---
title: What prescriptions are suitable for ICL surgery?
description: "ICL surgery is designed for moderate to very high prescriptions that may be less ideal for standard laser procedures. ## Typical refractive ranges Exact limits depend on lens model and eye anatomy. - Myopia roughly from about -0.5 to around…"
url: "https://bluefinvision.com/knowledge-base/topics/suitability/what-prescriptions-are-suitable-for-icl-surgery/"
updated: "2025-12-24"
category: Suitability
---

# What prescriptions are suitable for ICL surgery?

ICL surgery is designed for moderate to very high prescriptions that may be less ideal for standard laser procedures.

## Typical refractive ranges

Exact limits depend on lens model and eye anatomy.

- Myopia roughly from about -0.5 to around -18 to -20 dioptres
- Hyperopia up to around +10 dioptres in some designs
- Astigmatism typically up to about 3-6 dioptres with toric ICLs
- Both spherical error and astigmatism assessed together to choose lens type
- Prescriptions should be stable on repeated tests before surgery

## When ICL is particularly helpful

It fills gaps where glasses, contacts, or laser are less ideal.

- Very high myopia causing thick, heavy glasses or strong contacts
- Hyperopia where corneal laser would require large tissue removal
- Mixed astigmatic errors that can be addressed by toric designs
- Eyes with adequate internal space but borderline corneal thickness
- Patients wanting a reversible, intraocular approach to correction