When it comes to correcting vision problems such as shortsightedness, longsightedness and astigmatism, there is no doubt that eye surgery has revolutionised the field. Among the different types of eye surgery, implantable contact lenses, or ICL, is a procedure that has been gaining popularity in recent years. However, have you ever wondered when ICL surgery was invented and where it all started? In this blog post, we will briefly examine ICL surgery and its evolution to become the innovative eye surgery we know today. What is ICL surgery? ICL surgery, or phakic IOL implantation, is a procedure where a synthetic lens is placed inside the eye to correct refractive errors. This serves as a permanent contact lens to improve vision. Although ICL surgery is now a common procedure conducted in many countries worldwide, it was not introduced until the late 1990s. Early development of ICL surgery? The development of ICL surgery started with the intraocular lens (IOL) implantation techniques, which were first introduced in the 1940s1. IOLs were originally designed to replace the natural lens of the eye in patients with cataracts, a condition that creates cloudiness in the lens and impairs vision. The implantation of artificial lenses was a significant advancement in the field of ophthalmology, but it was not until the 1980s that phakic IOLs were introduced for correcting refractive errors2. An early version of phakic IOLs was the anterior chamber angle-supported lens, implanted in the eye’s anterior chamber. However, this technique was found to be associated with complications such as glaucoma and lens dislocation. Then, the implantation of posterior chamber phakic IOLs3 was introduced as a safer and more effective alternative. The first posterior chamber phakic IOL, the Staar Collamer implant, received FDA approval in 19984, marking a significant milestone in the development of ICL surgery. The development of posterior chamber phakic IOLs has allowed more people to undergo safe and effective surgery to correct vision problems. Book a free assessment with us to find out more about ICL surgery. Home » ICL » When was ICL surgery invented? Search for: Search... ARE YOU SUITABLE? Check your laser eye surgery suitability online with our free LASIK self-test TAKE SUITABILITY SELF-TEST OUR MOST POPULAR PROCEDURES LASIK SmartSight ICL Lens Replacement PRK Refractive cataract surgery FAQs WHAT OUR PATIENTS SAY… “Very friendly and professional staff. Dr Russell is extremely informative and has a really positive presence. The doctor and all of the staff ensured all my questions were answered fully. I left the surgery feeling as if I’d been really well cared for.” Headshot of Suzanne Cooper, saying how she enjoy great vision without glasses and contact lenses after having eye surgery with VSON Suzanne Cooper “The staff are all friendly and helpful.” Headshot of Alana Jenkins, saying how she enjoy great vision without glasses and contact lenses after having eye surgery with VSON Alana Jenkins “Dr. Russell and the entire team should be commended for their genuine care and personal attention. They made every possible effort to explain and clarify the treatment required and made sure I was comfortable through the consultation treatment.” Headshot of Xerxes Meher, saying how he enjoy great vision without glasses and contact lenses after having eye surgery with VSON Xerxes Meher “I was very impressed with the way they run things. It is a well-oiled machine. Everyone knew exactly what they were doing and were very friendly. To top it off, my treatment was excellent.” Headshot of Iris Van Quickelberghe, saying how she enjoy great vision without glasses and contact lenses after having eye surgery with VSON Iris Van Quickelberghe “Dr. Russell is my hubby’s specialist for years. We love him. Such a kind person and always spends time to explain everything.” Headshot of Zita Farczadi Kershaw, saying her husband enjoy great vision without glasses and contact lenses after having eye surgery with VSON Zita Farczadi Kershaw “Highly recommended. They are always helpful and friendly and the outcomes have been beyond my expectations.” Headshot of Brad Gooda, saying how he enjoy great vision without glasses and contact lenses after having eye surgery with VSON Brad Gooda “Many thanks for your care and skill and a big thanks to all your staff for their friendly care and professionalism shown each time I have visited.” Headshot of Henry Ellison, saying how he enjoy great vision without glasses and contact lenses after having eye surgery with VSON Henry Ellison “My wife came to see Dr Russell today and we wanted to say thank you to all the staff for the kind and professional service. We are also extremely grateful for Dr Russell’s generosity when it came to us paying for the consultation. We wanted to reach out and say thank you so much!” Headshot of Troy and Liana Todd, saying how his wife enjoy great vision without glasses and contact lenses after having eye surgery with VSON Troy and Liana Todd We have replaced the images of real patients who provided these testimonials to protect their privacy.