will be numbed with anaesthetic drops and dilated on surgery day to prepare for the procedure. The actual implantation happens quickly—usually taking just 15-20 minutes for both eyes. Our surgeon creates a tiny keyhole incision at your cornea’s edge, carefully inserts the folded ICL through this opening, and positions it between your iris and natural lens. Patients describe the procedure as “pain-free and super quick”.
Post-surgery care and follow-up
You’ll rest briefly after the procedure before heading home with detailed aftercare instructions. Most patients see better vision almost right away, and their vision stabilises over the next few days. You’ll need to use prescribed eye drops for about two weeks to prevent infection and inflammation during recovery. We schedule follow-up appointments the day after surgery, within ten days, at four weeks, and then three to six months later.
Safety and long-term outcomes
Studies show ICLs work exceptionally well over long periods. Clinical research reveals 98% of patients find ICL surgery works. Eight-year studies show 37% of patients kept their corrected distance visual acuity, 37% gained one line of vision, and 18% gained two lines. No major complications like substantial intraocular pressure rise or severe vision-threatening problems occurred during this time.
Making the Right Choice: Cost, Results and Clinic Expertise
Permanent contact lenses represent more than just a vision correction procedure – they’re an investment in your future sight. Several key factors should shape your decision.
Permanent contact lenses price range in the UK
Precision Vision London’s implantable contact lenses start at £3600 per eye. The price varies based on your lens choice:
- Simple Lens: £3,650 per eye (for distance correction without astigmatism)
- Myopic Specialist Lens: £4,050 per eye (for short-sightedness with astigmatism)
- Hyperopic Specialist Lens: £4,300 per eye (for long-sightedness with astigmatism)
Realistic expectations and long-term results
Permanent contact lenses deliver excellent visual results. Research shows 95% of patients achieve functional vision to a high standard right after their original surgery. Most patients see better within two to three days, with 90-95% vision improvement.
Why our expert surgeons and technology matter
Our surgeons at Precision Vision London stand among the world’s leading experts who train other surgeons in ICL procedures. We made history as the UK’s first clinic to successfully treat an astigmatic hyperope with high prescription and significant astigmatism.
Personalised care at Precision Vision London
Your experience starts with a complete consultation to check your suitability and create your custom treatment plan. We provide one year of ongoing eye care, and your treatment cost covers all aftercare appointments. This personalised approach paired with world-class surgical expertise will give superior results for your unique vision needs.
Conclusion
Permanent contact lenses are a breakthrough in vision correction technology. These implantable lenses free you from daily hassles of glasses and regular contacts. You’ll have clear, stable vision without the irritation, dryness, or maintenance that regular options just need. ICL surgery gives an excellent option to people who can’t get laser procedures. The benefits go beyond simple convenience – patients get better visual quality and feel more comfortable compared to previous methods. On top of that, modern ICLs, especially the EVO ICL, have proven their safety through 15 years of clinical use.
The upfront cost might seem high, but permanent contact lenses are affordable when you consider the lifetime cost of glasses and disposable contacts. The joy of waking up each day with perfect vision is something you can’t put a price on. Precision Vision London stands out with its expert surgical skills and innovative achievements. Our surgeons do more than perform procedures – they train other professionals in these techniques. This expertise will give a superior level of care throughout your vision correction experience.
Your eyes deserve the best care possible. The right clinic choice matters as much as picking the right procedure. Precision Vision London gives detailed consultations, personalised treatment plans, and complete aftercare. These are the foundations of getting the best results. Living without glasses or contacts might feel impossible if you’ve worn them for years. In spite of that, permanent contact lenses have made this a reality for many patients. You could experience this life-changing transformation too, with clearer vision and freedom from traditional correction methods.
Key Takeaways
Permanent contact lenses (ICLs) offer a revolutionary alternative to glasses and daily contacts, providing stable vision correction without the daily maintenance hassles or limitations of traditional methods.
- ICL surgery takes just 15-20 minutes per eye and provides immediate vision improvement for those unsuitable for LASIK
- Costs start from £3650 per eye, with 95% of patients achieving excellent functional vision from initial surgery.
- Unlike LASIK, ICLs don’t reshape your cornea and can correct prescriptions from -3.0D to -20.0D with astigmatism.
- The procedure is virtually painless with minimal recovery time, allowing return to normal activities within days.
- Modern ICLs like EVO feature biocompatible materials that work harmoniously with your eye’s natural environment
For individuals tired of glasses fogging up, contact lens irritation, or those ineligible for laser surgery, permanent contact lenses represent a game-changing solution. With proper surgical expertise and comprehensive aftercare, ICLs deliver the freedom of clear, stable vision without the ongoing maintenance that traditional correction methods require.
FAQs
Q1. Are permanent contact lenses a good option for vision correction? Permanent contact lenses are an excellent option for many people, especially those who can’t undergo laser eye surgery or have high prescriptions. They can effectively treat conditions like astigmatism and offer improved visual clarity without the need for glasses or daily contacts.
Q2. How long does the procedure for implanting permanent contact lenses take? The implantation procedure for permanent contact lenses is remarkably quick, typically taking only 15-20 minutes per eye. Most patients experience improved vision almost immediately after the surgery.
Q3. What is the recovery time after permanent contact lens surgery? Recovery time is minimal, with most patients able to return to normal activities within a few days. Vision typically stabilises over the following days, with 90-95% of patients experiencing better vision within just two to three days post-surgery.
Q4. How much do permanent contact lenses cost in the UK? The cost of permanent contact lenses in the UK starts from £89.58 per eye per month. The total cost can vary depending on the type of lens required, ranging from £3,650 to £4,300 per eye for different lens options.
Q5. Are permanent contact lenses safe for long-term use? Yes, permanent contact lenses have been shown to be safe for long-term use. Clinical studies demonstrate excellent stability and effectiveness over extended periods, with no significant complications reported after eight years of follow-up in most patients.
