Intraocular Lens Surgery

Most of the causes of decreased visual acuity are related to eye lens problems. A good solution for these cases is intraocular lens surgery.

The human eye is an anatomical structure that refracts light entering the eye through lenses, and the crystalline lens is the most important of them all. Many health problems can affect eye structures, so in some cases we need to take corrective action. One of the available treatments for ocular lens refractive errors is intraocular lens surgery.

The main function of the refractive medium is to cause the light rays to hit a certain point in the retina to achieve maximum visual acuity. When there is a problem with the cornea or crystalline lens, light hits the wrong place, causing the person various vision problems.

Intraocular lens surgery is a medical treatment for solving refractive and cataract problems. In this form of treatment, a colorless natural lens is placed in the eye to repair or replace a damaged crystalline lens. It is an area where many experts have made many advances as well as innovations.

What can change the way the lens works?

The lens is the main structure that focuses to direct light into the retina. When the function of the lens changes, a person experiences vision problems and other eye symptoms.

Various diseases can affect this structure, and cataracts are one of the most common. Cataracts are the presence of opacity in a crystalline lens of varying magnitude.

It is an age-related health problem that is more common in the elderly. Other diseases of the crystalline lens that affect its function are as follows:

Presbyopia (vision)
Capsule opacity
Pseudoexfoliative syndrome (PXF)

There are also diseases that do not directly affect the lens but can alter its function. Such diseases include myopia, hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism (astigmatism). All of these diseases change the point at which light hits the retina, leading to blurred vision.

Cataracts can lead to blindness, and therefore surgery is recommended in advanced cases.

When is intraocular lens surgery necessary?

Intraocular lens surgery is a technique that has been used by doctors for many years to correct refractive errors. In addition to this, surgery helps a person get rid of glasses and contact lenses. In the past, doctors only recommended this surgery when the disease was advanced. In recent years, however, doctors have also used it to correct milder cases.

This treatment is used to treat two different diseases: refractive diseases and cataracts. Thus, the lens used and the form of treatment may vary depending on a person’s health problems.

Folding errors

In general, experts recommend this surgery for all those with noticeable refractive errors in the lens of the eye. In addition, it is used in patients for whom it is not possible to perform laser surgery on the superficial or deep layers of the cornea.

The lenses used in patients with refractive errors are phakic intraocular lenses. The expert places this lens in the anterior or posterior chamber of the eye without removing the patient’s own crystalline lens. In this way, the device redirects the light and directs it at the retina.

Cataract

This disease causes blurring in the lens of the eye, so light cannot pass properly through the lens. Thus, blindness is common in people with cataracts. According to the National Ophthalmology Institute, the use of spectacles helps in the early stages, but in advanced cases, the treatments available are more invasive.

One of the most commonly used treatments for cataract patients is intraocular lens surgery. In this case, doctors use pseudophakic lenses to correct the problem. Surgery involves removing and replacing the crystalline lens. This procedure is also useful in patients over 45 years of age with presbyopia.

What is intraocular lens surgery like?

The surgery is very fast and usually takes about 30 minutes if there are no complications. Preparation for surgery begins a week before surgery, when the ophthalmologist makes small laser holes between the anterior chamber of the eye and the lens to prevent an increase in intraocular pressure.

It is also possible that the use of antibiotics and NSAIDs will start a few days before surgery to avoid complications. In most cases, the procedure for cutting an intraocular lens is as follows:

The patient lies on his back and the doctor uses local anesthesia to prevent ocular sensory innervation. They may administer sedatives to calm the patient.
The doctor then removes all the bacteria in the eye area and opens the eyelids with a special instrument called an ophthalmic.
Lubricant must be applied to the cornea to avoid injury. A small incision is then made in the eye and an intraocular lens is placed.
The specialist removes the corneal lubricant and closes the incision with very thin sutures.
When the suture is complete, lubricating oil is applied to the surface of the eye and the eye is closed with a patch.

The benefits of surgery

The biggest benefit that patients notice is the improvement in visual acuity. In addition, the lenses are so thin that it is quite inconspicuous and does not cause discomfort.

Other benefits of intraocular lens surgery:

It can be used to cure severe diseases that traditional lenses cannot cure.
Significantly improves night vision.
Eliminates dependence on glasses or contact lenses.
They can also be removed if necessary.
Recovery is rapid and dryness of the eyes does not usually occur.

Intraocular lens surgery is a quick procedure.

Placing an intraocular lens is an operation that does not require much time. However, it requires some preparation to avoid infections.

Potential risks and complications

As with all surgical procedures, there are risks associated with intraocular lens surgery. However, the chances of these risks materializing are very small.

On the other hand, one of the most serious complications is detachment and movement of the mounted lens within the eye. Fortunately, this is very rare. Other possible complications include:

Corneal edema
Postoperative infections
Glaucoma and loss of visual acuity
Retinal detachment

Another complication of surgery is the formation of posterior cataracts. However, its incidence is also low and unrelated to age. The studies found it in only 46 patients out of a total of 1,653 cases studied.