Implantable Contact Lens (ICL)

The ICL, the implantable contact lens, is placed in front of the natural lens and thus compensates for severe ametropia. With this IOL, the natural lens is retained. Phakic lenses are an option for people with severe ametropia who dream of a life without visual aids. Phakic lenses are typically implanted in younger patients with astigmatism and nearsightedness or farsightedness. Most are between 25 and 38 years old. We usually recommend a lens exchange for older patients, as the natural lens of the eye often shows its first opacities. In this case, we often implant what are known as multifocal lenses.

Indications for phakic IOL:
Myopia: -6 to -20 diopters
Far-sightedness: +3 to +8 diopters
Astigmatism: -1.5 to -6 diopters with simultaneous nearsightedness or farsightedness

Minimum requirements for permanent contact lenses:
Age over 18 years
stable eye values ​​for over 2 years
no inflammatory eye diseases
no pregnancy
no immune disease such as type II diabetes mellitus
no drug addiction


A Lasik treatment has its limits at around -10 diopters. The laser is also ruled out if the cornea is thin, i.e. if the cornea is less than 500 micrometers. If both limitations exist, implanting a phakic intraocular lens can be a good alternative. An additional plus point: The artificial lens does not cause dry eyes, a common side effect of the laser.