Drive time per visit (from Waco)
Minutes — you're already home
1.5–2 hours each way to Austin or Dallas
What Is ICL?
The Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL) is a micro-thin lens made from a biocompatible material that is permanently placed between your iris and your natural lens — correcting your vision from inside the eye, without touching your cornea.
Think of it as a permanent contact lens that you never have to insert, remove, or clean. It provides outstanding clarity and UV protection — and unlike LASIK, it can be removed or replaced if your needs ever change.
The EVO ICL has been implanted in over 2 million eyes worldwide and is FDA-approved for prescriptions up to -20 diopters.
Treats prescriptions up to -20 diopters — beyond LASIK's range
Reversible — can be removed or replaced
Does not cause dry eye (cornea untouched)
Built-in UV protection for your natural lens
No daily maintenance — it's permanent
Outstanding night vision and contrast sensitivity
Only available in Waco at Brazos Eye Surgery
Watch an Animation of the ICL Process
Don't Take Our Word for It — Hear It From the Jonas Brothers
Three brothers. One life on stage. See why they chose EVO ICL for vision correction.
Tell me your age to see how much you can save!
Ages 18–65. Used to estimate worry-free distance vision years before typical presbyopia.
CareCredit financing options used for monthly payment comparisons.
Visual independence
Calculating your savings…
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Only $0/mo more than you're already paying.
* Monthly cost is compared against contacts or glasses.
ICL in Waco vs. Driving to Austin or Dallas
Central Texans shouldn't have to burn a day on I-35 to get world-class ICL. When you add up drive time, fuel, hotels, and time off work, "cheaper in the city" often isn't cheaper at all — and your healing deserves more than a car ride home or a hotel room far from home.
Real travel cost
Typical Austin/Dallas care means 3–4 trips highway trips from Waco — about 9–16 hours behind the wheel and $105–200+ in fuel before you count tolls, meals, or time off work.
Your bed, not a hotel
Many metro patients stay overnight for a next-morning post-op exam. That's $130–200+/night on top of surgery — or a long, uncomfortable drive home the same day. We want you home in minutes.
Price-match guarantee
Bring us a written, comparable quote from another provider. We verify it and match or beat verified pricing — so you get fellowship-level care locally without paying metro premiums.
20-Happy guarantee!
While it is illegal to guarantee surgical outcomes, we will be with you every step of the way until you are 20-happy.
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Brazos Eye · Waco
Austin / Dallas
Estimated fuel per round trip
$0 — no highway trip required
$35–50 per visit (≈190–200 mi RT)
Travel for full care (consult, surgery, post-op)
Local — all visits at our Waco office
3–4 trips road trips · 9–16 hours driving · $105–200+ in fuel alone
Where you sleep after surgery
Your own bed — home in minutes, not hours
Often a hotel if you need next-morning post-op before driving home
Travel and hotel figures are typical estimates from Waco based on round-trip mileage, current fuel prices, and standard next-day post-operative scheduling. Individual competitor pricing and staffing models vary; price-match applies to verified written quotes for comparable technology and surgeon credentials.
Keep your ICL close to home — same surgeon from first consult to final follow-up, with pricing we stand behind.
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Real ICL patient experiences from Central Texans who chose local care with Dr. Swann — not a drive to Austin or Dallas.
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Who ICL Is For"Too High for LASIK" Doesn't Mean
"Too High for LASIK" Doesn't Mean
You're Out of Options.
ICL is ideal for patients aged 21–45 with moderate to high nearsightedness, thin corneas, dry eyes, or anyone who has been told they don't qualify for LASIK.
High prescriptions
-3 to -20 diopters nearsightedness
Thin corneas
Cornea too thin for safe laser reshaping
Dry eye sufferers
ICL preserves corneal integrity — no dry eye worsening
Active lifestyle
No flap, no corneal disruption — great for athletes
ICL Questions Answered
What prescriptions does ICL treat?
ICL corrects nearsightedness from -3 to -20 diopters and astigmatism up to 4 diopters — ranges that often exceed what LASIK can safely address.
Is ICL reversible?
Yes — unlike LASIK, the ICL can be removed or replaced if your vision changes significantly later in life. This is a major advantage of ICL over laser-based procedures.
Does ICL cause dry eye?
No. Because ICL does not involve reshaping the cornea, it does not disrupt the corneal nerves responsible for dry eye. It's often the preferred option for patients with existing dry eye.
Can I feel the lens inside my eye?
No. The lens sits behind your iris, completely out of sight and sensation. Most patients forget it's there within days.
What is recovery like?
Most patients notice dramatically improved vision within 24 hours. You'll have a follow-up the next day, and most people return to normal activity within a few days.
Is ICL available in Waco?
Yes — Brazos Eye Surgery of Texas is the only practice in Waco offering ICL. Previously, patients had to travel to Dallas or Austin for this procedure.
Start With a Free ICL Evaluation
We'll measure your corneas, review your prescription, and tell you honestly whether ICL is your best path to clear vision.