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At Gulfcoast Eye Care, we believe life is in the details — and we want you to enjoy every single one. EVO ICL™ is an implant to correct vision, and an excellent choice for those who want to experience life without worrying about glasses or contact lenses.
Find out if you’re a candidate:
EVO ICL™ is a special implantable contact lens that is used to correct common vision issues, particularly myopia (nearsightedness) and astigmatism.
Other vision correction options often involve the removal of corneal tissue — the clear, protective outer layer of your eye — but the EVO ICL™ does not: it is an additive technology that is removable by your doctor. It is made of biocompatible materials including a co-polymer and a small amount of collagen, a protein that helps our skin uphold its structure.
During the procedure, your eye doctor will create a miniscule opening in your cornea, which will then be used to insert and position the implant. The procedure typically takes less than 20 to 30 minutes, and most patients find it is virtually painless with numbing drops.
Recovery time is quick, and patients usually experience improved vision right away. Because the EVO ICL™ is made of biocompatible Collamer® (co-polymer and collagen protein), the implant works in harmony with your eye and its biological material: you won’t notice it’s there.
Firstly, more people are eligible for the implant, including those who may not be candidates for LASIK or other vision correction procedures due to thin corneas. It is an excellent option for those who are nearsighted and potentially have astigmatism. The implant provides clear, sharp vision, UV protection, excellent night vision, and isn’t visible once in place.
The procedure itself is quite short — only 20 to 30 minutes! Recovery time is very quick, and the implant does not cause dry eye syndrome—a potential short-term side effect of other vision correction procedures. The EVO ICL™ is also fully removable and replaceable by your eye doctor!
The cost of an EVO ICL™ procedure can vary depending on your personalized treatment plan. Nearly always, patients spend less in the long run with the EVO ICL™ compared to costs of contacts and glasses over the years. Ask your eye doctor about financing options and payment plans that may be available for your EVO ICL™ procedure.
The EVO ICL™ (Implantable Collamer® Lens) corrects vision without the removal of any corneal tissue, because the lens is painlessly implanted into the eye. It is especially useful for myopia, even severe cases.
LASIK, a very popular option, is a two-step corrective surgery. With LASIK, first a flap is made on the surface of the eye — the cornea — and then the underlying layers are reshaped with a precise excimer laser to correct vision. This can treat myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism.
PRK uses a laser just like LASIK, but without creating a corneal flap. The very top layer of the cornea (the epithelium) is removed in PRK surgery, and then the underlying tissue is reshaped to correct the vision. This is valuable for those whose corneas don’t allow for LASIK.
As long as you meet certain requirements, the EVO ICL™ is well suited to a wide variety of people! If you are aged 21 to 45, nearsighted (with astigmatism or without), and have had a stable prescription for a year, you are a strong candidate.
Please take a look at the chart below: it breaks down the general candidacy guidelines for each of the procedures outlined previously (EVO ICL™, LASIK, PRK). And once you have an idea of what you’re looking for, schedule a consultation — your eye doctor will discuss the necessary measurements needed to evaluate candidacy, and to help you make the right choice based on your unique eyes!
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