About EVO
EVO, also known as the Implantable Collamer® Lens, is a type of refractive procedure to help correct common visual problems, like myopia and astigmatism.
Simply put, our procedure can be described as additive vision correction. Unlike other procedures, the EVO procedure does not remove corneal tissue, but works in harmony with your natural eyes.
99%
Satisfaction rate.¹
1,000,000+
Procedures completed around the world.
In Harmony
With Your Natural Eye.
The Visian ICL Difference
When you compare Visian ICL with other vision correction procedures like LASIK or PRK, the difference is clear.
No Dry Eye Syndrome
Only Visian ICL’s proprietary lenses are made of biocompatible Collamer. That means our lens material works in harmony with the natural chemistry of your eye and body. Our ability to utilize materials your eye accepts while not reshaping your cornea means we can minimize unnatural causes of dry eye syndrome.2
A Removable Option
We describe our implant process as an additive corrective procedure. Our procedure adds a corrective lens to correct nearsightedness. That means that should your prescription update or if other vision needs arise, if you and your doctor decide, your doctor can simply remove our lens.
Quick Procedure & Recovery
The Visian ICL procedure has been refined down to a quick and comfortable process. Most procedures are completed within 20-30 minutes or less. With a minimally invasive procedure, many achieve improved vision nearly immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Implantable Collamer Lens for Nearsightedness is a refractive lens also known as a phakic IOL. “Phakic” meaning that the natural lens of the eye is in place, and “IOL” meaning intraocular lens, or a lens inside the eye. The Visian ICL is a posterior chamber implant that is situated through a small incision in the eye behind the iris (the colored part of the eye), and in front of the natural crystalline lens in order to improve your nearsightedness.
The Visian ICL is designed for the correction of moderate to high nearsightedness (-3.0 to –15.0 diopters (D)), and the reduction of nearsightedness in patients with up to -20 diopters (D) and treatment of astigmatism from 1.0 D to 4.0 D. It is indicated for patients who are at least 21 years of age. In order to be sure that your surgeon will use an Visian ICL with the most adequate power for your eye, your nearsightedness should be stable for at least a year before undergoing eye surgery.
The Visian ICL represents an alternative to other refractive surgeries including laser assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK), photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), incisional surgeries, or other means to correct myopia such as contact lenses and eye glasses.
Patients who are pregnant and nursing and patients with a narrow angle in the front chamber of their eye, because in this case the space for the Visian ICL would be too small. The patient education booklet provides an additional list of conditions that should be taken into consideration when making a decision about the Visian ICL.
The key benefit of Visian ICL surgery is the permanent correction or reduction of your nearsightedness allowing you to see clearly at long distances without eyeglasses or contact lenses or reduce your dependence upon them. In addition to the improvement of your uncorrrected vision (vision without eyeglasses or contact lenses), your best corrected vision (best vision with contact lenses/eye glasses) may be improved.
The material is called Collamer®, a collagen co-polymer that contains a small amount of purified collagen which is proprietary to STAAR Surgical; the remainder is made of a similar material to that found in soft contact lenses. It is very biocompatible (does not cause a reaction inside the eye) and stable. It also contains an ultraviolet light filter.
Prior to being placed on the market, the Visian ICL was subject to extensive research and development. Today, more than 1,000,000 lenses have been implanted worldwide. In a US clinical study, over 99 percent of patients were satisfied with their implant. The Visian ICL has a track record of excellent clinical outcomes. Additionally, the lens has been available internationally for over 15 years.
The Visian ICL is intended to remain in place without maintenance. The Visian ICL can be removed by your eye care professional if needed in the future. If your physician removes the Visian ICL, you will lose the benefit of your nearsightedness correction.
No. The Visian ICL is positioned behind the iris (the colored part of the eye), where it is invisible to both you and others. Only your eye care practitioner will be able to tell that vision correction has taken place.
The Visian ICL is not typically noticeable after it is implanted. It does not attach to any structures within the eye and does not move around once in place.
If you are a potential Visian ICL candidate who is interested in obtaining further Visian ICL information, you should contact a qualified Visian ICL surgeon. Physicians should contact STAAR Surgical Company, the maker of the Visian ICL, to learn more.
The Visian ICL surgery is performed on an outpatient basis which means that the patient has surgery and leaves the same day. The procedure itself usually takes 20-30 minutes or less. The patient will need someone to drive them home on surgery day. A light, topical or local anesthetic is administered. There is very little discomfort during or after surgery. Some eye drops or medication may be prescribed and a visit with your eye care professional is usually scheduled the day after surgery.
Early complications reported the first week after Visian ICL surgery include: Visian ICL removal and reinsertion at the time of initial surgery, shallowness of the front chamber of the eye that can create an increase of the pressure into your eye and may necessitate a peripheral iridectomy (a procedure where a small hole is placed in iris (colored part of eye) using a laser called “YAG laser), temporary corneal swelling (edema) and transient inflammation in the eye or iritis. Complications after 1 week include: increase in astigmatism, loss of best corrected vision, clouding of the Crystalline lens (cataract), loss of cells from the back surface of the cornea responsible for the cornea remaining clear (endothelial cell loss), increase in eye pressure, iris prolapse, cloudy areas on the crystalline lens that may or may not cause visual symptoms (crystalline lens opacities), macular hemorrhage, subretinal hemorrhage, retinal detachment, secondary Visian ICL related surgeries (replacements, repositionings, removals, removals with cataract extraction), too much or too little nearsightedness correction, and additional YAG iridotomy necessary.
Potential complications for refractive surgery in general include: irritation of the conjunctiva (white part of eye), corneal swelling (outer layer of eye), eye infection, significant glare and/or halos around lights, blood/pus in the eye, lens dislocation, macular edema, (swelling in back of the eye), non-reactive pupil, pupillary block glaucoma resulting in raised eye pressure, irritation of the iris (colored part of the eye), severe inflammation of the eye and loss of the vitreous (gel in back of eye). You should carefully review all benefits and risks of Visian ICL surgery with your eye care professional before making a decision about the Visian ICL.
Follow all of your eye care professional’s instructions before and after implantation of the Visian ICL. Take any prescribed medication and schedule all recommended follow-up visits with your eye care professional, usually on an annual basis after the healing of the Visian ICL surgery. Contact your eye care professional immediately if you should experience a problem.
Important Safety Information
It is important to consider that EVO Visian® Implantable Collamer Lenses (ICL) are approved by the local health authority, which means they have been determined to be safe and effective. As with any procedure, there are risks to consider. If you have any questions or concerns it is always best to speak with a certified EVO Visian® Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL) doctor. The EVO Visian ICL family of lenses include EVO Visian ICL, EVO Visian Toric ICL, EVO+ Visian ICL, and EVO+ Visian Toric ICL and are designed for the correction/reduction of low to high myopia (-0.5 to -20.0 diopters (D)) and the correction/reduction of myopia in patients with up to -20 D of myopia with less than or equal to 6.0 D of astigmatism. The EVO Visian ICL family is indicated for use in phakic eye treatment and for: The correction/reduction of myopia in adults 21 – 60 years of age with power ranging from -0.5 D to -20.0 D at the spectacle plane. With an anterior chamber depth (ACD) equal to or greater than 3.0 mm, as measured from the corneal endothelium to the anterior lens capsule. This extended age range covering over 45 to 60 years of age only applies to the myopic EVO Visian ICL family, and only in countries covered by the jurisdiction of the EU Notified Bodies where the CE Mark is recognised (i.e., the EU, EEA, and EFTA). The EVO Visian ICL family of products currently in inventory do not have the updated Directions For Use (DFU) with this new wording yet, but it will be incorporated over time. EVO Visian ICL surgery does not eliminate the need for reading glasses, even if you have never worn them before. The EVO Visian ICL represents an alternative to other refractive surgeries including, laser assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK), photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), incisional surgeries, or other means to correct myopia such as contact lenses and eye glasses. The EVO Visian Toric ICL is intended to correct or reduce astigmatism (up to 6.0 D) you may have (the EVO Visian ICL is not intended to treat your astigmatism). Implantation of an EVO Visian ICL is a surgical procedure, and as such, carries potentially serious risks. The following represent potential complications/adverse reactions reported in conjunction with refractive surgery in general: additional surgeries, cataract formation, loss of best corrected vision, raised pressure inside the eye, loss of cells on the innermost surface of the cornea, conjunctival irritation, acute corneal swelling, persistent corneal swelling, endophthalmitis (total eye infection), significant glare and/or halos around lights, hyphaema (blood in the eye), hypopyon (pus in the eye), eye infection, Visian ICL dislocation, macular oedema, non-reactive pupil, pupillary block glaucoma, severe inflammation of the eye, iritis, uveitis, vitreous loss and corneal transplant. Before considering EVO Visian ICL surgery you should have a complete eye examination and talk with your eye care professional about EVO Visian ICL surgery, especially the potential benefits, risks and complications. You should discuss the time needed for healing after surgery.