A detailed candidacy assessment
- Your age, prescription range, and prescription stability
- Space inside the eye and corneal endothelial cell health
- Eye pressure, retinal health, and existing eye conditions
- Your goals and expectations for daily vision
Jewel City Optometry · Glendale, CA
Implantable Contact Lenses & Visian ICL
Understand a surgical vision correction option before deciding what comes next. Implantable lenses sit inside the eye—not on its surface—and require careful evaluation by an eye surgeon.
Start with a general eye care discussion with Dr. Arlene T. Yepremian, O.D., at Jewel City Optometry. Bring your questions about your prescription, eye health, and alternatives to glasses or removable contacts.
Your appointment request is for optometric care and discussion, not a surgical booking.
Understanding the difference
A lens inside your eye, not a contact you remove
“Implantable contact lens” is a common name for a phakic intraocular lens. A surgeon places the lens inside your eye to correct a refractive error while leaving your natural lens in place.
This is different from cataract surgery, which replaces the natural lens. It is also different from LASIK or PRK, which reshape the cornea.
How the two lens types compare
- Removable contact lenses
- Rest on the surface of your eye. You insert, remove, and replace them according to your prescribed wear schedule.
- Implantable lenses
- Are placed through surgery and designed to remain inside your eye. Removal or replacement requires another procedure, and ongoing eye health checks are essential.
What does “Visian ICL” mean?
Visian ICL is a brand name associated with implantable collamer lenses. “ICL” refers to an implantable collamer lens, a type of phakic lens placed behind the iris—the colored part of your eye—and in front of your natural lens.
You may encounter different ICL model names while researching vision correction. Their approved uses and suitability differ. A qualified eye surgeon must confirm the specific lens, its current availability, and whether it fits your prescription and eye anatomy.
This information explains the terminology; it does not indicate that Jewel City Optometry offers ICL implantation or a particular lens model.
Have questions about your vision correction options?
Begin with your eye health, prescription, and everyday vision needs.
Suitability is about more than your prescription
Implantable lenses can reduce dependence on glasses or contacts for appropriately selected patients. They are sometimes considered when corneal laser surgery is unsuitable, but that alone does not establish candidacy. A qualified surgeon must assess the benefits, risks, and alternatives for your eyes.
Benefits and surgical tradeoffs
The procedure corrects vision without removing corneal tissue. Risks include infection, inflammation, elevated eye pressure, cataract formation, corneal cell loss, and glare or halos. Serious complications can affect vision.
Glasses, contacts, or further treatment may still be needed. A lens that can be surgically removed is not a risk-free or fully reversible procedure.
Alternatives and ongoing care
Compare implantable lenses with glasses, conventional or specialty contacts, and LASIK or PRK when appropriate.
After implantation, follow the surgeon’s postoperative schedule and continue long-term monitoring of eye pressure, lens position, corneal health, and your natural lens. Your eyes can still change over time.
Explore your vision correction options
Make your next step an informed one
Talk with Dr. Arlene T. Yepremian, O.D., about your current vision and the questions you have about implantable lenses. Start with a general eye care appointment at Jewel City Optometry.
839 N Glendale Ave, Glendale, CA 91206