Extra lens implant
Nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism can be corrected by inserting an extra lens in front of your natural lens. With this procedure, you can see clearly again without glasses or contact lenses.
In this procedure, we implant an extra lens in your eye, without treating or removing your own lens. The new lens, known as an Implantable Contact Lens (ICL), or when your eye has a cylindrical divergence, a Toric Implantable Contact Lens (TICL), creates a sort of dome over your natural lens. The extra lenses are not visible to you or anyone else and are very well tolerated.
When are you eligible for an extra lens implant?
- Vision specifications
Nearsightedness (from -0.5 to -20 dioptres), farsightedness (from +0.5 to +10.0 dioptres) or astigmatism (from 0.5 to 6.0 dioptres) can be corrected with an extra lens implant.
The implant of an ICL or TICL offers an effective and safe alternative for patients who are not eligible for laser treatment, for example if the correction needed is too high or if the cornea is too thin or irregular.
- Age
- Recent intake examination
We’re happy to help!
At Oogcentrum Brugge, we are committed to giving you a clear view of the world! Would you like to experience life without the nuisance of glasses or contact lenses? If so, consider an extra lens implant. Our dedicated team is here to support you through each step and to answer all your questions. Discover the various options we offer and look with renewed confidence towards the future.
- After your intake exam, the lenses will be custom-made for your eyes. When your eyes have a cylindrical divergence, we will opt for a toric lens.
- Three days before the procedure, you will need to apply some preparatory eye drops at home.
- When you arrive at our centre, we start with a few administrative tasks. Next, you will get some eye drops in order to dilate your pupil. This takes about 45 minutes, providing the ideal opportunity to relax with a book or a cool drink.
- Once your pupils are sufficiently dilated, we will accompany you to the operating room. There, your eyes will be anaesthetised with drops and carefully disinfected.
- While you lie back comfortably, we will insert the artificial lens via a small incision in your eye. After inserting the artificial lens, it will automatically take on the right shape.
- The procedure takes fifteen minutes per eye and is nearly painless.
The price of an extra lens implant varies, depending on various individual factors. We consider it important to make a personal price calculation for each patient. For an overview of our fees, please go to the fees page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are lens implants and how does a lens implant work?
A lens implant, or ICL, is an additional lens that we place between the iris and your own natural eye lens. Your own lens stays completely in place. Through an opening of 2.2 mm, the folded lens is inserted into the eye, after which it unfolds automatically. The body does not reject the lens, because the flexible material is considered the body’s own.
Is a lens implant possible with dry eyes and from what age can a lens implantation be performed?
Certainly. Precisely when laser eye surgery is not advisable, for example with dry eyes or a cornea that is too thin, a lens implant often offers an excellent solution. Your natural eye lens is fully preserved. The minimum age for this procedure is 18.
Is it better to choose laser eye surgery or a lens implantation?
That depends on the characteristics of your eyes. A lens implantation is considered when laser eye surgery is not possible, for example with a cornea that is too thin or with dry eyes. The advantage of an ICL is that your natural eye lens remains untouched. Which approach is right for you will become clear from an extensive preliminary examination of about two hours.
How much does a lens implantation cost and is the operation painful?
The procedure is completely painless and takes around ten minutes per eye. We use local anaesthesia in drop form; no needles are involved. Any follow-up treatment in the first year is covered by the guarantee. Health insurance funds and hospitalisation insurance policies may reimburse the treatment partially or in full.
What should you avoid after a lens implantation and what is the recovery like?
One day after the procedure, your visual acuity has usually already recovered to 80%. Reading, watching TV and light work are possible right away. For at least three weeks, do not touch your eyes, do not wear make-up and do not lift anything heavy. Swimming and sauna visits are also not allowed during that period. Avoid contact sports for a full month.