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Original poster

Implantable Contact Lens Surgery

30 replies

BumbleBumShake · 20/05/2025 17:01

I’m considering getting my eyesight fixed, but due to my ridiculously poor sight, I’d need the implantable lens instead of regular old laser

Has anyone had this that can offer some wisdom? The thought of it gives me the shivers but I also can’t bear another 40 years of lenses and I don’t like wearing glasses at all.

Im in my 40s, decent health and have no eye issues, aside from the shit vision!

OP posts:
Original poster
BumbleBumShake · 01/11/2025 14:37

Whenasuitcasejustwontdo · 01/11/2025 13:41

Can I ask how old you are to have the surgery? I have -10.5 and -9.5 eyes and have been told in the last few years that I need to wait until I’m 50+ to have lens replacement surgery. I’m 43 with no sign of cataracts yet (family history of cataracts and glaucoma). Thanks and apologies if I’ve hijacked the thread.

I’m 40, had a stable prescription for about 10 years. I’ve had one optician day to wait until I was 50 and one day to do it now whilst I’m younger and have healthy eyes.

Similar prescription to you. I know I’ll need reading glasses as I get older, but that is still a massive improvement from now.

OP posts:
Original poster
BumbleBumShake · 01/11/2025 14:38

DarkRootsBlue · 01/11/2025 11:28

The op is no bother at all. It’s quick and you don’t feel a thing. I’ve had far worse dental appointments.

I’m finding the recovery quite tricky. I can see fine indoors, can read, watch TV, everything, could do all that from Day 2. But outside the glare is making my vision blurry. With sunglasses on a cloudy day it’s ok but otherwise it’s all pretty out of focus past about 4 metres. I’m trying to be patient as there is an adjustment period, but obviously worry that it’s not going to improve and I’ll have to get further laser or something (and I don’t know how much that would cost or if it would be part of the original cost).

I have multifocal lenses which I believe are harder to adapt to.

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Thank you, it’s really helpful to hear real stories

OP posts:
TwoNicePuppies · 01/11/2025 15:04

ICL (implanted contact lens) and RLE (Refractive lens exchange) are two different things, both have been mentioned here. With the former your crystalline lens is left in so will still change over time, with the latter it’s removed & replaced by an IOL. There are various types of these, which one you’ll be given will be discussed with your surgeon & depends on your lifestyle.

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General health
ChiefCakeTestertoMaryBerry · 01/11/2025 18:02

Allseeingallknowing · 01/11/2025 14:12

What’s so awful about having to use reading glasses?

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I really hate glasses! I don’t need to wear reading glasses at the moment fortunately.

DarkRootsBlue · 01/11/2025 19:35

TwoNicePuppies · 01/11/2025 15:04

ICL (implanted contact lens) and RLE (Refractive lens exchange) are two different things, both have been mentioned here. With the former your crystalline lens is left in so will still change over time, with the latter it’s removed & replaced by an IOL. There are various types of these, which one you’ll be given will be discussed with your surgeon & depends on your lifestyle.

Oh good point. I had RLE.

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