Our SHARPEVISION Seattle-Bellevue team of eye experts is bringing the the newest Implantable Contact Lenses (ICL) paired with the most modern technology and techniques to everyone. The EVO ICL is now approved for use by the FDA! SHARPEVISION was one of the first clinics to offer this advanced lens, and Dr. Sharpe has performed the most EVO ICL procedures in the PNW!
ICL stands for implantable collamer lens. The EVO ICL™ is made of collamer, which works in harmony with your natural eye and is implanted into the eye to correct moderate to severe nearsightedness, with or without astigmatism. The EVO ICL is an advanced vision-correction option that is growing in popularity with more than 2 million lenses implanted worldwide since it was approved in 2022, with a 99.4% satisfaction rate.
If you are 21 or older and nearsighted, you may be a candidate for the EVO ICL. This procedure is able to treat a range of patients from low to extremely high refractive errors (-3 to -16 diopters) and is especially beneficial to those with thin corneas or who do not think they are a candidate for LASIK. It is preferable that the patient has not undergone any ophthalmic surgery and does not have a history of eye disease such as iritis, glaucoma, or diabetic retinopathy. We always perform a complete eye examination as part of our free vision consultation to determine the best vision-correction option for you.
The EVO ICL (Implantable Collamer Lens) is made of 100% biocompatible collagen copolymer that provides UV protection and permanent vision correction. Additionally, the EVO ICL procedure does not permanently alter the shape of your cornea. There is no maintenance associated with the lens, and it is intended to remain in place as long as you are satisfied with your vision. If for any reason it needed to be removed, it can be for added peace of mind. The EVO ICL procedure is an outpatient procedure that generally takes 15 minutes per eye. Prior to the procedure you will receive numbing drops. We will create a painless, small opening to insert the folded lens into the eye. Once the lens is inside the eye, it unfolds, is positioned, and the procedure is complete. Patients usually experience an immediate improvement in vision, although the vision will improve for days to weeks afterward.
The EVO ICL is positioned behind the iris (the colored part of the eye) where it is invisible to both you and others. It’s designed to be completely inert after it is implanted. It stays in position by itself and does not interact with any of the structures of the eye, so you are not aware that it’s there except that you see clearly without glasses or contacts. The EVO ICL received approval from the FDA in 2022 for a wide range of myopic (nearsightedness) and astigmatism correction needs. Although the lens is intended to remain in place permanently, a surgeon can remove it for added peace of mind. And because your cornea is in its natural state, you’re able to pursue other vision-correction options in the future.
A comprehensive, dilated examination is the only way to know which vision-correction procedure is best for you. We do this at no charge because we believe so strongly in giving patients all the information necessary to make the right treatment choice. While your exam involves comprehensive diagnostic testing, it is also our opportunity to learn more about you, your expectations, and your lifestyle. All of these factors play an important role in recommending the best procedure for you:
The complete exam can take up to 90 minutes. After all the data is collected, our doctor will examine you, discuss the treatment recommendation, and answer any questions you have. Your visit will include dilation of your pupils, which will affect your eyesight for about 4-6 hours, as you may have experienced with a routine eye exam.
In preparation for the EVO ICL, a separate appointment is scheduled to accomplish two main objectives: We carefully repeat the refraction, or measurements of your prescription, after your contacts have been out of your eyes for the prescribed amount of time and without any drops in your eyes, so that we get the most accurate lens for your eye. We also measure the diameter of your cornea with a highly sensitive machine.
On the day of your procedure, we will instill many medicated drops in your eyes to prepare you for the implant. The implant itself takes less than 10 minutes per eye, with about 20 minutes between eyes to prep the operating room. The procedure is painless, although most people are initially uncomfortable with the bright light of the microscope. There is also numbing medicine that will sting for about ten seconds until it takes effect. Your surgeon will let you know what you’ll see and feel. Your vision will be very blurry and foggy after the procedure due to the many drops, surgery, and bright lights.
We will need to check the pressure in your eyes about two hours after completion of your ICL surgery. You are welcome to stay in the office or leave and return after two hours. We will review the medications and plan on seeing you the following day. You may experience some mild grittiness, but not pain. The following day, your vision will be much better but still somewhat foggy, and maybe mildly scratchy.
If you are 21 years of age or older and nearsighted or have been told you are not a candidate for LASIK, you may be a candidate for the EVO ICL. There are some conditions that exclude certain patients. Take the quiz to see if ICL is right for you.
Dr. Sharpe is the lead refractive surgeon in Seattle-Bellevue & Chicago and the founder of SharpeVision MODERN LASIK and LENS. He has performed over 100,000 laser vision correction surgeries to date.
Meet Dr. Matthew Sharpe
Dr. Barker treats patients at SharpeVision Modern LASIK & LENS Seattle-Bellevue and Chicago. He specializes in refractive surgery as well as premium cataract surgery and lens replacement. He is the lead Cataract surgeon in Seattle-Bellevue.
Meet Dr. Luke Barker
Dr. Balani is the Head of Optometry at SharpeVision Modern LASIK & LENS. She brings tremendous knowledge and energy to every patient interaction.
Meet Dr. Natasha Balani
Dr. Kim is an Optometrist in Seattle-Bellevue. He brings a wealth of knowledge to his patients from his education and experience on both coasts.
Meet Dr. Alex Kim
No, the laser can’t burn a hole in your eye. But it’s a good question. Find the answers to our most frequently asked questions at SharpeVision. Some of them may surprise you!
Of course there are risks associated with every kind of surgery, and laser vision correction is no exception. To put it in perspective, however, the risk of laser vision correction is significantly less than the risks of wearing contact lenses. Yes, you read that correctly. The conclusion of a 2016 article from the academic journal Ophthalmology stated: “Compared with contact lens wear, current LASIK technology improved ease of night driving, did not significantly increase dry eye symptoms, and resulted in higher levels of satisfaction at 1, 2, and 3 years follow-up.” Price MO et al. Ophthalmology. 2016;123(8):1659-1666.
Most insurance/vision plans do not pay towards LASIK or PRK, but we do honor the discount from EyeMed, VSP, and Davis, so that if you’re a member, your out of pocket expense will be the same. Always check with your insurance carrier or health benefits administrator before coming in for your exam. A few forward-thinking companies are currently paying for some or all of their employees’ LASIK, PRK, and ICL including The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Adaptive Biotech, and Zillow in Seattle.
The most common risk with laser eye surgery is developing blur due to dry eyes or needing more laser, due to residual prescription. Experiencing blur in the first weeks to several months post-operatively is almost always one of two things: dry eyes- which almost everyone has temporarily to some degree and blurs vision intermittently, but is temporary; and residual prescription that will require a little more laser to improve clarity. Less than 2% of all patients in our practice end up needing more laser. The risk of needing more laser increases in our older patients (over 45 years old) and with higher degrees of astigmatism and nearsightedness (over -6 diopters of nearsightedness and over -1.5 diopters of astigmatism). In terms of infection, the risks of laser vision correction are lower than wearing contact lenses. And after the surgery, your chances of infection over you lifetime go down even lower since you are no longer putting contacts in your eyes.
No, not just by looking at your prescription. Your general optometrist measures your prescription and level of astigmatism for glasses and contacts and can refer you to a LASIK provider, but they cannot confirm if you will be a candidate for laser eye surgery. To know if you are a candidate, you need to have a complete eye exam at a LASIK provider. At SharpeVision, we use highly specific equipment to topographically map the surface of your eyes and get multiple prescription measurements, among other things. Our refractive surgeon-trained optometrists will then discuss all the results with you and determine if you are a candidate for LASIK.
