ICL Guide
ICL and astigmatism
Understand how ICL can address astigmatism and what to confirm with a clinic in Japan.
What astigmatism is
Astigmatism occurs when the cornea or lens has an irregular shape, causing blurred or distorted vision at multiple distances. It often coexists with nearsightedness or farsightedness. Many people have some degree of astigmatism, and it is commonly corrected with glasses, contact lenses, or refractive surgery.
Toric ICL for astigmatism
A toric ICL is a version of the implantable collamer lens designed to correct both myopia and astigmatism at the same time. It is placed inside the eye in the same way as a standard ICL, but the lens has an additional component that compensates for the irregular curvature causing astigmatism. Not every astigmatism case requires a toric lens; confirm with a clinic whether your prescription qualifies.
Suitability examination
Whether ICL is suitable for your astigmatism depends on the type and degree of astigmatism, the level of accompanying myopia, corneal thickness, anterior chamber depth, and other eye measurements. A detailed pre-surgery examination will determine whether a standard ICL, a toric ICL, or a different approach is more appropriate.
Cost with astigmatism correction
Toric ICL lenses are typically priced higher than standard ICL lenses because the lens is customised for each patient's astigmatism axis and degree. As a published example, Eye Clinic Tokyo lists 730,000 yen for both eyes without astigmatism and 830,000 yen with astigmatism correction. Treat these as examples only and verify current pricing with each clinic.
Alternatives to toric ICL
LASIK and SMILE can also correct astigmatism in some cases, depending on corneal shape and prescription range. Toric soft contact lenses are a non-surgical option. Discuss with the clinic which approach addresses your specific level of astigmatism, corneal anatomy, and lifestyle needs. The right choice depends on the complete examination result.