강남 닥터ICL안과의원 - 강남안과,렌즈삽입술,안내렌즈삽입술

Yes. ICL lens implantation surgery is available for almost anyone aged 18 to about 50. Even in cases of severe corneal dryness, keratoconus, or Avellino corneal dystrophy, ICL surgery can serve as an alternative to glasses. However, in rare cases where the space inside the eye is extremely narrow, the surgery may be challenging. Dr. ICL Ophthalmology provides an accurate assessment of ICL surgery eligibility based on precise diagnostic equipment optimized for lens implantation and the expertise of medical professionals who have performed over 10,000 ICL procedures.

The diopter range for myopia correction with ICL lenses is very broad, from -0.5 diopters (D) to -18.0D, making it suitable for most eyes, from mild to extremely high myopia. Several studies have reported that the visual outcomes of ICL surgery are better than laser surgery, especially for high myopia, leading to its preference in these cases. As a result, ICL has often been perceived as a procedure solely for high myopia. However, there has recently been an increase in people with relatively mild myopia who are also interested in ICL surgery. This trend is partly due to recent updates, such as the World Health Organization (WHO) revising the definition of high myopia from -6D to -5D, and the Japanese Ophthalmological Society expanding the guidelines for refractive correction surgery indications from the previous -6D threshold to -3D (Ohashi Yuichi, Kinoshita Shigeru, and Sawa Mitsuru: Refractive Correction Surgery Guidelines, 7th Edition, 2019). Additionally, some patients who underwent LASIK over a decade ago and have since experienced vision regression now prefer lens implantation over a second LASIK procedure, as it presents a much lower risk of corneal complications.

Typically, during the pre-surgery detailed examination process, you can get a preview, but at Dr. ICL Ophthalmology, we use a special device called iTrace, a vision function simulator, to analytically assess post-surgery vision. Furthermore, our specialists, who have performed over 10,000 ICL surgeries, can suggest post-surgery vision tailored to each patient's lifestyle, ensuring that you can have the surgery with the most suitable lens, so you can feel at ease.

The phenomenon of vision deterioration over time after LASIK has been reported in numerous academic papers (Yan MK Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 46(8):934-944, 2018; Moshirfar M Med Hypothesis Discov Innov Ophthalmol. 7(1):1-9, 2018; Ikeda T, Biomed Res Int. 2017;2017; Moshirfar M J Refract Surg. 33(2):116-127, 2017; Pokroy R J Cataract Refract Surg. 42(10):1408-1414, 2016). For those who do not have sufficient corneal thickness for re-surgery or do not wish to undergo re-surgery, ICL surgery can help restore vision.

The total time required for the pre-surgery examination, including the preliminary questionnaire, detailed tests, examination by an ophthalmologist, and one-on-one consultation with an ICL specialist, is approximately 2 hours.

For an accurate pre-surgery examination, please discontinue soft contact lenses for 3 days prior to the examination and hard contact lenses for 2 weeks prior. On the day of the examination, you may wear eye makeup, but please understand that you will need to remove it before the tests. Since dilation tests will be performed, it is advisable not to drive yourself. There are no specific restrictions on alcohol consumption the night before the pre-surgery examination, but some level of condition management is necessary.

If you comply with the contact lens restrictions during your first visit, it is possible to have the second examination in the morning and receive your ordered lenses in the afternoon, allowing for same-day surgery. However, there is no reason to rush into same-day surgery if the examination results are unstable and your eye condition is not good. Dr. ICL Ophthalmology determines the best timing for surgery based on the opinions of an experienced optometry team and medical professionals specializing in ICL.

After the two examinations (the first eligibility examination and the second examination for determining the ICL lens prescription), there are no restrictions on wearing contact lenses until the day before the surgery. However, starting the day before the surgery, you must stop wearing contact lenses as you will need to start administering pre-surgery eye drops.

The timing for undergoing ICL surgery after double eyelid surgery depends on the method used, but it is generally possible after about one month. In the case of the buried suture method, the examination can be done 1 to 2 weeks post-surgery. However, due to the eyelid fixation device used during ICL surgery, there is a risk that the sutures may come undone, so I would recommend waiting a month for the ICL surgery. Additionally, with the incision method, there may be significant dry eye symptoms and inaccurate examination results during the initial recovery period when the eyelids are swollen or do not fully close. Therefore, even if it takes more than a month, it is safer to monitor the recovery before deciding on the examination and surgery timing. Conversely, if you choose to undergo ICL surgery first, double eyelid surgery can be performed about 2 weeks later.

Dry eye syndrome typically worsens for a certain period after LASIK surgery, but it is generally reported to return to its original state after a few months. In comparison to LASIK, which creates a corneal wound with a diameter of 7-8 mm (approximately 24 mm in circumference) at the center of the cornea, ICL surgery creates a 3 mm wound at the periphery of the cornea, resulting in a much lower risk of exacerbating dry eye symptoms. In particular, Dr. Lee Dong-hoon at Dr. ICL Ophthalmology employs a surgical technique that creates a non-sutured micro incision of only 2.8 mm, which is smaller than typical ICL surgery, at the conjunctival area where healing occurs much more quickly, aiming to minimize the risk of dry eye syndrome. Of course, for individuals who already have dry eye syndrome before surgery, it is advisable to continue using artificial tears consistently after the procedure.

While traditional ICL for myopia correction cannot treat presbyopia, the EVO Viva ICL, which provides simultaneous correction for both distance and near vision, can treat both myopia and presbyopia.

ICL not only treats astigmatism but also provides superior correction effects for high astigmatism compared to glasses or contact lenses. In cases of high astigmatism, when all the astigmatism correction is added to the glasses, it often causes dizziness, and if less is added, the vision remains unclear, leading to a frustrating situation. In contrast, Dr. ICL Ophthalmology aims for complete correction by identifying hidden latent astigmatism through precise examinations (cycloplegic refraction tests). Even after complete correction of astigmatism, there is no dizziness caused by the distortion of images seen through glasses, known as vertex distance (the distance between the back curvature of the glasses lens and the user’s eye), and the field of vision is significantly wider. As a result, you can experience an upgraded level of vision compared to when wearing glasses.

In the past, with older ICL models that lacked holes, there was a possibility of increased intraocular pressure after surgery, which might require additional measures. However, since the upgrade to the current EVO+ ICL, intraocular pressure rarely rises after surgery. Therefore, it is not the case that ICL surgery is strictly contraindicated. Even during glaucoma treatment, if the visual field loss is mild and intraocular pressure is well controlled, ICL surgery may still be possible. However, vision correction surgery in patients with glaucoma should be approached with caution and thorough consideration. At Dr. ICL Ophthalmology, we refer patients to glaucoma specialists at our affiliated hospitals, Seoul National University Hospital and Samsung Medical Center, and proceed with the surgery only after receiving approval via a medical consultation letter.

The first ICL model was used in 1986, and as of 2023, it has been 37 years. The current Collamer material has been in use since 1993, marking 30 years. Globally, over 2 million ICL surgeries have been performed, and in South Korea, ICL prescriptions have been available since 2002, accumulating a history of 20 years and over 250,000 surgeries. Therefore, there is no particular reason to worry about the long-term clinical results. However, even if there is no discomfort after surgery, it is important not to be indifferent; just as maintaining health is crucial during healthy times, we recommend regular eye examinations every year. This is essential not only for the early detection and treatment of potential complications but also for the risks associated with high myopia, which can lead to optic nerve or retinal diseases, regardless of whether one only wears glasses. At Dr. ICL Ophthalmology, we provide precise examinations using advanced diagnostic equipment optimized for lens implantation, not only for those who have undergone surgery at our facility but also for individuals who have had ICL surgery elsewhere and wish to receive regular check-ups.