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EVO ICL lens implant
A lens added, nothing removed.
The EVO ICL is a thin lens placed inside the eye, behind the colored iris and in front of your own lens. It corrects nearsightedness without reshaping the cornea.
An implantable lens for nearsightedness.
Made by STAAR Surgical, the lens works alongside your eye's natural lens instead of replacing it. STAAR describes it as reversible because no corneal tissue is removed.
Who the EVO ICL is approved for.
Ages 21 to 60
The FDA widened the age range to 21 to 60 in 2026.
Nearsightedness
From −3 to −20 diopters of nearsightedness.
Astigmatism
A toric version also treats astigmatism.
Thin corneas
May help when the cornea is not right for laser.
Steady prescription
Your glasses prescription should be stable.
Healthy eyes
Your eye doctor checks pressure and eye health first.
Approved in the U.S. in 2022.
The FDA approved the EVO lens in 2022 and widened the age range in February 2026.
Your natural lens stays.
Because your own lens is kept, you will still need reading help with age and can still develop a cataract later.
Follow-up
Checkups matter after the implant.
Your doctors check eye pressure, lens position and the health of your natural lens at follow-up visits.
A different path from laser.
If you were told years ago that laser surgery was not for you, an implantable lens may be worth asking about.
Questions to ask about EVO ICL.
Do my eyes fit?
Ask how they measure the space inside your eye.
Can it come out?
Ask what happens if the lens needs removal.
How often are checks?
Ask how often you will need pressure checks.
After the lens is placed.
Your eye doctor can spot candidates.
If you have strong nearsightedness, your optometrist can review your history and tell you whether a surgical consult makes sense.
Keep exploring.
Fast answers.
Can the lens be removed?
STAAR describes the procedure as reversible. Whether to remove a lens is a decision for your surgeon.
Is it the same as a cataract lens?
No. Cataract surgery replaces your natural lens. The ICL is added in front of it.
What prescriptions can it treat?
Nearsightedness from −3 to −20 diopters, and astigmatism with the toric version.
Who makes the EVO ICL?
STAAR Surgical, which received U.S. approval in 2022.
Talk to an eye doctor about implantable lenses.
Find an eye doctor near you with the Vision Rescue doctor locator.
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Sources and notes
- STAAR Surgical: FDA expands U.S. age indication for EVO ICL, 2026
- STAAR Surgical: U.S. FDA approval of EVO lenses, 2022
- Exam-room and showroom photography are owned Eye Care Advisors assets approved for use by Vision Rescue.
- Full source list: Vision Rescue sources
This page is for general education and is not medical advice. Only an eye care professional who has examined you can recommend what is right for your eyes.
