Hello, this is Goyang Shinsegae Eye Clinic.
If you have ultra-high myopia and require a very strong eyeglass prescription, the criteria for choosing vision correction surgery may differ from those applied to patients with lower degrees of myopia.
LASIK and LASEK correct refractive errors by reshaping the cornea.
However, if the degree of myopia is very high, the amount of corneal tissue that must be removed may increase.
In cases where the cornea is not sufficiently thick, other options may need to be considered.
One option that may be considered following a comprehensive examination at an Ilsan eye clinic is implantable lens surgery.
This procedure corrects refractive errors by placing a specially designed lens inside the eye without removing corneal tissue.
However, having ultra-high myopia does not automatically mean that a patient is eligible for the procedure. In addition to the prescription, it is essential to determine whether the internal structure of the eye provides sufficient space for the lens to remain stable.
What Should Be Evaluated Before Implantable Lens Surgery?
Because this procedure involves placing a medical lens inside the eye, the preoperative examination must assess not only visual acuity and refractive error but also the internal structures of the eye in detail.
The examination may include checking whether the anterior chamber depth (ACD) is at least 2.80 mm, whether the white-to-white corneal diameter (WTW) falls within the range of 10.70–13.00 mm, and whether the corneal endothelial cell density is at least 2,000 cells/mm².
| Examination | Reference Criterion |
| Anterior chamber depth (ACD) | At least 2.80 mm |
| White-to-white corneal diameter (WTW) | 0.70–13.00 mm |
| Corneal endothelial cell density | At least 2,000 cells/mm² |
When considering vision correction surgery at an Ilsan eye clinic, it is important not to decide on a particular procedure in advance.
A comprehensive examination should first determine which options may be suitable for your eyes.
Why Is This Procedure Considered for Ultra-High Myopia?
With laser-based procedures, the amount of corneal tissue that needs to be removed may increase as the degree of correction becomes greater.
The feasibility of surgery must therefore be assessed by considering corneal thickness, the expected residual stromal bed, and other relevant measurements.
Implantable lens surgery, by contrast, does not correct refractive error by reshaping the cornea. Instead, a lens selected according to the patient’s prescription is placed inside the eye.
For this reason, the procedure may be considered as an alternative for patients with ultra-high myopia or for those in whom a large amount of corneal tissue would otherwise need to be removed.
This does not mean that every patient with ultra-high myopia must undergo ICL surgery.
Even two patients with the same prescription of −10.00 diopters may have different anterior chamber depths, internal eye structures, and endothelial cell conditions.
When choosing a vision correction procedure at an Ilsan eye clinic, multiple examination results must therefore be assessed together rather than relying on the eyeglass prescription alone.
What If Severe Astigmatism Is Also Present?
If ultra-high myopia is accompanied by severe astigmatism, the treatment plan must address both refractive errors.
Toric ICLs are available to correct both myopia and astigmatism.
Because a toric lens must remain aligned with the planned axis and position, postoperative examinations are necessary to check for rotation or positional changes.
If the lens moves or rotates, the quality of vision may be affected. Depending on the findings, appropriate measures may be considered at the ophthalmologist’s discretion.
Implantable lens surgery should therefore be understood as a process that includes not only the operation itself but also detailed preoperative testing and ongoing postoperative care.
What Should You Know Before Choosing the Procedure?
✔ Unlike LASIK, SMILE, and LASEK, implantable lens surgery does not thin the cornea. It may therefore reduce concerns related to postoperative corneal weakening.
✔ It may be considered for patients with high myopia, high astigmatism, or relatively thin corneas, provided that the internal structures of the eye meet the necessary criteria.
✔ Depending on the lens specifications and the patient’s eye condition, correction may be possible for myopia up to approximately −30.00 D and astigmatism up to approximately −6.00 D.
✔ If a clinically significant problem occurs, the implanted lens can generally be removed through an additional procedure.
✔ Because the cornea is not reshaped, the procedure may induce fewer higher-order aberrations and may help preserve the quality of vision in appropriately selected patients.
FAQ
Q. Are regular examinations unnecessary once the surgery is complete?
No. After surgery, visual acuity, intraocular pressure, corneal endothelial cell density, and lens position should be checked regularly.
Because the procedure involves placing a medical device inside the eye, long-term postoperative monitoring remains important.
Which Vision Correction Procedure Should You Choose?
There is no single procedure—whether LASIK, LASEK, or implantable lens surgery—that is best for everyone.
If the cornea is suitable and the expected amount of tissue removal is within an acceptable range, LASIK or LASEK may be considered.
If the patient has ultra-high myopia, a large amount of corneal tissue would need to be removed, and the internal eye structure meets the necessary criteria, ICL surgery may also be included among the available options.
When considering vision correction at an Ilsan eye clinic, the following three factors should be evaluated together:
▶ The current degree of myopia and astigmatism
▶ Whether the internal structure of the eye is suitable for the selected procedure
▶ What examinations and follow-up care will be required after surgery
Rather than selecting a procedure based only on reviews or cost, it is important to begin with a comprehensive examination and identify the option that is appropriate for your individual eye condition.
The key to vision correction at an Ilsan eye clinic is not insisting on a specific procedure. A decision should be made only after accurately assessing the current condition of the eyes, reviewing the examination results as a whole, and fully understanding the available options and relevant considerations.
Thank you.
