Beyond Glasses: How Implantable Contact Lenses (ICL) Can Correct High Prescriptions

If your world still looks distorted around the edges, even with thick glasses or “strong” contact lenses, the issue isn’t your effort. It’s your prescription. Implantable Contact Lenses (ICL) offer a precise, lens-based solution that can correct high myopia and astigmatism when laser eye surgery isn’t the right fit. In other words, yes, there is a clear path beyond glasses.

At Moorfields Private London, Mr Alex Day performs ICL (also called phakic IOL) for suitable patients seeking high-definition vision without altering the cornea. If you’ve been told you’re not a candidate for LASIK because of thin corneas, dry eyes, or a very high prescription, this guide is for you.

What is an Implantable Contact Lens (ICL)?

ICL stands for Implantable Collamer® Lens, although most patients and surgeons refer to it as an “implantable contact lens” as it is a soft, biocompatible lens that is placed behind the iris (the coloured part of your eye) and in front of your natural lens. Unlike external contact lenses, you don’t feel an ICL and don’t remove it. It simply works in harmony with your eye to focus light accurately on the retina. Mr Alex Day only uses STAAR EVO+ ICL™. These 5th-generation ICLs have CentraFLOW™ technology with a tiny channel (termed KS-AquaPORT™, or KS-AP™) in the centre of the ICL optic to allow natural fluid flow through the pupil, helping to ensure optimal eye health.

Designed for:

• Moderate to severe short-sightedness (commonly up to around -18.00D).

• Astigmatism (with Toric ICLs).

• Thin corneas or dry eyes, where the laser isn’t ideal.

• Patients who want a reversible option that doesn’t remove corneal tissue.

Explore related reading: Laser vs Lens Replacement – Which Vision Fix Is Right for You in London?

How ICL Surgery Works

The Procedure, Step by Step

1. Comprehensive Eye Assessment – including corneal thickness, anterior chamber depth, prescription stability and retinal health.

2. Precision Sizing & Custom Order – your ICL is chosen specifically for your eye after detailed eye scans.

3. Day of Surgery (per eye ~10 mins) – performed under local anaesthetic; a micro-incision is created and the ICL is positioned behind the iris.

4. Recovery – vision typically sharpens within 24-48 hours, with most normal activities resuming quickly.

Key Differences vs Laser Eye Surgery (LASIK/PRK)

Benefits of Implantable Contact Lenses

1) Exceptional Visual Quality

Many patients describe the result as “HD vision”.

2) Long-Term Safety & Reversibility

Because the cornea isn’t reshaped, the ICL can be removed or exchanged, and you go back to how you were before the ICL surgery. This reversibility provides peace of mind. Generally, an ICL is usually only removed if/ when a patient goes on to need cataract surgery later on in life.

3) Minimally Invasive, Rapid Recovery

A tiny, self-sealing incision means no stitches and a fast return to routine. Many patients read their phones the same evening.

4) Comfort for Dry-Eye-Prone Patients

If you struggle with dryness, ICL avoids corneal surface disruption. (See Dry Eyes for guidance on symptoms and treatments.)

At a glance

• Corrects high prescriptions beyond typical laser limits

• Reversible, tissue-sparing approach

• Fast recovery and minimal downtime

• An option for those not suitable for laser eye surgery.

• The ICl has built-in UV protection

Potential Risks and Aftercare

Every eye procedure carries some risk; however, complications with modern ICLs are uncommon in suitable candidates treated by experienced surgeons.

Possible, usually temporary side effects:

• Glare or halos at night, while the eye settles.

• Light sensitivity or mild discomfort in the first days.
   
• Pressure changes (intraocular pressure) are  monitored and treated if needed

• Residual refractive error (occasionally requiring enhancement).

Other risks:

• Infection rates after ICL implantation are very low (approximately 1 in 6000).
• All patients with high levels of short-sightedness have a higher risk of retinal detachment. This risk is not thought to be increased by ICL implantation, which does not involve surgery to the back compartment of the eye. In the United States population, the annual risk of retinal detachment among individuals with myopia greater than −3.1 D has been reported to be approximately 117 in 100,000, with a lifetime risk of 9.3% (Burton, 1989; Haarman et al., 2020).
• Advanced formulae are used to size ICL implants. Occasionally, the size prediction can be incorrect, and in approximately 1 case in 40, the ICL needs to be replaced with a lens of a different size in order to get the best fit in the eye, or a minor rotation of the position of an ICL implant is needed to optimise the correction of astigmatism. 

Aftercare essentials:

• Antibiotic and anti-inflammatory drops for 4 weeks.

• Avoid swimming, eye makeup, and heavy exercise for ~2 weeks.

• Attend scheduled follow-ups at Moorfields Private for safe, steady progress.

Am I a Candidate for ICL?

You may be a strong candidate if you:

• Typically 21-60 with a stable prescription.

• Have high myopia with/without astigmatism.

• Have thin corneas or a tendency to dry eye.

• Want a reversible correction and quick recovery.

You may be guided to alternatives if you have certain corneal or internal eye conditions. That’s why the pre-operative assessment is crucial.

Get personalised advice: Book a Consultation with Mr Alex Day.

ICL vs Lens Replacement: Which is Right for You?

Lens-based options sit on a spectrum. ICL keeps your natural lens. Lens Replacement (RLE) replaces it with an artificial intraocular lens, useful for those in their 50s and over who want to address presbyopia and not need future cataract surgery.

Quick comparison

Learn more: Laser vs Lens Replacement and Cataracts Treatment in London.

A Story of Clarity: Life Beyond Glasses

Imagine tomorrow without the fog. No more slipping frames at the gym. No more “contact lens roulette” at midnight. With ICL, patients often describe a quiet confidence: waking up, opening their eyes, and seeing. Not hunting for glasses on the bedside table, just living.

That’s the promise of ICL in the right hands: precision, predictability, and everyday freedom.

Your next clear step starts here. Book Your Consultation | Call 020 7100 5468 | WhatsApp the team

FAQs (Top SEO Questions)

1) What’s the difference between ICL and LASIK?

ICL is implantable and reversible; LASIK permanently reshapes the cornea. ICL suits higher prescriptions, thin corneas, and dry-eye-prone patients.

2) Can ICL correct astigmatism?

Yes. Toric ICLs are designed to correct myopia and astigmatism.

3) How long do ICLs last?

They are intended to be long-term. If your vision changes significantly later in life, the lens can be exchanged or removed.

4) Is ICL surgery painful?

No. It’s performed with local anaesthetic; most patients report only mild pressure and a quick recovery.

5) When can I drive or return to work?

Many patients return to normal activities within a couple of days, subject to your surgeon’s advice and legal driving standards.

References

1. Burton TC. The influence of refractive error and lattice degeneration on the incidence of retinal detachment. Trans Am Ophthalmol Soc. 1989;87:143–55; discussion 155-7.

2. Haarman AEG, Enthoven CA, Tideman JWL, Tedja MS, Verhoeven VJM, Klaver CCW. The complications of myopia: a review and meta-analysis. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2020;61(4):49. doi:10.1167/iovs.61.4.4919.

Clinic details:
Moorfields Private, West London, 50–52 New Cavendish Street, London W1G 8TL
Moorfields Private City, 162 City Road, London EC1V 2PD
📞 020 7100 5468 | 💬 WhatsApp | 📅 Book