Two different ways an artificial lens can go into the eye: an IOL replaces a clouded natural lens after cataract surgery, while a phakic ICL is added in front of a healthy one to correct a strong prescription.
After cataract surgery, an intraocular lens (IOL) restores the eye's focusing power. It is permanent, so the type you choose shapes how much you will rely on glasses for the rest of your life.
An implantable contact lens (ICL) is different. Your natural lens stays where it is, and an extra lens is placed in front of it. It is mainly considered for younger adults with high myopia or corneas too thin for laser correction.
Which options your eye can actually support is settled by measurement — corneal thickness, the space inside the front of the eye, your retina and your eye pressure.
Predictable distance vision; toric lenses also correct astigmatism.
Less dependence on glasses across distances, for suitable eyes.
Your natural lens is kept; the implant can be removed later if needed.
We measure your eye properly and tell you which options it supports, what each realistically delivers, and what it costs. Sometimes the honest answer is that spectacles or contact lenses remain your best choice — and we will say so.
Because your natural lens stays in place, a cataract can still develop with age. If it does, it can be treated at that stage in the normal way.
An IOL replaces your natural lens after a cataract is removed. A phakic lens is added in front of a natural lens that stays in place. They solve different problems for different patients.
Measurements decide it — corneal thickness, the space inside your eye, retinal health, eye pressure and how stable your prescription has been. Book an assessment and we will give you a straight answer.
A phakic ICL can generally be removed or exchanged if things change. An IOL placed after cataract surgery is intended to be permanent.
We will not promise that. Multifocal and extended-depth lenses reduce glasses dependence considerably, but outcomes vary and some patients still use glasses for particular tasks.
Talk to our team about iol & phakic lens — we'll assess your eyes and explain your options clearly. No pressure, just honest advice.