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MISSOULA - It's been a little over two months since the first implantable contact lens surgery was performed in Missoula.

Patient and University of Montana alum Casey Lang says it's been great to actually wake up and see the alarm clock without fumbling to put on glasses.

"Knowing I can just lean over and see the clock and the clock is there, nothing is in front of it." Since he was a little boy, Casey was nearly legally blind and his vision was only getting worse until he had ICL surgery.

Dr. Nedrud and his staff at the Rocky Mountain Lasik and Eye Center corrected Casey's vision back in August. The procedure took roughly 15 to 20 minutes per eye and just hours after the contact was implanted, Casey could see with almost 20/20 vision in each eye.

Nedrud says Casey was the perfect candidate for ICL surgery because his vision was too poor for the Lasik procedure.

Now when Casey referees, he can see each play as if he's watching it in high-definition, "It's great, I love it. There's definitely a little more confidence with it."

Not only can Casey see perfectly now, he says the response from the community has been huge. Four people have had the implantable contact lens surgery performed since Casey.

"People have come up to me and said, how is your son doing? The interest is out there and I think that's what he wanted to generate too, is to let people know there is this procedure out there," Casey's mother Carol said.

As he says goodbye to the contact clutter, Casey says hello to a life of sharp vision, "as long as my eyes are open, I can see clear."

Casey says he has had two follow-up appointments since the surgery and he hasn't experienced any negative side effects.

The procedure for Casey cost roughly $7,600.

Contact Robin O'Day