Dr. Nikpoor Leads Honolulu in Advanced EVO ICL Technology

Waking up and seeing clearly without reaching for glasses or fumbling with contacts is something many people assume is out of reach for them. Maybe you’ve been told your corneas are too thin for LASIK. Maybe your prescription is too strong. Maybe dry eye has always been a concern. If any of that sounds familiar, there’s something you should know: EVO ICL was designed exactly for you.

At Jenkins Eye Care in Honolulu, board-certified ophthalmologist Dr. Neda Nikpoor is one of Hawaiʻi’s most experienced EVO ICL surgeons — and one of the few in the country asked to teach other surgeons how it’s done. This blog will walk you through exactly what EVO ICL is, why it works so well for the right patients, and what makes Dr. Nikpoor uniquely equipped to guide you through it.

The Technology Behind EVO ICL

EVO ICL stands for EVO Implantable Collamer® Lens. It’s a micro-thin, biocompatible lens that is placed inside the eye between the iris and the natural lens to correct nearsightedness (myopia) with or without astigmatism. Unlike LASIK or PRK, which reshape the cornea by removing tissue, EVO ICL is additive. Nothing is taken away from your eye. The lens works in harmony with your natural eye.

The lens is made from Collamer, a material that combines collagen with a flexible polymer. This material has been used in the eye for over 30 years and is recognized for its exceptional biocompatibility, meaning the body does not react to it or try to reject it. Once in place, the lens is invisible to anyone looking at you, and you won’t be able to feel it either.

One of the most important features of the EVO design is its tiny central port — a small opening in the lens that allows fluid inside the eye to flow naturally on both sides. Earlier versions of the implantable collamer lens required a separate laser procedure before surgery to manage fluid pressure. The EVO’s built-in port eliminates that step, making the procedure simpler and recovery smoother.

A 2024 study published in Clinical Ophthalmology — the largest single-center study of EVO ICL patients in the United States — found that among patients whose vision was correctable to 20/20 before surgery, 95.2% achieved 20/20 or better without any correction just one month after their procedure. That kind of outcome speaks for itself.

The Candidacy Question — Who Benefits Most

You may have heard of LASIK, and you may even have already looked into it. For many people, it’s a great option. But LASIK removes corneal tissue, which means there has to be enough of it to work with safely. Patients with thin or irregular corneas, high prescriptions, or pre-existing dry eye often don’t qualify — not because vision correction isn’t possible, but because LASIK specifically isn’t the right tool for their eyes.

That’s where EVO ICL steps in. Because the procedure doesn’t alter the cornea at all, it opens the door to clear vision for a much broader group of patients. It can correct nearsightedness from -3.00 to -20.00 diopters, with or without astigmatism — a range that extends well beyond what laser surgery can safely address. And because no corneal tissue is removed, there’s no increased risk of dry eye after surgery, a meaningful advantage for patients in Hawaiʻi’s active, outdoor lifestyle.

Ideal candidates for EVO ICL are generally between the ages of 21 and 60, have a stable prescription that hasn’t changed in at least a year, and have healthy eyes with no history of glaucoma, iritis, or diabetic eye disease. If you’ve been told you’re not a LASIK candidate, it’s well worth asking whether EVO ICL might be the right fit. You can check your candidacy here or speak directly with our team.

Dr. Neda Nikpoor — Expertise That Goes Beyond Honolulu

Dr. Nikpoor’s path to Jenkins Eye Care is the kind of story that builds genuine trust. She earned her medical degree from the University of Oklahoma and completed both her residency and a fellowship in Cornea, External Disease, and Refractive Surgery at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami, ranked the #1 eye hospital in the United States. From there, she served as a clinical instructor at Stanford University and spent a year in the developing world doing and teaching complex surgery across Asia and Africa. As part of her commitment to eliminating global blindness, she has since continued that work in places like the Philippines and Marshall Islands..

Her research has appeared in prestigious peer-reviewed journals, including Ophthalmology, Cornea, and The American Journal of Ophthalmology. She holds a leadership position within the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons, serves as a section editor for the CRST Journal, and has been recognized by Castle Connolly as a Top Doctor every year since 2021.

But here is what makes her especially valuable with EVO ICL specifically: STAAR Surgical, the manufacturer of EVO ICL, routinely calls on Dr. Nikpoor to educate other surgeons across the country. She has given lectures, recorded educational videos, and authored articles about EVO ICL both domestically and internationally. She also has experience with the previous generation of this technology — the Visian ICL — giving her a depth of perspective that few surgeons anywhere can match.

When you sit down with Dr. Nikpoor for a consultation, you’re not getting a generalist. You’re getting someone who helped shape how this procedure is taught and performed globally, right here in Honolulu. Learn more about her background on her physician profile page.

The Procedure — A Step-by-Step Look

The EVO ICL procedure is remarkably straightforward given what it achieves. It is performed as an outpatient procedure, typically taking between 10 and 20 minutes per eye. Here’s what to expect:

Before the day of surgery, you’ll have a thorough consultation and pre-operative exam with Dr. Nikpoor and her team. This visit is essential — she will assess your eyes’ dimensions, prescription, corneal health, and overall candidacy to ensure EVO ICL is the right fit for you.

On the day of your procedure, your eyes will be numbed with anesthetic drops. No general anesthesia is required, and most patients feel little to no discomfort during the process. Dr. Nikpoor creates a tiny opening in the cornea, gently folds the flexible lens, and positions it precisely behind the iris and in front of your natural lens.

You’ll have a follow-up appointment the same day, and most patients notice a dramatic improvement in vision within hours. Many return to work the very next day. The lens itself does not adhere to any structures within the eye, does not move once in place, and is not visible to anyone, not even to you.

One of the most reassuring aspects of EVO ICL is that while it is designed to be a permanent solution, it is also fully removable by your surgeon if your vision needs ever change. This flexibility is something that simply isn’t possible with LASIK. If you ever need cataract surgery decades from now, or if your prescription shifts significantly, the lens can be updated or removed. That kind of adaptability matters.

The Benefits — Clarity, Comfort, and Confidence

Patients who choose EVO ICL consistently describe a meaningful shift in their daily lives. The sharpness of vision — especially in low-light conditions like early morning or nighttime driving — is one of the most commonly noted improvements. Because the Collamer material mimics the natural optical properties of the eye so closely, patients often report that EVO ICL vision feels completely natural from day one.

Here is what makes EVO ICL such a compelling option for the right candidate. The lens provides sharp, clear vision and does not cause or worsen dry eye syndrome. It also builds in UV protection, as the Collamer material naturally blocks harmful ultraviolet rays. The procedure itself is quick, recovery is fast, and the lens sits invisibly inside the eye without any day-to-day maintenance. There are no drops to remember each night, no storage cases, and no discomfort from wearing contacts.

For patients with active lifestyles — surfers, hikers, divers, athletes — these qualities carry real weight. Living in Hawaiʻi means your eyes are exposed to intense sun and water year-round. Having a reversible, low-maintenance vision correction that also protects against UV exposure is genuinely practical, not just appealing.

To explore the full details of this procedure and review the complete list of benefits and safety information, visit our dedicated EVO ICL lens page.

Your Next Step Toward Clearer Vision

If you have spent years wondering whether clear, glasses-free vision is possible for you — especially if you’ve been turned away for LASIK before — this may be the conversation you’ve been waiting to have. Dr. Nikpoor brings a rare combination of global training, peer-recognized expertise, and genuine passion for helping patients in Hawaiʻi see the world more clearly.

The path forward starts with a simple consultation. Our team at Jenkins Eye Care will evaluate your eyes, walk you through your options, and answer every question you have. Vision correction is a personal decision, and you deserve a surgeon who will take the time to get it right.

Ready to See What EVO ICL Can Do for You?

Schedule a free screening with Dr. Nikpoor and find out if EVO ICL is the right fit for your eyes and lifestyle. Call us at (808) 591-9911 or toll-free at (855) 522-2020 for more information.