Lens Replacement
Frustrated with reading glasses?
Lens replacement surgery may be an option worth exploring.
Lens Replacement Surgery
Lens replacement surgery removes the eye’s natural lens and replaces it with a clear artificial lens called an intraocular lens, or IOL. This is the same basic surgical approach used in cataract surgery. When it is performed to reduce dependence on glasses before a cataract becomes significant, it is often called refractive lens exchange or clear lens replacement.
For many adults over 45, lens replacement can address common age-related vision changes such as presbyopia, along with nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. The goal is simple: clearer vision with less reliance on glasses or contacts for everyday activities.
Here at Mattax Neu Prater Eye Center, patients have access to advanced technology replacement lenses and experienced eye surgeons who help match treatment to each person’s vision needs and lifestyle.
What Is Lens Replacement?
This procedure may be recommended for two main reasons:
- To treat cataracts, when a cloudy lens is affecting day-to-day life such as reading, driving, or watching TV.
- To reduce dependence on glasses, especially for adults with presbyopia or higher prescriptions who may not be ideal candidates for LASIK or PRK.
An important long-term benefit is that once the natural lens is removed and replaced with an IOL, that lens cannot develop a cataract later.
Choose The Right Lifestyle Lens For You
Depending on your lifestyle and vision needs, there are a variety of lenses to choose from. Click on the link below to view the types of lenses available and talk with your doctor to determine the one best suited for your needs.
Astigmatism-Correcting Lifestyle Lenses Do you wear glasses? Now you may have another option.
Sometimes, the surface of the cornea is curved more like the surface of a football, with both flat and steep curves. This uneven curvature (astigmatism) distorts vision because light rays are not focused to a single spot on the retina. This can have a significant effect on the quality of vision.
An implantable astigmatism-correcting toric lens makes it possible to treat this condition. The toric IOL is implanted during surgery to provide quality distance vision independent of glasses and contact lenses.
Toric lenses can tremendously improve the quality of vision for those who have astigmatism, far more than is possible with a standard IOL. Ask your eye doctor for more information about astigmatism-correcting toric lens options.
Presbyopia-Correcting Lifestyle Lenses Are you looking to enjoy a full range of vision, while reducing or eliminating the need for glasses?
As we age, the eye's lens naturally begins to harden and becomes less flexible, preventing the lens from changing shape to focus on close-up images. This is called presbyopia. Multifocal lenses restore your ability to focus on near objects. The result is clearer vision at all distances without the aid of glasses and contacts.
Multifocal lenses and extended depth of focus lenses have been shown to offer an even greater level of magnification for near objects than other lenses. The multifocal IOL contains added magnification in different parts of the lens, which focuses light at different distances. This is what allows the eye to focus clearly without glasses at all distances.
Light Adjustable Lenses The First and Only Lens Adjusted After Surgery
Most IOLs are designed for a specific vision outcome before surgery and cannot be changed once they have been implanted. The Light Adjustable Lens (LAL) is the only IOL that can be customized to your vision needs after surgery.
LAL lenses are made of a special photosensitive material that changes the shape and power of the implanted lens in response to ultraviolet (UV) light. The light treatment procedure can be adjusted and performed multiple times to ensure the lens fits your vison needs. Once the desired outcome has been achieved, you will receive a final light treatment and no further changes will be needed. The lens will be set and UV light will no longer affect its shape.
Proven Safe and Effective
Lens replacement is the same procedure used in other vision correction surgeries and has a proven track record of safety and success.
What Happens Durning Surgery?
Lens replacement surgery is typically an outpatient procedure, meaning you go home the same day. The eye is numbed with drops, and while you may be awake, you should not feel pain during the procedure.
During surgery, the surgeon makes a very small opening, removes the natural lens, and places the new IOL inside the eye. Modern surgery uses advanced techniques to break up and remove the lens through a tiny incision. In many cases, the incision is small enough that stitches are not needed.
If both eyes need surgery, they are usually treated on separate days.
How Is Recovery?
It is normal for vision to be a bit blurry right after surgery. Many patients notice improvement within a few days, while complete healing takes longer. The eye may take up to eight weeks to fully heal, even though many people return to normal routines much sooner.
Temporary symptoms can include:
- Mild blur or fluctuation in vision.
- A scratchy or gritty feeling.
- Redness or watering.
- Halos or glare around lights, especially early in healing and more commonly with multifocal-style lenses.
Your surgeon may prescribe eye drops and provide instructions about driving, exercise, swimming, and returning to work. It is important to follow those directions closely.
