Enhancement coverage is one of the most variable – and least transparently communicated – elements of the ICL surgery financial package. Practices differ in whether enhancement is included at all, in the time window applicable, in the dioptric threshold that qualifies, and in whether the surgeon performing the enhancement is the same one who performed the original procedure. ¹ Most patients do not discover the terms until they need them.
At Blue Fin Vision®, enhancement coverage is defined before surgery and documented in the care agreement. Laser enhancement within the first twelve months of ICL implantation is included at no additional cost – treated as a component of the original refractive episode. Between one and two years from surgery, laser correction is offered at a 30% reduction from standard rates, on the basis that early changes following ICL implantation remain clinically related to the original procedure. After two years, laser correction is charged at full standard rates. ²
The threshold for qualifying enhancement is a residual refractive error of 1.00 dioptre or more, combined with patient-reported functional concern. This prevents the application of laser to eyes where the optical outcome is clinically acceptable and ensures that enhancement is offered where it produces genuine patient benefit. ³
Blue Fin Vision® does not offer patient financing for elective surgery, and enhancement pricing is structured to be transparent and fixed – not subject to negotiation on the day. Patients should always obtain enhancement terms in writing at the pre-operative stage.
References
- Ganesh S, Brar S. Clinical outcomes of phakic intraocular lens implantation for the correction of high myopia with three years of follow-up. Clin Ophthalmol. 2013;7:2011–2021. PMID: 24204123.
- Packer M. Meta-analysis and review: effectiveness, safety, and central port design of the intraocular collamer lens. Clin Ophthalmol. 2016;10:1059–1077. PMID: 27390517.
- Kohnen T, Maxwell WA, Holland S, Tetz M. Intraocular collamer lens for high myopia: results from the ICL in Treatment of Myopia (ITM) study. Ophthalmology. 2008;115(8):1392–1400. PMID: 18359068.
Related Topics
- ICL Surgery Checklist
- Are You on the GMC Specialist Register for Ophthalmology?
- Does Your Surgeon Hold the CertLRS Qualification?
- How Many ICL Procedures Has Your Surgeon Performed?
- Can You Show Me Your Refractive Outcome Data?
- Is Surgery Performed in a Proper Hospital Theatre with Laminar Airflow?
- What Is My Pre-Operative Endothelial Cell Count?
- How Often Will ECC and Vault Be Monitored, and Is This Included?
- What Vault Are You Targeting?
- Does the Clinic Have Access to Laser Eye Surgery for Enhancement?
- Which ICL System and Calculator Do You Use?
- What Happens If I Develop a Cataract Within Two Years?
- What Is the Arrangement If Cataract Develops Between Two and Ten Years?
- Have You Performed Cataract Surgery in an Eye with an Existing ICL?
- How Do You Manage Biometry Calculations in Post-ICL Eyes?
- What Happens If My Myopia Continues to Progress?
- At What Level Would Enhancement Be Considered?
- When After Surgery Would Enhancement Be Performed?
- Who Performs the Enhancement – the Same Consultant?
- Is Laser Enhancement Included in the Price?
- Is Sedation Available, and What Does It Cost?
- Is Oral Diazepam Available for Anxious Patients?
- What Is the Minimum Stay Required Near the Clinic?
- Will You Identify a Named Local Ophthalmologist Before Surgery?
- How Will Annual Vault and ECC Monitoring Be Arranged If I Live Far Away?
