Phakic lenses ICL and IPCL
Published on 20 September 2026
Laser (LASIK, SMILE, PRK) corrects most refractive errors very well. But it has limits: beyond a certain correction, or when the cornea is too thin, removing more corneal tissue is no longer safe. For these situations, there is an excellent alternative: phakic lenses.
There are two main families, the ICL and the IPCL, each with its own correction range. Here is how they work, what sets them apart and who they are for.
What is a phakic lens?
"Phakic" means the eye's natural lens is kept: unlike cataract surgery, it is not removed. The implant, soft and very well tolerated, is placed discreetly in the posterior chamber, between the iris and the natural lens. It is a little like a contact lens placed inside the eye, permanently and invisibly: you do not feel it and no one can see it.
ICL and IPCL — two correction ranges
ICL and IPCL rely on the same principle (a posterior-chamber phakic lens) but differ in material and in the range of corrections they cover. The choice depends on your correction and the anatomy of your eye.
The ICL (Implantable Collamer Lens)
The ICL is made of collamer, a soft, biocompatible material. Current models (EVO / EVO+) feature a tiny central port that lets the aqueous humour flow. It is the most widely used and best-documented phakic lens in the world.
- Myopia: up to about −18 to −20 dioptres.
- Astigmatism: up to about 4 dioptres with the toric model.
- A version dedicated to hyperopia (positive correction) is also available.
The IPCL (Implantable Phakic Contact Lens)
The IPCL is a posterior-chamber phakic lens made of hydrophilic acrylic, also fitted with a central port. Being made to measure, it covers an even wider range of corrections, useful for the strongest cases.
- Myopia: up to −30 dioptres.
- Hyperopia: up to +15 dioptres.
- Astigmatism: up to 10 dioptres.
- Versions that also correct presbyopia exist.
Three strengths shared by phakic lenses
1. They do not touch the cornea
Neither the ICL nor the IPCL reshapes the cornea: they do not change its thickness and preserve its structure. That is what makes them the go-to solution when the cornea is too thin for laser, or with a fragile corneal profile.
2. They are reversible
Since nothing is removed or reshaped, the lens can be removed or replaced if needed — for instance the day cataract surgery becomes useful, decades later. This is a reversibility that laser cannot offer.
3. High visual quality on strong corrections
Patients with high myopia or hyperopia often report very sharp vision after a phakic lens, including when their correction was too high for laser.
How is the lens implanted?
It all begins with a full work-up: precise measurement of the correction, of the anterior chamber depth, of the eye diameter, and examination of the cornea and retina. These measurements allow a lens made to measure for your eyes to be ordered.
Implantation is done as a day case, under local anaesthetic, in a few minutes per eye, through a micro-incision that usually needs no suture. Visual recovery is generally quick, with close postoperative follow-up.
Is a phakic lens right for me?
Phakic lenses are especially indicated if you have a high correction (myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism), if your cornea is too thin for laser, or if you prefer a solution that does not touch the cornea and stays reversible. Like any surgery, they require a stable correction, a compatible eye anatomy and the absence of certain eye conditions. Only the work-up can confirm this, and choose between ICL and IPCL.
Your questions about phakic lenses
Both are posterior-chamber phakic lenses, placed without touching the cornea and without removing the natural lens. They differ in material (collamer for the ICL, acrylic for the IPCL) and in the range of corrections covered: the made-to-measure IPCL covers an even wider range. The choice is made at the work-up, based on your correction and eye anatomy.
Yes, both correct myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism thanks to toric versions. The IPCL covers the widest ranges, including high hyperopia and high astigmatism, and offers versions that also correct presbyopia.
No. It is perfectly transparent and placed behind the iris: it is invisible to others and you do not feel it. It needs no maintenance, unlike a conventional contact lens.
Yes. Since nothing is removed or reshaped in the cornea, the lens can be removed or replaced if your situation changes, for example during future cataract surgery.
In myopic patients, the central port of current lenses usually makes this step unnecessary. For hyperopia-correcting lenses, a preventive iridotomy may be performed. This is assessed at the work-up.
Laser reshapes the cornea permanently; the phakic lens adds a lens inside the eye without touching the cornea, and stays reversible. Laser suits low to moderate corrections; phakic lenses are often preferred for high corrections and thin corneas.
A high correction, a thin cornea?
A full work-up tells whether a phakic lens is the right solution for you, and which of ICL or IPCL to choose. I see patients at Cabinet OPHTALIFE, in Boulogne-Billancourt near Paris.
Related pages
Scientific references
This article draws on recommendations from leading health organisations and on verifiable scientific publications.
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1
Packer M. EVO/EVO+ Visian Implantable Collamer Lenses for the correction of myopia and myopia with astigmatism. Clin Ophthalmol. 2023.
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2
U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA). EVO/EVO+ Visian Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL) — indications and labeling. accessdata.fda.gov
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3
Vasavada V. et al. Initial Results From a New Model of Posterior Chamber Implantable Phakic Contact Lens: IPCL V2.0. PMC.
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4
Rateb M. et al. Comparative Study between Implantable Phakic Contact Lens and Implantable Collamer Lens in Myopia. J Ophthalmol. 2022.
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5
EyeWiki (American Academy of Ophthalmology). Implantable Collamer Lens; Phakic intraocular lenses. eyewiki.org
The content of this website is for information only and does not replace a medical consultation. Any treatment decision must be made together with your ophthalmologist.