IOL Eye Surgery

Intraocular lens surgery is a safe and effective treatment for presbyopia, and it is the only procedure that effectively treats cataracts. The subject of extensive research and rigorous testing, intraocular lens surgery has helped millions of people worldwide restore their vision.

Intraocular Lens Candidates

If you are in good health and have sufficient corneal thickness, there is a good chance you will be eligible to improve your vision with intraocular lenses.

Cataract Patients

Cataracts are as inevitable as gray hair. If you live long enough, you have a near certain probability of getting cataracts. Cataracts are not just limited to those who have reached their golden years. Cataracts have also been linked to eye injuries, genetics, overexposure to sunlight, and some medications, and they can afflict young adults and even children. Most surgery for vision correction with intraocular lenses, however, is performed on older individuals.

You may be a candidate for intraocular lenses if you are between the ages of 21 and 80 and cataracts have caused you to experience:

• Blurred vision
• Difficulty driving at night because of glare
• Problems reading
• Overall diminished vision that is not improved by your recent-prescription contact lenses or glasses

Presbyopia Patients

Another unavoidable part of growing older is presbyopia. As we reach middle age, we all begin to notice that our vision gradually loses acuity for near-vision tasks such as reading. The problem occurs because as people grow older, the natural crystalline lens in the eyes becomes rigid and loses its ability to focus correctly. If you suffer from presbyopia and prefer not to use reading glasses or bifocals, intraocular lenses offer an effective solution.

General IOL Requirements

Prior to accepting you for intraocular lens surgery, your ophthalmologist will assess your general health and the health of your eyes. You are a likely candidate for intraocular lenses if you:

• Are in good health
• Have healthy eyes free of disease and infection
• Have sufficient corneal thickness
• Are between the ages of 21 and 80
• You may not be eligible for intraocular lenses if you:
• Have diabetes or hepatitis C
• Suffer from persistently dry eyes
• Have excessive corneal scarring
• Are taking certain drugs
• Use a pacemaker
• Are pregnant
• Are HIV positive

Intraocular Lens (IOL) Procedure

Intraocular lens surgery takes a short time to complete, but its benefits last a lifetime. Replacing the eye's natural crystalline lens with an advanced biocompatible substitute gives those suffering from cataracts or presbyopia a level of vision correction unattainable with glasses or contact lenses alone.

IOL Eye Surgery

In most cases, intraocular lens surgery can be performed in less than an hour. During the outpatient procedure, the ophthalmologist will remove the eye’s natural lens that was affected by a cataract or presbyopia. The methods for removing the damaged lens may vary based on the type of cataract surgery performed.

Once the eye’s natural lens is removed, the surgeon will continue the intraocular lens surgery by implanting the IOL. While there may be some variation to the procedure due to the different types of IOLs used, most intraocular lens surgery involves the ophthalmologist placing the intraocular lens implant in the eye through a small, self-healing incision. The surgeon will typically fold the intraocular lens implant to properly fit it through the incision. Once in the eye, the IOL opens to its permanent position. Although not used as often, a non-foldable IOL may be inserted during intraocular lens surgery, resulting in a slightly larger incision. Your ophthalmologist can discuss the various types of IOLs available and which IOL will be most effectivefor your surgery.

IOL Results

Most patients are very happy with the results of their intraocular lens surgery, and manufacturers cite the benefits of their intraocular lenses with success rates that are truly impressive. Among the noteworthy are:

• Makers of ReSTOR® intraocular lenses report that after cataract surgery 80 percent of patients never had to wear glasses, and nearly 94 percent of patients were very satisfied with their results.
• A study by the American Academy of Ophthalmology showed that after receiving ReZoom™ intraocular lenses, 100 percent of patients could see well at far distances, 95 percent had good middle vision, and 71 percent had functional near vision. The study also found that 67 percent of participants did not use glasses at all in six months following the procedure.
• Eyeonics, Inc., reports that more than 98 percent of patients who had crystalens® intraocular lenses implanted in both eyes could pass a driver's test without the aid of glasses. One hundred percent of patients had intermediate vision improvement adequate for most everyday tasks, and more than 98 percent could read a newspaper or telephone book without glasses.
• According to the manufacturer of the TECNIS™ IOL, because this lens was designed with Wavefront™ technology, it provides superior vision-correction benefits over other intraocular lenses, including 31 percent better contrast sensitivity in normal light and a 51 percent improvement in contrast sensitivity in low light in comparison to traditional IOLs.

IOL Eye Surgery Recovery

The recovery time for intraocular lens surgery is relatively short. In most circumstances, you should return for a follow-up visit within 24 hours of receiving the intraocular lens implant. You should be able to resume some normal activities, including light work, watching television, and reading within a day of your intraocular lens surgery, but you should not undertake any activity that may cause your blood pressure to rise or that may put pressure on your eye. In addition, you must also be sure to not rub your eyes. Some surgeons will give patients a clear shield to wear over the eye after intraocular lens surgery.

It may take several weeks to realize the full extent of vision correction achieved with the IOL. Most ophthalmologists will encourage you to wait four to six weeks before obtaining new glasses. If you choose multifocal IOLs for your intraocular lens implants, you may eliminate or greatly reduce the need for corrective eyewear.

Talk to a Doctor in Your Area for More Information

Contact an IOL ophthalmologist to learn more about the benefits of intraocular lens surgery and how it can provide outstanding vision correction for those suffering from cataracts or presbyopia. Use our convenient online DocShop directory to find a highly qualified IOL ophthalmologist in your area.