ICL
Intraocular Contact Lens
Considering ICL Surgery?
Discover a Safer, Non-Invasive Option at Park Avenue LASEK
Are you thinking about ICL (Implantable Contact Lens) surgery to correct your vision? At Park Avenue LASEK, we understand why ICL can be an attractive option for vision correction, especially for those who have been told they’re not candidates for LASIK. However, before making a decision, we invite you to explore LASEK, a safer, non-invasive alternative that offers significant advantages compared to ICL surgery.
Understanding ICL and LASEK: How Do They Compare?
ICL (Implantable Contact Lens) is a procedure that involves surgically placing a piece of plastic inside the eye, in the “potential space” between the natural lens and iris. While ICL can effectively treat extreme prescriptions, it involves using a diamond-tipped blade to cut deep into the eye, which makes is less safe than the LASEK laser procedure..
LASEK (Laser-Assisted Sub-Epithelial Keratectomy), which was co-invented by Dr. Chynn when he was on the teaching faculty at Harvard, in contrast, uses a non-invasive, laser that does not require any cutting, nor implanting a piece of plastic permanently inside your body. This approach significantly reduces potential risks compared to ICL.
Why LASEK is Safer than ICL:
- No Implants — Unlike ICL, LASEK does not require surgically placing a piece of plastic permanently into your eye, making it better for people who don’t want a “foreign body” inside their eyeball for the rest of their lives.
- Less Risk of Infection — If you get an infection during ICL, there is a low but non-zero chance that you could go blind or lose your eye. This risk is zero with LASEK, because any infection would be on the exterior of your cornea–not deep within your eyeball.
- No risk of causing cataracts — During insertion of the lens during ICL, there’s a small risk the surgeon touches your natural lens with his forceps or the piece of plastic he’s inserting, which can cause a premature cataract, loss of vision, and the need for more extensive and invasive cataract surgery.
- No risk of causing bleeding in the eye — During insertion of the lens during ICL, or afterwards if the piece of plastic that’s implanted rubs against your iris, the blood vessels behind your iris can be torn, causing bleeding and loss of vision, which would require emergency surgery to remove the ICL. This risk in LASEK is zero, because LASEK is only on the surface of your cornea, not deep within your eye.
- No risk of causing holes in the iris — Months or years after ICL insertion, if the piece of plastic that was implanted behind your iris starts to chafe the iris as it dilates and constricts with changing illumination, the pigment of the iris can get rubbed off, causing a “moth eaten” appearance to your iris, which would be cosmetically detrimental. This would also require explanting the ICL, plus further complex surgery to repair the iris.
- No risk of causing glaucoma — If the above complication occurs and the plastic lens that’s inserted in ICL causes the pigment of the iris to be rubbed off, those pigment granules can get stuck in the drainage apparatus of your eye, causing glaucoma. Again, this would require further surgery to remove the ICL, plus treatment for glaucoma.
The ONLY advantage of ICL over LASEK is that visual recovery is faster with ICL (1-2 days) than with LASEK for extreme prescriptions (4-5 days).
LASEK is also substantially more affordable than ICL (several thousand dollars less, because you don’t have to have it in a “full OR”, you can safely have the less invasive LASEK in an ASC (Ambulatory Service Center), so you don’t have to pay thousands of dollars for an anesthesiologist.
Is LASEK Right for You?
We understand that everyone’s eyes are different, and what works for one person may not be the best choice for another. If you’ve been considering ICL because of a high prescription or thin corneas, LASEK may still a safer alternative. Call us to schedule a Second Opinion with one of our two eye surgeons—you can even request to be seen by Dr. Chynn himself!
Your Vision, Your Choice
ICL surgery is an effective solution for extreme prescriptions, but it is important to weigh all available options before proceeding with an expensive, invasive intraocular procedure. LASEK offers a safer, more affordable, non-invasive path to clear vision, without the risks associated with having a foreign object (the plastic lens) in your eye forever.
Book a LASEK Consultation to Explore Your Options
We offer consultations for those considering ICL, LASIK, PRK, Smile, or other vision correction procedures, so you can make the best decision for your eyes. During your consultation, we’ll assess your individual needs, explain the benefits of LASEK, and help you determine if this non-invasive alternative is right for you.
Contact Us Today: Call us at (212) 741-8628 or fill out our online form to schedule your consultation. We accept all major medical and vision insurance plans, making it easier for you to access the care you need.
Why Choose Us
Most Experienced Eye Surgeon In The US
100% Non-Cutting with No Flap Complications
LASEK is the most modern way to perform laser vision correction. Because it’s 100% non-cutting and 100% non-invasive, it’s 10x safer than LASIK. Dr. Chynn is the only surgeon in the world who has LASIK in one eye & LASEK in the other.
Medical & Vision
Insurance Accepted
Park Avenue LASEK is the only LASIK, LASEK, PRK and SMILE provider in NY, NJ, CT or PA who is authorized for all major medical insurance plans including GHI, Oxford, Cigna, BCBS, Emblem, Empire, Medicare, and Oscar (among others), as well as all major vision insurance plans, including VSP and EyeMed.
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Have Questions? Call our Office! (212) 741-8628
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102 E 25th St, New York, NY 10010
