Phakic IOL (Implantable Contact Lens)
Your natural lens stays; an implanted lens corrects the prescription and can be removed.
Save up to 70% vs the UK & Germany
- Stay in Istanbul
- 5-6 days
- Time in theatre
- 25 min
- In hospital
- Same-day discharge
- Anaesthesia
- Anaesthetic drops
- Back to work
- 3 days
- Full result
- 2 months
Overview
A phakic intraocular lens is a thin implant placed between the iris and your own natural lens, which is left exactly where it is; think of a contact lens that sits permanently inside the eye. No corneal tissue is removed, which is why it comes into its own for thin corneas and for prescriptions beyond what laser can reach. The key difference from a smart lens is that the natural lens is not taken out: focusing for near is preserved, and the implant can be removed or exchanged if that is ever needed. It is done under anaesthetic drops and takes about 25 minutes per eye.
Benefits
- No corneal tissue is removed, giving an option when laser is ruled out
- Treats high short sight and high astigmatism beyond the reach of laser
- The natural lens stays, so younger patients keep their focusing for near
- Reversible: the implant can be removed or exchanged if circumstances change
- Corneal nerves are not cut, so it can be considered where dry eye is a concern
Who is this treatment for?
Usually suitable
- High short sight where corneal thickness is insufficient for laser
- Adequate anterior chamber depth and endothelial cell count, typically ages 21–45
- Patients steered away from corneal laser because of dry eye
Needs assessment first
- A shallow anterior chamber or a low endothelial cell count, where the lens is not implanted
- Glaucoma, uveitis or other intraocular disease, and persistently raised eye pressure
- A prescription still changing, or progressive keratoconus that needs stabilising first
Final suitability is decided by your consultant after examination and imaging in Istanbul.
Your treatment, step by step
- 01
Free online consultation
Send your prescription, your age and any report saying you were turned down for laser. A first assessment and plan follow within 24 hours.
- 02
Anterior segment measurements
Anterior chamber depth, corneal endothelial cell count, pupil size and eye pressure are measured. The size and power of the implant are chosen from those figures.
- 03
Implanting the lens
The folded lens is inserted through a small incision and unfolded between the iris and your natural lens. It takes around 25 minutes per eye under anaesthetic drops.
- 04
Pressure check and second eye
Eye pressure is measured the same day and again the next morning. The second eye usually follows within a few days and both are checked before you fly home.
Aftercare & long-term tips
The pressure checks on the first day and in the first week are the critical step, which is why the stay is built around them. Keep to your drop schedule, do not rub your eyes and avoid strenuous exercise for the first week. Once home, have your pressure and endothelial cells checked annually, and see an eye doctor without delay if you get sudden loss of vision, pain or redness.
First 24 hours
Stick to soft, lukewarm foods and drinks; avoid very hot or hard items while any numbness or sensitivity settles.
First few days
Ease back into normal eating as sensitivity fades — usually within a few days.
Long term
Eat normally and protect your result with the simple habits below.
Do
- Brush twice a day and floss daily
- Attend your regular check-ups and cleanings
- Wear a night guard if you grind your teeth
- Keep the area clean and rinse as advised
Avoid
- Biting very hard objects — ice, pen lids, shells
- Opening bottle or soda caps with your teeth
- Too many hard nuts or sticky, chewy sweets
- Smoking and staining drinks in the first days
What's included
- Free consultation & treatment plan
- Treatment by specialist dentists
- 5-star hotel accommodation
- Private VIP airport transfers
- Personal translator & 24/7 support
- Aftercare & treatment guarantee
Risks and an honest expectation
Because a lens is placed inside the eye, eye pressure can rise, corneal endothelial cells can decline over the years, and a poorly positioned implant can lead to clouding of the natural lens. Infection is rare but serious and needs urgent assessment. Night haloes are expected particularly in patients with larger pupils, which is why pupil size is measured beforehand and the finding is discussed with you plainly.
They flew in. They flew home changed.
Frequently asked questions
Other treatments in this department
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