EVO ICL

The Implantable Collamer Lens for Nearsightedness is a refractive lens also known as a phakic IOL. “Phakic” meaning that the natural lens of the eye is in place, and “IOL” meaning intraocular lens, or a lens inside the eye. The EVO ICL is a posterior chamber implant that is situated through a small incision in the eye behind the iris (the colored part of the eye), and in front of the natural crystalline lens in order to improve your nearsightedness.

ICL is designed for the correction of moderate to high nearsightedness (-3.0 to –15.0 diopters (D)), and the reduction of nearsightedness in patients with up to -20 diopters (D) and treatment of astigmatism from 1.0 D to 4.0 D. It is indicated for patients who are at least 21 years of age. In order to be sure that your surgeon will use an ICL with the most adequate power for your eye, your nearsightedness should be stable for at least a year before undergoing eye surgery.

The ICL represents an alternative to other refractive surgeries including laser assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK), photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), incisional surgeries, or other means to correct myopia such as contact lenses and eye glasses.

Patients who are pregnant and nursing and patients with a narrow angle in the front chamber of their eye, because in this case the space for the EVO ICL would be too small. The patient education booklet provides an additional list of conditions that should be taken into consideration when making a decision about the EVO ICL.

The key benefit of EVO ICL surgery is the permanent correction or reduction of your nearsightedness allowing you to see clearly at long distances without eyeglasses or contact lenses or reduce your dependence upon them. In addition to the improvement of your uncorrrected vision (vision without eyeglasses or contact lenses), your best corrected vision (best vision with contact lenses/eye glasses) may be improved.

The material is called Collamer®, a collagen co-polymer that contains a small amount of purified collagen which is proprietary to STAAR Surgical; the remainder is made of a similar material to that found in soft contact lenses. It is very biocompatible (does not cause a reaction inside the eye) and stable. It also contains an ultraviolet light filter.

Prior to being placed on the market, the EVO ICL was subject to extensive research and development. Today, more than 1,000,000 lenses have been implanted worldwide. In a US clinical study, over 99 percent of patients were satisfied with their implant. The EVO ICL has a track record of excellent clinical outcomes. Additionally, the lens has been available internationally for over 15 years.

The EVO ICL is intended to remain in place without maintenance. The EVO ICL can be removed by your eye care professional if needed in the future. If your physician removes the EVO ICL, you will lose the benefit of your nearsightedness correction.

No. The EVO ICL is positioned behind the iris (the colored part of the eye), where it is invisible to both you and others. Only your eye care practitioner will be able to tell that vision correction has taken place.

The EVO ICL is not typically noticeable after it is implanted. It does not attach to any structures within the eye and does not move around once in place.

If you are a potential EVO ICL candidate who is interested in obtaining further ICL information, you should contact a qualified ICL surgeon. Physicians should contact STAAR Surgical Company, the maker of the EVO ICL, to learn more.

The EVO ICL surgery is performed on an outpatient basis which means that the patient has surgery and leaves the same day. The procedure itself usually takes 20-30 minutes or less. The patient will need someone to drive them home on surgery day. A light, topical or local anesthetic is administered. There is very little discomfort during or after surgery. Some eye drops or medication may be prescribed and a visit with your eye care professional is usually scheduled the day after surgery.

Early complications reported the first week after ICL surgery include: ICL removal and reinsertion at the time of initial surgery, shallowness of the front chamber of the eye that can create an increase of the pressure into your eye and may necessitate a peripheral iridectomy (a procedure where a small hole is placed in iris (colored part of eye) using a laser called “YAG laser), temporary corneal swelling (edema) and transient inflammation in the eye or iritis. Complications after 1 week include: increase in astigmatism, loss of best corrected vision, clouding of the Crystalline lens (cataract), loss of cells from the back surface of the cornea responsible for the cornea remaining clear (endothelial cell loss), increase in eye pressure, iris prolapse, cloudy areas on the crystalline lens that may or may not cause visual symptoms (crystalline lens opacities), macular hemorrhage, subretinal hemorrhage, retinal detachment, secondary ICL related surgeries (replacements, repositionings, removals, removals with cataract extraction), too much or too little nearsightedness correction, and additional YAG iridotomy necessary.

Potential complications for refractive surgery in general include: irritation of the conjunctiva (white part of eye), corneal swelling (outer layer of eye), eye infection, significant glare and/or halos around lights, blood/pus in the eye, lens dislocation, macular edema, (swelling in back of the eye), non-reactive pupil, pupillary block glaucoma resulting in raised eye pressure, irritation of the iris (colored part of the eye), severe inflammation of the eye and loss of the vitreous (gel in back of eye). You should carefully review all benefits and risks of ICL surgery with your eye care professional before making a decision about the EVO ICL.

Follow all of your eye care professional’s instructions before and after implantation of the EVO ICL. Take any prescribed medication and schedule all recommended follow-up visits with your eye care professional, usually on an annual basis after the healing of the EVO ICL surgery. Contact your eye care professional immediately if you should experience a problem.