Cataract lens replacement is the most recent and important advancement in treating cataract patients since the 80s. Before the invention of cataract lens replacements, also known as intraocular lens implants or IOLs, a cataract surgeon requires their patients to use thick glasses or contact lens for their eyes after surgery. Let’s learn more about these lens implants in this article.
Cataract Lens Replacement: Your Burning Questions Answered
1. Who will benefit from a cataract lens replacement?
People with cataracts or have refractive issues such as astigmatism in their eyes can elect to undergo cataract lens replacement surgery. Although the surgery can also be effective for people suffering age-related macular degeneration, an ophthalmologist has to check for cloudy lens and retinal health before prescribing the operation. In many cases, eye doctors prescribe reading glasses or contact lenses to improve vision first.
2. What are cataract replacement lenses made of?
An intraocular lens or IOL can consist of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), hydrophilic acrylate, Collamer, hydrophobic acrylate, and silicone. PMMA is the first material used for IOL but recent developments allowed for the use of more flexible materials like silicone, which allowed surgeons to make smaller incisions in order to insert the IOL.
3. What are cataract lens replacement options?
Patients possess a wide-range of options with regard to cataract lens replacements. Toric IOLs or monofocal fixed-focus IOLs correct vision in one range only: either near, intermediate, or far distance. Multifocal IOLs, on the other hand, improve sight in multiple distances. Meanwhile accommodating IOLs adjust and improve vision by changing its position in the eyes.
4. What are common cataract lens replacement problems?
Basically, the issues are similar to the ones patients potentially encounter with cataract surgery. These include eye inflammation, posterior capsule opacity, IOL dislocation, light sensitivity, macular edema, droopy eyelids, ocular hypertension, lens detachment, and photopsia or flashes of light.
5. When does one get a cataract lens replacement surgery?
One gets a cataract lens replacement once an eye doctor or eye surgeon prescribes it to correct refractive vision issues. If you are suffering from myopia, presbyopia, or astigmatism, approach your doctor for medical advice about the procedure.
6. Why get a cataract lens replacement?
Refractive lens exchange or cataract lens surgery can improve a patient’s quality of life if they are suffering from a refractive eye issue arising from cloudy lens or from presbyopia (an age-related condition related to the hardening of one’s natural lens which compromises vision). For these cases, a cataract surgeon uses a presbyopia-correcting IOL in order to help the patient’s vision get better.
7. How is a cataract lens replacement surgery done?
The entire procedure lasts for about 15 minutes. First, the surgeon uses anesthetic eye drops to nullify the pain. After, the cataract surgeon makes a small incision to remove the cloudy lens before replacing it with an IOL. Patients report an instant improvement in the quality of their vision after the procedure.
8. How long is cataract lens replacement recovery time for cataract patients?
Doctors prescribe patients with a recovery time of a week for each eye. Cataract patients will need to rest and recover for several weeks in order to fully recuperate from the operation. The good news is that patients report vision improvements as soon as the operation is done.
9. How long does a cataract lens replacement last?
Provided there are no quality-control issues, each cataract lens replacement or IOL is designed to last a lifetime. Each cataract patient who receives an IOL should be able to enjoy clearer vision for a long period of time.
Here’s an educational video on cataract removal and intraocular lenses from Media Learning Technologies if you want to know more about the procedure:
There is no clearer indicator that health is wealth than vision. Since issues with our natural lens occur with time, cataract lens replacement may be unavoidable for most of us. We hope this article has brought you comfort and enlightenment if you find anything related to lens replacement confusing or anxiety-inducing.
Do you want to learn more about interocular lens or IOLs? We can also talk about the different kinds of IOLs and focus on what they can do specifically. These premium IOLs can make an impact on patients’ sights for the better. Please write your comments in the comments section below.
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