Implantable Collamer Lens Specialist

IC Laser Eye Care

Ophthalmology & Eye Surgery Center located in Philadelphia, PA, Bensalem, PA, & Hamilton, NJ

If you have serious myopia (nearsightedness) and you’re not a good candidate for LASIK surgery, that doesn’t necessarily mean you have to wear glasses or contacts forever. At IC Laser Eye Care, the dedicated ophthalmic specialists offer implantable collamer lenses that can correct or greatly improve your vision, much like the results from refractive surgery. Call any of the three locations in Bensalem and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Hamilton, New Jersey to arrange your consultation now.

Implantable Collamer Lens Q&A

What is an implantable collamer lens?

An implantable collamer lens, also known as a phakic intraocular lens, corrects or significantly reduces nearsightedness (myopia). 

Patients who undergo cataract removal surgery get an intraocular lens, but an implantable collamer lens is different because it goes on top of your existing eye lens rather than replacing it. 

The IC Laser Eye Care team offers implantable collamer lenses because they’re a safe, reliable way to improve your vision if you’re looking for a LASIK alternative.


Am I a good candidate for an implantable collamer lens?

Implantable collamer lenses are best for patients who meet the following qualifications: 

  • Moderate to severe myopia
  • Not a candidate for LASIK
  • Thin corneas
  • Large pupils
  • History of dry eyes 

Many men and women who get implantable collamer lenses do so because they want long-term vision correction but aren't eligible for laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). Implantable collamer lenses can give you all the benefits of LASIK and, just like LASIK, it's an outpatient procedure. 


How much can an implantable collamer lens improve my vision?

It depends on how severe your myopia is. If you have myopia ranging from minus 3 to minus 15 diopters, an implantable collamer lens can completely correct your vision. You typically won't need eyeglasses or contact lenses for myopia following the procedure. 

If you have myopia ranging from minus 16 to minus 20 diopters, an implantable collamer lens can significantly reduce your myopia, so you can be less reliant on corrective lenses or wear a lesser-strength prescription. 


How does implantable collamer lens surgery work?

Your IC Laser Eye Care surgeon numbs your eye using a mild, topical, or local anesthetic, making the procedure painless. They create two tiny openings in your iris, two side port incisions, and one primary temporal incision. 

Your surgeon then places the implantable collamer lens through the primary temporal incision and moves it behind your iris. It sits in front of your natural lens. 

After your procedure, you may need prescription eye drops and/or oral medication to use at home. Your follow-up visit typically happens the next day. 

IC Laser Eye Care can help you see better with today’s most advanced implantable collamer lenses. Call the office located nearest you to book your consultation now.