In order to determine your suitability for ICL, you would need to undergo a pre-surgery assessment.
Please note the following:
Tests performed will affect:
Your near vision for about 36 - 48 hours
Your sensitivity to light
It is not advisable for you to drive to the clinic
Bring along a pair of sunglasses
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Pre-ICL assessment takes 5 hours for complete eye tests and thorough discussion on ICL surgery
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To optimise your test results, you need to:
Refrain from wearing soft contact lenses for at least 7 days
Refrain from wearing hard/RGP (rigid gas permeable) contact lenses for at least 2 weeks
Bring your contact lenses along as we need to record your contact lens power
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Detailed tests will be performed during the evaluation:
Subjective refraction: measurement of your eye power
Corneal Topography: measurement of your corneal shape
Corneal Tomography: measurement of your corneal shape and thickness
Corneal Ocular Coherence Tomography: measurement and analysis of your corneal layers
Wavefront assessment: measurement of visual distortions of your cornea and the whole eye
Pupil size in different lighting conditions
Ultrasonic corneal pachymetry: measurement of corneal thickness
Ultrasound anterior segment imaging: measurement of internal dimensions of the eye for ICL sizing
Endothelial cell count
Cycloplegic refraction is performed for ultimate accuracy
A special eyedrop called Cyclogyl/ Cyclopentolate is used to relax your focusing muscles
This takes 1 hour
These eyedrops cause your pupils to dilate and you will have slight blurring of vision and light sensitivity for 36-48 hours
Personally done by Dr Jerry Tan. This is because your refraction is one of the most important tests in our pursuit for visual perfection for you!
In addition, we give you a comprehensive eye check-up including a retinal examination and intraocular eye pressure measurement
For patients over 40 years of age, you may be advised to consider monovision as an option for your vision correction.
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Scheduling of surgery
There has to be an interval of at least 4 to 5 days between the pre-LASIK assessment and the operation.
The effects of our tests results in a larger pupil which reduces the accuracy of centration during the laser treatment.
We do not operate both eyes on the same day
We usually perform LASIK for your second eye a week later
Ensures better safety
Better results for your second eye - the response to treatment of your first eye will determine a final adjustment of treatment to your second eye. Your second eye is usually your dominant and most important eye to be treated.
Patients are advised not to travel for at least 5 to 6 days after each eye operation
There will be a consultation the next day after the operation, 1 week later, 1 month later and finally, 3 months later
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Validity
Your assessment results are valid for 3 months. If there is a delay of up to 9 months, only a small number of tests need to be repeated.
However, if the delay is more than 1 year, you will have to repeat almost all the tests.
How is the Procedure done?
The ICL is implanted in the eye behind the iris and in front of the natural lens.
The procedure takes about 30 minutes per eye and is performed on an outpatient basis, though you will have to make arrangements for someone to accompany you to the hospital.
You have the option to do the procedure under local or general anaesthesia, so the procedure is painless.
An instrument is used to comfortably hold your eyelids open during the procedure.
A small incision is made in the cornea, allowing the ICL to be placed in the eye.
The small incision acts like a self-sealing valve and usually no stitches are necessary.
A temporary shield will be placed over your eye to protect it.
Following surgery, you will require prescription eye drops and oral medication. You will have follow-up visits one day, one week, one month, three and six months following the procedure.
Are there any risks or side effects for ICL?
As per all surgeries, there are risks involved when undergoing ICL:
Glaucoma
Cataract
Intraocular infections
These risks can be minimised by:
Calculating the ICL power and size accurately
Measuring the anterior chamber depth
Operating in sterile conditions
Application of pre-operative and post-operative antibiotics
In hyperopic ICL implantation, creating a bypass hole in the eye for the aqueous fluid to prevent glaucoma is required (laser iridotomy).
Safety, Quality, Care and Concern