Lens Implants
For those who have suffered vision loss due to cataracts or presbyopia (hardening of the lens), lens implants represent an important ophthalmic development. By way of a surgical procedure, your eye surgeon can remove your natural lens and replace it with a small intraocular lens (IOL) that will result in greatly improved vision.
Unlike eyeglasses and contact lenses that correct vision in front of the eye, IOLs are inserted into the eye. In essence, the damaged natural lens is removed and replaced with an artificial lens. The benefits of lens implants are obvious in that they eliminate the need to wear thick “coke bottle” glasses that years ago were commonly associated with cataract patients. And, depending on your particular condition, lens implants may greatly reduce or eliminate the need for eyeglasses completely.
Risks and safety. When you think about eye surgery — particularly the removal and replacement of a natural lens — you are probably naturally concerned about risks and safety. Lens implant surgery has been performed for over three decades and various techniques have been developed and improved over the years. Rigorous testing in the U.S., Europe, and Asia has demonstrated that implant surgery is safe and effective, with a complication rate of less than five percent.
Procedure. As with most surgery, a patient’s overall medical condition and health issues are evaluated prior to performing the procedure, which is usually performed on an outpatient basis in less than 20 minutes. After the application of a local anesthetic, a small incision is made, the cataract removed, and the IOL is inserted. Typically, no stitches are necessary, and following a brief precautionary recovery period, the patient can be discharged. Depending on your situation, there is usually a several-week interim between procedures when both eyes are being treated.
In this section learn about these various lens implant options. . .