ICL Surgery in India: Types, Procedure, Cost & Recovery

What is ICL Surgery?

ICL eye surgery in India has emerged as the preferred choice for those who wish to bid goodbye to their spectacles but are often rejected for LASIK due to very high power or a thin cornea. Also known as Implantable Collamer Lens surgery, ICL involves placing a lens behind the iris to correct myopia, hypermetropia, and astigmatism without reshaping the cornea. At Planet LASIK, our senior refractive surgeons perform ICL surgery, a trusted lens-based vision correction procedure. Find out if you’re eligible for ICL and take the first step towards clearer vision. Consult with our eye specialists.

Types of Implantable Collamer Lenses

Two types of lenses are used in ICL eye surgery today: the Spherical ICL and the Toric ICL. Which one is suitable for you depends on your prescription and the results of the eye tests and measurements performed before surgery.

Lens Type	Description	Best For	Key Feature
Spherical ICL	Corrects myopia or hyperopia without an astigmatism component.	Myopia or hyperopia, no astigmatism	Foldable lens, micro-incision insertion
Toric ICL	Corrects myopia or hyperopia with astigmatism using different powers across the lens surface.	Myopia or hyperopia with astigmatism (up to 6.00 D)	Aligned to the eye’s axis; fully customised

How Does the ICL Lens Work Inside the Eye?

ICL works like a permanent contact lens placed inside the eye. It sits safely in the space between the iris (the coloured part of your eye) and your natural lens, without touching either.
It’s made of Collamer, a soft material your eye accepts as its own. You can’t see it, and you can’t feel it.
The lens bends incoming light so it lands exactly on the retina, the light-sensing layer at the back of your eye. That’s what corrects focusing problems like myopia (nearsightedness) and hyperopia (farsightedness).
EVO ICL has a tiny central opening called the KS-AquaPORT, which lets your eye’s natural fluid flow freely, keeping the eye healthy without any extra procedure.

Benefits of Implantable Collamer Lens Surgery

ICL eye surgery offers numerous benefits:

High Success Rate: Delivers clear and improved vision.
Wide Range of Vision Correction: Treats nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.
Long-term Vision Correction: Reduces or eliminates the need for glasses or contacts.
Natural-Looking Results: The lens blends seamlessly with the eye’s natural tissues.
Quick Recovery: Most individuals resume normal activities within days.
Reversible Procedure: The lens can be removed or replaced if necessary.
Suitable for Thin Corneas: Ideal for individuals ineligible for LASIK.
Built-in UV protection: the collamer material blocks UV-A and UV-B rays.
High-definition vision: often sharper than LASIK, particularly in low light.
Lasting freedom from glasses for the vast majority of individuals.

Who Is a Candidate for ICL Surgery?

You’re between 21 and 40 years old, the standard ICL surgery age limit in India
Your vision prescription hasn’t changed for at least a year
Myopia anywhere from (-3D to -20D or Hyperopia up to (+3D to +10D)
Astigmatism up to 6.00 D (a Toric ICL handles this)
Healthy corneas with no active eye disease
Corneas too thin for LASIK or SMILE eye surgery
Dry eyes that make laser procedures a poor fit

Who Should Avoid ICL Surgery

Pregnant or breastfeeding women
Glaucoma or raised intraocular pressure
Diabetes that isn’t under control and is affecting the eyes

None of this is self-diagnosable. A proper evaluation with an ophthalmologist settles it in a single visit.

What is the ICL Surgery Procedure?

The ICL surgery procedure in India has three parts:

Before ICL Surgery: Pre-Operative Tests & Preparation

Pre-operative assessment is used to evaluate whether you are eligible for the procedure and also to compute the exact lens power. The assessment will include the following:

Visual and Refraction Tests: The visual acuity test and refractive measurement evaluate your eyesight and give your exact prescription.
Corneal and Eye Measurement: These tests include corneal topography, pachymetry, anterior chamber depth, and biometry, which are used to determine the health and structure of the eye and the suitability and power of the lens.
Eye Evaluation: Endothelial cell count, tonometry, and dilated fundus evaluation evaluate the general health of the eye, especially the retina and cornea.
Pupil Assessment: Pupillometry tests are done to determine the size of the pupil and can assist in evaluating the visual symptoms at night.

The whole battery takes roughly 90 minutes at a Planet LASIK centre. One thing to plan: soft contact lens wearers need to stop wearing lenses 1 to 2 weeks before testing; rigid lens wearers 3 to 4 weeks, so the cornea can return to its natural shape.

During the ICL Procedure

The surgery itself is shorter than the wait beforehand: 15 to 30 minutes per eye:

Anaesthesia. Numbing drops go in first. If you’re anxious, a mild sedative helps. No needles, no general anaesthesia.
Preparation. The eye is cleaned, and a small device keeps the eyelids open, so blinking isn’t your problem to manage.
The incision. A 2.5 to 3 mm opening at the edge of the cornea. No flap is cut, no tissue removed. The folded collamer lens goes in through an injector.
Positioning. The surgeon unfolds the lens and settles it behind the iris. With EVO, the central port sits over the pupil.

Both eyes are usually treated the same day, one after the other, with a short break.

After ICL Surgery: The First 24 Hours

You won’t be rushed out. Expect an hour or two of observation while the surgeon checks eye pressure and lens position.

Most candidates notice clearer vision within hours, though day one usually brings some haze and light sensitivity.
A protective shield stays on for the first 24 hours, mainly to stop you rubbing the eye in your sleep.
Antibiotic and anti-inflammatory drops run for 2 to 4 weeks.
Your first follow-up happens within a day to confirm the lens is sitting where it should.

Arrange for someone to drive you home. That part isn’t optional.

Recovery Timeline After ICL Surgery At Planet LASIK

ICL surgery recovery time is one to two weeks for most routines, and vision starts clearing within hours.

Timeline	What to Expect
First 24 hours	Mild discomfort, light sensitivity, blurry patches. Rest with the shield on; use your drops.
Day 2 to Day 7	Vision clears steadily. Keep water, dust, and your own fingers away from the eye. First follow-up.
Week 2 to Week 4	Back to work and routine for most people. Vision settles.
1 to 3 months onwards	Final visual quality. After this, a check-up every 6 to 12 months is all it takes.

The follow-up schedule matters more than it seems. Keep every appointment, even when your vision already feels perfect.

Risks & Side Effects of ICL Surgery

While ICL surgery is generally safe, there are potential risks and side effects, as with any surgery.

Infection: rare, and antibiotic drops handle it.
Raised eye pressure: a temporary spike that could stress the optic nerve if ignored, which is why pressure is checked at every follow-up.
Endothelial cell loss: a slow decline in inner corneal cells, tracked over years and rarely meaningful.
Cataract formation: a long-term possibility if the lens sits too close to the natural one. Low incidence with modern sizing.
Halos and glare at night: common in the first weeks, then they fade.
Lens rotation: mostly a Toric ICL concern, and fixable with a minor repositioning.

Follow all necessary precautions after ICL surgery to ensure a smoother recovery process.

How Safe and Successful Is ICL Surgery At Planet LASIK?

ICL surgery is FDA-approved and has a satisfaction rate above 99%, with serious complications in fewer than 1% of cases. Unusually strong numbers for any surgical procedure. From STAAR Surgical’s long-term clinical data:

More than 2 million EVO Visian ICL lenses implanted worldwide
99.4% say they would choose ICL again

Dos & Don’ts After ICL Surgery: Aftercare Tips

Aftercare isn’t complicated, but the first month requires a little discipline.

Dos:

Use your prescribed drops exactly as instructed.
Show up to every follow-up, even the ones that feel unnecessary.
Wear UV-protective sunglasses outdoors for the first month.
Wash your hands before touching your eyes or applying drops.

Don’ts:

Don’t rub your eyes. This is the one candidates break most often.
No swimming, hot tubs, or dunking your head in water for two weeks.
Skip heavy lifting and anything that strains the eyes for a few weeks.
No eye makeup for a week.
Stay clear of dust, smoke, and chemical fumes while healing.

When to Call Your Doctor After ICL Surgery

Some discomfort in week one is expected: mild irritation, light sensitivity, slightly filmy vision. The following are not expected, and each warrants a same-day call to your Planet LASIK surgeon:

Severe eye pain that your prescribed medication doesn’t touch
A sudden drop in vision, or loss of vision
Persistent flashes, floaters, or a curtain-like shadow across your view (possible retinal issue)
Growing redness, swelling, or discharge

Why Choose ICL Over LASIK or SMILE?

ICL removes no corneal tissue, is fully reversible, blocks UV, and tends to deliver better night vision. LASIK and SMILE heal faster and cost less. Here’s the side-by-side comparison:

Parameter	ICL	LASIK	SMILE
Procedure	Lens implanted inside the eye	Cornea reshaped with a flap	Lenticule extracted, no flap
Myopia range	-3.00 D to -20.00 D	Up to -8.00 D	Up to -10.00 D
Astigmatism	Up to 6.00 D (Toric ICL)	Up to 6.00 D	Up to 5.00 D
Thin corneas	Suitable	Generally not suitable	May be suitable in selected cases, depending on corneal thickness and other factors.
Dry eyes	Generally suitable	Higher risk of worsening	Lower risk than LASIK
Reversibility	Yes	No	No
Recovery	1 to 2 weeks	1 to 2 days	3 to 5 days
UV protection	Yes, built into the lens	No	No

Cost of ICL Surgery in India

At Planet LASIK, ICL eye surgery typically costs between ₹1,60,000 and ₹2,60,000 for both eyes. The final cost varies based on the type of implantable lens, your eye condition, and the treatment plan.

Lens Type	Approx. Cost (Both Eyes, INR)
ICL Spherical	₹2,05,000
IPCL Spherical	₹1,65,000
ICL Toric	₹2,05,000
IPCL Toric	₹1,65,000
ICL Presbyopic	₹2,47,200
Eyecryl Phakic Lens	₹1,65,000
Eyecryl Phakic Toric Lens	₹1,65,000

Planet LASIK pricing is all-inclusive with EMI options, so the number you’re quoted is the number you pay. On insurance: most policies treat ICL as elective and won’t cover it, though IRDAI guidelines require insurers to cover refractive surgery above -7.5 D, so candidates with very high powers sometimes qualify. Our counsellors will check yours.

Why Choose Planet Lasik for ICL Surgery?

Plenty of centres offer ICL. If you’re searching for the best ICL surgery in India, here’s what that phrase should actually mean, and what choosing Planet LASIK by Centre For Sight gets you:

Experienced Surgeons: Highly skilled ophthalmologists specialising in ICL procedures.
3000+ ICL procedures performed by senior refractive surgeons.
NABH-accredited facilities with international sterilisation protocols.
A personalised plan and lifetime follow-up for every ICL candidate.
All-inclusive pricing with EMI options and no surprise bills.
90% patient satisfaction and a 4.6-star Google rating across our centres.

Considering ICL? Book an appointment with Planet LASIK and find out, in one visit, whether your eyes qualify.

Are you considering ICL surgery?
Book an appointment with Planet Lasik to explore your options.

FAQs

Which eye problems can be treated with ICL?

ICL (Implantable Collamer Lens) is primarily used to correct moderate to severe nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.

Does the ICL wear out or needs replacement?

No. The lens doesn’t age, degrade, or need servicing. The only situations where it comes out are a major prescription change or cataract surgery decades down the line, and removal is straightforward in both.

Does the ICL procedure hurt?

No. The eye is numbed with drops, and a mild sedative is available if you want one. Candidates experience pressure during lens insertion, not pain. A day or two of scratchiness afterwards is normal.

Is ICL safe?

Yes, ICL is considered a safe and effective procedure but like any surgical procedure, there are potential risks and complications, though they are rare.

What can I expect during the ICL procedure?

During the ICL procedure, a small incision is made in the cornea, and the lens is inserted behind the iris and in front of the natural lens.

How much does ICL eye surgery cost in India?

Between ₹1,60,000 and ₹2,60,000 for both eyes at Planet LASIK. Spherical lenses sit at the lower end; Toric lenses cost more because they’re custom-made. The quote after your evaluation is all-inclusive, and EMI options are available.

What is the duration of Implantable Collamer Lens retention in the eye?

The Implantable Collamer Lens is designed to remain in the eye permanently. It doesn’t degrade or dissolve over time.

What sets ICL apart from LASIK?

Unlike LASIK, which reshapes the cornea, ICL involves inserting a lens inside the eye to correct vision. It’s suitable for individuals with thin corneas or high prescriptions not suitable for LASIK.

Is permanent freedom from glasses achievable?

For many patients, ICL can provide long-term correction of vision, reducing or eliminating the need for glasses or contact lenses. However, individual results may vary, and some may still require glasses for certain activities.