Dr. Yoshihiro Kitazawa, director of our clinic, was interviewed and assisted with filming for the “ICL Special” in the “ZIP! Street Review” corner of Nippon Television’s “ZIP!”, which aired on October 16th.

The program’s content consists of “The experience of entertainer Mr. Matsumaru Ryogo, who underwent ICL surgery,” “What kind of surgery is ICL?” and “What are the advantages and disadvantages of ICL?” Dr. Kitazawa answers the above questions in an interview format.

ICL surgery is a procedure in which a special lens is implanted into the eye to correct vision.

In Japan, the procedure was approved by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare in 2010, and approximately 100,000 people have undergone the surgery nationwide, with the number increasing rapidly over the past two or three years.

Dr. Kitazawa commented on the advantages and disadvantages of ICL during the program as follows:
【Advantages】
LASIK involves scraping the cornea if the power of myopia is severe, so there is a limit to the power of correction that can be corrected, but ICL can be adjusted by the lens power, and in the unlikely event that something goes wrong, you can remove the lens and go back to wearing glasses or contact lenses, which is an important point of ICL.
【Disadvantages】
Because this is a surgery, some congestion and inflammation will occur, and there may also occur infections, so it is necessary to use eye drops regularly.
In addition, although rare, halos and glare (phenomena in which rings are seen around lights, or light appears diffuse and blurred) may occur.

We have commented on the cost of ICL as follows:
Because the power of ICL varies for each individual, the lenses are completely custom-made, which means that the cost of the lenses is unavoidable, making the procedure somewhat expensive.
As it is not covered by insurance, the national average cost is about 600,000 to 700,000 yen.
As ICL is a self-paid procedure, the cost will vary depending on the clinic and the type of surgery.

Mr. Matsumaru also commented that it is reassuring to not have to worry about glasses or contact lenses in the event of a disaster or other emergency, and an increasing number of patients are visiting our clinic considering ICL for the same reason.

If you are considering ICL, we recommend that you consult with a specialist, understand the advantages and disadvantages, and then decide whether to undergo the surgery.

If you have any questions about ICL, please feel free to contact us.