Frequently Asked Questions

The Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL) for nearsightedness and astigmatism is a refractive lens also known as a phakic IOL. “Phakic” meaning that the natural lens of the eye is in place, and “IOL” meaning intraocular lens, or a lens inside the eye. The EVO ICL is a posterior chamber implant that is introduced through a small incision in the eye and is placed behind the iris (the colored part of the eye), and in front of the natural crystalline lens in order to improve your nearsightedness and astigmatism.

The EVO ICL Lens (EVO) is intended for the correction of moderate to high nearsightedness. EVO ICL and EVO TICL surgery is intended to safely and effectively correct nearsightedness between -3.0 D to -15.0 D, the reduction in nearsightedness up to -20.0 D and treatment of astigmatism from 1.0 D to 4.0 D. If you have nearsightedness within these ranges, EVO ICL surgery may improve your distance vision without eyeglasses or contact lenses. Because the EVO ICL corrects for distance vision, it does not eliminate the need for reading glasses, you may require them at some point, even if you have never worn them before.

EVO ICL represents an alternative to other refractive surgeries including laser assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK), photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), incisional surgeries, or other means to correct myopia such as contact lenses and eyeglasses.

Patients who are pregnant and nursing and patients with a narrow angle in the front chamber of their eye, because in this case the space for the EVO ICL lens would be too small. The patient education booklet provides an additional list of conditions that should be taken into consideration when making a decision about the EVO ICL procedure.

The key benefit of EVO ICL surgery is the permanent correction or reduction of your nearsightedness and treatment of astigmatism allowing you to see clearly at long distances without eyeglasses or contact lenses to reduce your dependence upon them. In addition to the improvement of your uncorrected vision (vision without eyeglasses or contact lenses), your best corrected vision (best vision with contact lenses/eye glasses) may be improved.

Follow all of your eye care professional’s instructions before and after implantation of the EVO ICL lens. Take any prescribed medication and schedule all recommended follow-up visits with your eye care professional, usually on an annual basis after the healing of the EVO ICL surgery. Contact your eye care professional immediately if you should experience a problem.

Unlike LASIK, the EVO ICL lens provides added peace of mind and flexibility for the future because it's a reversible implant. View the comparisons between the two procedures here.

EVO ICL and LASIK costs vary depending on various factors that may include your prescription, location and provider. Upon consultation with an EVO ICL doctor, they will provide you with your specific cost, financing options and payment plans.

On average, contact lenses cost $12,000 over a lifetime.* Your personal cost will vary.

Because EVO ICL lenses are a long-term solution, your procedure costs are generally fixed to a one-time fee. When you compare with the long-term costs of contact lenses, the EVO ICL procedure typically pays for itself.

*Popular daily disposable contacts, on average, cost about $600 a year. So over 20 years, a patient will spend $12,000 on contact lenses.

Most clinics have payment plans available that can finance the cost of EVO ICL for as low as $10 per day / $300 per month! (*For about 24 months. The exact cost of EVO ICL is unique to each patient’s prescription.)

EVO ICL is a qualified expense for Care Credit. Here is a link from a third-party to see if you would qualify for financing for EVO ICL. This is a soft credit check so it will not go against your credit score to see if you are pre-approved.

Ultimately, EVO ICL can be a temporary cost for a permanent solution to your vision problems, and this one-time fee is typically less than the lifetime expense of glasses and contact lenses.

EVO ICL is a qualified expense for tax-free contributions made to Flexible Spending Accounts and Health Savings Accounts as well as Care Credit.

If you have a Flexible Spending Account (FSA), you may be able to use those funds to correct your myopia (nearsightedness) with EVO Implantable Collamer® Lenses (ICL). Just a reminder that if you don’t use your FSA before December 31, 2024, you’ll lose that money.¹

Here is a link from a third-party to see if you would qualify for financing for EVO ICL. This is a soft credit check so it will not go against your credit score to see if you are pre-approved.

¹HealthCare.Gov: “You generally must use the money in an FSA within the plan year.” https://www.healthcare.gov/hav.... Accessed August 2023

Prior to being placed on the market, EVO ICL was subject to extensive research and development. Today, more than 3,000,000 lenses have been distributed worldwide. In a survey, over 99.4 percent of patients were satisfied with their implant. EVO ICL has a track record of excellent clinical outcomes. Additionally, the EVO ICL lens has been available internationally for over 10 years.

EVO ICL is intended to remain in place without maintenance. EVO ICL can be removed by your eye care professional if needed in the future. If your physician removes the EVO ICL lens, you will lose the benefit of your nearsightedness correction.

No. EVO ICL is positioned behind the iris (the colored part of the eye), where it is invisible to both you and others. Only your eye care practitioner will be able to tell that vision correction has taken place.

EVO ICL is not typically noticeable after it is implanted. It does not attach to any structures within the eye and does not move around once in place.

The EVO ICL surgery is performed on an outpatient basis which means that the patient has surgery and leaves the same day. The procedure itself usually takes 20-30 minutes or less. The patient will need someone to drive them home on surgery day. A light, topical or local anesthetic is administered. There is typically very little discomfort during or after surgery. Some eye drops or medication may be prescribed and a visit with your eye care professional is usually scheduled the day after surgery.