LASIK or ICL: which vision correction suits you?
LASIK reshapes the cornea; ICL places a lens inside the eye. Compare how each works, who is suitable and what to ask at your assessment.
If you are tired of glasses or contact lenses, you may be weighing LASIK against an implantable collamer lens (ICL). Both correct short-sightedness and astigmatism, but they work very differently. A detailed eye assessment shows which, if either, suits your eyes.
How LASIK works
Reshaping the cornea
LASIK uses a laser to reshape the cornea, the clear front window of the eye, so light focuses correctly on the retina. It suits many people with mild to moderate prescriptions who have a cornea of healthy thickness and shape.
How ICL works
A lens inside the eye
An ICL is a thin, flexible lens placed inside the eye, in front of your natural lens, without removing any corneal tissue. It may be considered for higher prescriptions, a thinner cornea, or dry eye that makes LASIK less suitable. The lens can be removed if needed.
Comparing the two
Suitability
Your prescription, corneal thickness and shape, the space inside the eye, your age and your eye health decide which option is suitable. Some people are suitable for both, some for one, and some for neither.
Recovery
Visual recovery is usually quick with both. As with any surgery, there are risks, such as dry eye after LASIK or raised eye pressure after ICL. Your doctor will go through these in detail.
Your assessment
What to expect
The assessment includes a full eye examination, corneal mapping and measurements of the inside of the eye. Soft contact lens wearers usually stop wearing them for a period before the assessment.
Questions to ask
Ask which option your doctor recommends and why, what results are realistic for your eyes, and what follow-up is needed.
Frequently asked questions
Am I too old for LASIK or ICL?
Suitability depends more on your eye health and prescription than age alone. From the mid-40s, reading vision and lens changes are also considered.
Will I need glasses again?
Many people do not need glasses for distance after either procedure, but reading glasses may still be needed with age.
Does the eye prescription need to be stable?
Yes. A prescription that has been stable for at least a year is usually required before vision correction surgery.
Medically reviewed by
Dr. Wong Jun Shyan
Consultant Ophthalmologist · ISEC KL · reviewed 2 Oct 2026
This article is general information and does not replace a consultation. Every eye is different: please see an eye doctor about your own symptoms and treatment.
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