(Newswire.net — June 28, 2021) — An intraocular lens replacement is an effective way to cure cataracts, the world’s leading cause of blindness. Most cataract surgeries performed these days use this technique to offer immediate improvements to a cataract patient’s eyesight.
As we age, the lenses of our eyes can become clouded and milky-looking. The lenses consist of water and clear protein, and these proteins change as we age. In some people, unfortunately, the aging process clouds the lens. The lenses are located behind the pupil, so any clouding is visible through the pupil. The vision through eyes with cataracts is just like cataracts look to others, clouded and blurry. And this obstructed vision will increase over time until the patient can see only light and dark.
What is an Intraocular Lens Implant?
There are actually four different types of intraocular lens implants that address different sight conditions. In each case, the lenses are made of a special clear plastic that’s approximately 13.5 to 14 mm in diameter.
The most common intraocular lens implants (IOL) are called monofocal IOLs. This implant stays focused on one distance range that is generally in the field of most far-sighted people. Patients with these IOLs who have used reading glasses before surgery will still need to use them, as the lens doesn’t correct for seeing up close.
There is also a multifocal implant that works like bifocal or progressive glasses and contact lenses. These can take months to get used to as the brain has to adapt to using them.
An accommodating IOL is a flexible lens that acts much like your natural one and focuses at different distances, including close up.
A toric IOL is used when the patient has astigmatism, and their cornea is somewhat oblong-shaped. This lens lessens the all-over blurry effects of astigmatism, so you won’t have to fix the condition by using glasses after the procedure.
It may seem like an obvious thing to choose the intraocular lens implant, which offers the best sight range. But only an ophthalmologist can tell you which lens is right for your particular case.
Lens Replacement Surgery
The surgery for an intraocular lens replacement is very straightforward, and you can usually return home the day of the surgery. The doctor will measure your eye in the days before the surgery and select the right lens for your particular case. They’ll also prescribe some eye drops to take and have you stop wearing contact lenses for a few days beforehand.
On the day of your surgery, the doctor will numb your eye and give you a drug to help you relax. The procedure is pain-free as there are no nerves on or around the lens. They’ll make an incision through your cornea, remove the lens behind the cornea, and replace it with the new lens. No sutures are required, and the cornea will heal itself and hold the new lens in place.
Improve your eyesight immediately with an intraocular lens replacement. Contact ISEC, the International Specialist Eye Centre to find out more about how this procedure can work wonders in restoring the eyesight of cataract patients.