How Phakic ICL Enhances Your Night Vision

Phakic ICL significantly improves night vision

Young person struggling with night vision in a crowded street

Many people notice something strange: their vision is clear during the day but becomes blurry, glaring, or surrounded by halos at night. Even if daytime vision is sharp, night vision problems can affect driving, working, or navigating in low-light conditions. This issue is especially common in people with high myopia or thin corneas.

Why does night vision decline?

In the dark, pupils naturally dilate to let in more light. This allows light to pass not only through the central cornea but also through its outer edges—areas often with higher optical aberrations. Combined with corneal irregularities, poor aqueous quality, or internal light scatter, visual clarity may suffer.

Common causes of poor night vision include:

• Large pupils or impaired low-light accommodation
• Irregular corneal surface (congenital or post-surgery)
• Dry eye reducing tear film smoothness
• Intraocular light scatter from lens or vitreous structures
• Loss of contrast due to poor light focusing

Phakic ICL – advanced refractive technology to optimize night vision

Phakic ICL implant placed behind the iris

Phakic ICL (Implantable Collamer Lens) is a biocompatible lens placed between the iris and the natural lens. Unlike laser-based procedures that reshape the cornea, Phakic ICL preserves the eye’s natural optical structure—critical for maintaining clear night vision.

Reasons Phakic ICL enhances night vision:

• No corneal tissue removal, reducing peripheral aberrations
• Collamer material filters UV and reduces internal reflection/scatter
• Central port design (AquaPort) maintains natural aqueous flow
• No damage to corneal nerves—minimizing dry eye risk

According to a 2021 clinical study:

• >90% of patients achieved vision without glasses equal to or better than pre-op corrected vision
• >95% reported improved night vision within just 1 month

Who is Phakic ICL suitable for?

• Myopia from -3.0D to -20.0D, with or without astigmatism
• Thin corneas or large pupils with nighttime glare sensitivity
• People who drive or work at night frequently
• Those with a history of dry eye or intolerance to corneal procedures
• Patients unsatisfied with night vision using contact lenses

Key advantages supporting better night vision

What you should know before choosing Phakic ICL

• FDA-approved for safety and effectiveness since 2022
• Quick 20–30 minute outpatient procedure
• Vision improves within 24–48 hours
• Removable by an ophthalmologist if ever necessary
• Does not replace reading glasses in middle age

Signs you may need help with night vision

• Halos or streaks around lights at night
• Discomfort when moving from bright to dark areas
• Difficulty seeing road signs or traffic signals at night
• Eye fatigue or dryness in the evening
• Reduced clarity while driving at night, despite good daytime vision