Tossing your glasses and contact lenses away is a dream for many patients. Thanks to modern vision correction options, safe and effective procedures like LASIK and ICL surgery can now correct a wide range of refractive errors and improve vision with lasting results.
Both LASIK and ICL are vision correction procedures designed to help people stop wearing glasses or contact lenses, but they work in different ways. LASIK surgery reshapes the cornea using an excimer laser to correct how light focuses on the retina. ICL eye surgery, on the other hand, involves placing an implantable collamer lens between the iris and the eye’s natural lens, unlike LASIK, which changes the cornea permanently.
Not Sure Which Treatment Is Right For You?
We offer a number of vision correction treatments at our London Clinic.
We can give you a good idea of your suitability over the phone and schedule you for an initial consultation.
What is LASIK Surgery?
LASIK (Laser-Assisted in Situ Keratomileusis) is one of the most popular vision correction treatments in the world. This surgical procedure involves creating a corneal flap, then using a laser to remove corneal tissue and reshape the cornea. It’s effective for correcting refractive errors such as myopia, hyperopia, myopic astigmatism, and presbyopia.
- Recovery time: Fast – most patients notice clearer vision within 24 hours.
- Prescription range: Can correct up to -10 diopters of myopia, though suitability decreases beyond -6 due to corneal thickness requirements.
- Limitations: Not suitable for people with thin corneas, severe myopia, or pre-existing dry eye.
Risks include dry eye, glare, halos, and in rare cases, blurred vision or infection. Still, LASIK remains one of the safest and most effective procedures available for correcting vision when patients are suitable candidates.
Ray-Tracing Guided LASIK is the most advanced LASIK surgery available, and it’s available exclusively at Focus Clinics. It uses a detailed 3D digital model to tailor the laser ablation profile to each eye, delivering remarkably sharp results and fewer side effects.
What is ICL Surgery?
ICL surgery, also known as Implantable Contact Lens surgery, uses a phakic intraocular lens (like the Visian ICL or EVO ICL) to correct vision. The ICL procedure involves inserting the corrective lens between the iris and the natural lens through a very small incision. This is an intraocular surgery, but it’s considered minimally invasive.
Unlike LASIK, the cornea remains untouched, making ICL ideal for people with thin corneas or severe myopia (up to -18 diopters). Toric ICLs are also available to correct astigmatism.
Benefits of ICL:
- Reversible procedure – the lens can be removed or replaced if needed.
- Suitable for those with dry eye or thin corneas.
- Can offer UV protection and often provides better night vision than traditional LASIK.
- Can correct severe nearsightedness and some forms of visual defect that LASIK cannot.
- May reduce the need for strong glasses in high prescriptions.
Considerations:
- In rare cases, it can increase the risk of cataracts, though modern designs are far safer.
- Recovery time is slightly longer than LASIK (about 1–2 weeks for complete clarity).
- The cost is higher due to the cost of ICL lenses.
- Being an intraocular procedure, it carries a slightly higher infection risk than LASIK.
ICL vs LASIK: Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | LASIK | ICL (Implantable Collamer Lens) |
| Procedure | Reshapes the cornea with an excimer laser; creates a corneal flap and removes corneal tissue. | Inserts an intraocular lens between the iris and natural lens through a small incision. |
| Reversibility | Permanent changes; not reversible. | Reversible procedure – lenses can be removed or replaced. |
| Cornea | Requires healthy thickness; not suitable for thin corneas. | Leaves cornea untouched; ideal for thin corneas. |
| Dry Eye | Can cause or worsen dry eye symptoms. | Often better for patients with dry eye. |
| Prescription Range | Up to -10 diopters; severe myopia is less suitable. | Up to -18 diopters; treats severe myopia and myopic astigmatism. |
| UV Protection | No UV protection. | Can offer UV protection. |
| Recovery Time | Usually 1–2 days for clear vision. | Recovery time may be slightly longer. |
| Infection Risk | Lower (not intraocular surgery). | Slightly higher (is intraocular surgery). |
Our laser eye surgery vs lens replacement piece goes into more detail about the procedures themselves if you’d like to learn more.
Risks and Safety
Both LASIK and ICL are safe and effective procedures, but all vision correction surgeries carry some risk. LASIK risks include dry eye, halos, glare, under- or over-correction, and rarely, infection or blurry vision.
ICL lenses can, in rare cases, cause cataracts or increased eye pressure, though this is uncommon with newer models like the EVO ICL. Since ICL is an intraocular procedure, the risk of infection is slightly higher than with LASIK surgery.
Patients with macular degeneration, uncontrolled glaucoma, or certain vision errors may not be suitable candidates for either procedure.
Which is Right for You?
The decision between ICL vs LASIK depends on your prescription, eye health, and preferences. Many patients choose LASIK for its speed, cost-effectiveness, and rapid recovery time, while others choose ICL for its reversibility, suitability for thin corneas, and ability to correct severe myopia.
We can help you make an informed decision after assessing your prescription, stable prescription history, and any risk factors like dry eye, eye strain, or blurred vision. Start your journey to clearer vision by booking a free consultation at Focus today.
