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What are Intraocular lenses?
An intraocular lens (IOL) is
a lens implanted in the eye used to treat cataracts or myopia. The most
common type of IOL for cataract treatment are known as psuedophakic IOLs
which work by replacing the crystalline lens which has been clouded over
by cataracts.
The second type of IOL, more commonly known as a phakic IOL (PIOL), is
a lens which is placed over the existing natural lens used in refractive
surgery to change the eye's optical power as a treatment for myopia or
nearsightedness. IOLs usually consists of a small plastic lens with
plastic side struts, called haptics, to hold the lens in place within the
capsular bag inside the eye.
Most IOLs fitted today are fixed monofocal lenses matched to distance
vision. However, other types are available, such as multifocal IOLs which
provide the patient with multiple-focused vision at far and reading
distance, and adaptive IOLs which provide the patient with limited visual
accommodation.
Which
lens to choose? There
are various lenses one can choose from, but the eye surgeons will guide
you towards what is best for you and your lifestyle.
Lenses
Available at the Eye Clinic:
-
AcrySof®
IQ IOLs have
been developed with aspheric optical correction (just like expensive
camera lenses) for improved image quality for patients following cataract
surgery. AcrySof® IQ is a single-piece IOL with aspheric optics benefiting from the unique AcrySof® material and suitable for
very small incision surgery.
-
AcrySof®
Toric IOLs
have been designed to improve outcomes for cataract patients with corneal
astigmatism.
-
AcrySof®
ReSTOR® is
a multifocal IOL which utilises a unique combination of refractive and
apodized diffractive optics to provide both distance and near vision for
unsurpassed spectacle independence. AcrySof® ReSTOR® Aspheric adds
aspheric correction to further improve image quality and further reduce
unwanted visual effects.
-
Cachet
Phakic Lens Implant is
an intracorneal lens that can be implanted to those who do not qualify for
laser eye correction. Ideally the patient is less than 45 years of age.
Do
I need Permanent Lens Replacement? Is it for me?
If you suffer from any form of poor eyesight and would like to enjoy clear
vision at all times, you can benefit from Permanent Lens Replacement
surgery. When the pros are weighed against the cons, it is an easy ch
oice for anyone considering it. The procedure allows you to no longer rely on glasses or contact lenses that are normally used to correct
myopia (nearsightedness) and also prevents the future build up of
cataracts and the surgery needed to remove them. If you have a certain level of astigmatism, you could benefit from Intraocular Lenses.
Mild, moderate or severe myopia as well as an ever-changing vision
correction prescription can also be rectified with IOL surgery.
Permanent
Lens Replacement is also extremely beneficial to those who do not qualify
for PRK surgery and need an ulterior method.
If
you would like to find out more about whether or not you require a
Permanent Lens Replacement, or would simply like to know more, please
contact Linda Briggs in Hungary.
How
is it treated? The
procedure is called clear lens extraction or lensectomy. The
surgery is similar to that of cataract surgery.
Treatment
Process
Preparation for surgery:
You will be asked to come to the eye clinic about an hour before
the scheduled time of your surgery. During this time you will be escorted to the waiting area and a nurse will ask you some health
related questions. Also your nurse will put some drops in your eye
s to dilate your pupil. These drops might sting a little.
Your surgeon will then come and talk to you and answer any further
questions that you might have.
Eating,
drinking and medications:
Your operation will be under local anaesthetic and you can eat and drink
as normal before and after the surgery. You should take
your regular medication as you would normally. To reduce anxiety, you
may be offered a sedative drug to help you relax during the procedure.
Please bring a list of your current medications with you. Blood tests will
also be carried out, if required, on a day prior to your surgery date.
Consent: The
surgeon performing your surgery will ask your permission to perform a
particular treatment or investigation. You will be asked to sign a consent form that says you have agreed to the treatment and that you
understand the benefits, risks and alternatives. If there is anything
you don’t understand or you need more time to think about it, please
tell the staff caring for you. Remember, it is your decision. You
can change your mind at any time, even if you have signed the consent
form. Let the staff know immediately if you change your mind. Your wi
shes will be respected at all times.
The
surgery:
The surgery involves removing the cloudy lens and replacing it with an
artificial lens. It is performed as a day surgery under l
ocal anaesthesia, so you are awake, but your eye will not feel any
pain. You will not be able to see properly during the surgery,
but you may notice bright lights or colours. You will need to
lie relatively still during the operation; if you need to coug
h or adjust your position, please warn your surgeon. A s
mall incision will be made in the side of your eye and ultrasound probes
used in a technique called ‘phacoemulsification’ to remove
the natural lens of your eye, and then replace it with an artificial lens.
This is made of a special kind of material and stays in your
eyes forever, only rarely needing replacement. Measurements taken be
fore the operation help us decide which lens is best for you. The clinic offers different kinds of lenses, but this will be discussed with you
by the surgeon to make sure that the result of the surgery meets your
expectations. Surgery is usually sutureless and takes approximatel
y 20 minutes.
Complications
What Can Happen? Permanent Lens Replacement is usually very successful, with over 95 out of 100
noticing an improvement in their vision after the surgery if there are no
other pre-existing eye conditions. However, it is important to rea
lise that there is always a risk of complications associated with
any operation, and some of the complications that may occur during the
operation include:
-
-
Damage
to other structures of the eye including the capsule surrounding the lens.
-
Incomplete
removal of the cataract.
-
Part
of the cataract falling into the back of the eye.
Some
of the above complications can be dealt with at the time of the surgery or
just afterwards.
Possible complications occurring after the surgery include:
-
-
Fluid
accumulating at the back of the eye (in the retina, the light-sensitive
layer at the back of the eye).
-
Detachment
of the retina.
-
Clouding
of the membrane behind the lens
These
complications can sometimes occur even if the operation itself is carried
out perfectly. Many of these complications are manageable, although it may mean that other treatments may be required and the recovery
period may be longer than usual. This may include the need for additional
surgery. The most serious consequence of all the complications is the risk
of loss of vision in extreme rare cases.
Acrysof
Cachet lens implant:
The cachet lens works with your natural lens to focus light onto your
retina to correct your distance vision. It is placed in the anterior chamber of your eye and is intended to remain there as long as you
need it. The cachet lens was designed to correct nearsightedness.
However, this is not the only vision treatment available. There are
also laser vision correction procedures, such as wavefront optimized PRK,
which correct vision, to see things in the distance without the help of
eyeglasses or contacts. However, not everyone is a good candidate
for PRK. The implantation of a phakic lens is another surgical alternative that you can choose to correct your nearsightedness.
Each treatment option carries with it unique benefits and risks that you
should fully understand in making your decision
More
about the Acrysof Cachet Lens:
The cachet lens is the only phakic lens made entirely from Acrysof lens
material – a soft flexible material developed specifically for use i
n the eye. It is a round lens centered in the eye that focuses the im
ages you see on the back of the eye. This lens was designed with
tiny flexible supports called haptics that keep the lens in place once
inserted, but do not attach to the eye. The lens can be remove
d if necessary.
Are
you a candidate for the Cachet Lens? You may consider a Cachet
lens implant if:
-
You
have moderate to high myopia between -6.0D and -16.5D.
-
You
are at least 21 years of age.
-
Your
eye glasses or contact lens prescription hasn’t changed for at le
ast 1 year.
-
Your
doctor determines that your anterior chamber has a depth greater than or
equal to 3.2mm (including your cornea)
Contraindications:
-
History
of eye inflammations, since the presence of this lens may worsen such
conditions.
-
Family
history of glaucoma.
-
Pupils
greater than 7mm, since visual disturbances may occur with larger pupils.
-
Less
than required density of endothelial cells (as determined by your doctor).
Endothelial cells line the inside of your cornea and help keep it c
lear for light to pass through.
-
Existing
astigmatism greater than 2.0D, since this may affect the quality of the
outcome.
-
Pregnant
or breastfeeding.
-
-
Excessive
rubbing of the eye
Planning
for surgery: The
following might be necessary as part of the preparation for your eye
surgery:
-
You
may be given a prescription for antibiotic drops to put into your eyes for
a specified period in advance of the surgery.
-
Your
eye doctor may ask you to stop wearing your contact lenses before surgery.
-
Your
eye doctor may ask you to temporarily stop taking certain medications at a specified time before surgery, depending on the medication and the
condition being treated
On
the day of surgery: After you arrive at the clinic for your surgery, you should make sure that
you ask any remaining questions you may still have. Once you are ready, drops will be put in your eyes, and you will be prepared for the
procedure. You will be offered something to help you relax and drops
will be instilled into your eyes to numb them so
that you will not feel anything during the procedure.
The
procedure: The
doctor will make a tiny incision in the sclera. The incision required
for the Cachet lens implant is so tiny that it typically does not require
any stitches. A fluid will then be placed in your eye to protect the
back of the cornea. Next the Phakic lens will be inserted with a special injector that allows the lens to unfold precisely in the eye so that
the tiny supports rest in the natural angle where your iris meets your
cornea. After the lens is in place, the doctor will remove any ex
cess fluid, place some antibiotic drops or ointment in your eye, and then
cover it with a protective transparent shield.
Post
-surgery: After
the surgery has been completed, you will be taken to a recovery room and
allowed to rest. An implant identification card will be given to you,
which you should keep safe with your medical records. Between two and
six hours later, your eye doctor will examine you to make sure everything
is going well, including checking the pressure within your eye. Once
the doctor decides that you are fit and ready to leave, you will be
allowed to go back to your hotel or apartment accompanied by your Linda
Briggs in Hungary representative. Your doctor may ask you to rest for the remainder of the day – with the instruction that
there must be no lifting, exercise or other strenuous activity. You may
experience some minor discomfort after the procedure. If this is an issue for you, your doctor will be able to prescribe pain medication to
make you more comfortable. Your doctor may prescribe antibiotic eye drops
in order to prevent infection and steroid drops to minimize any swelling.
It is important that you carefully follow your doctor’s directions for using these drops. You should be careful not to rub your eye
excessively as this could affect the placement of the lens. You
will be seen again by your doctor the day after the surgery.
Expectations:Some
patients experience improved vision right away, but it could take 2 to 4
weeks for your vision to stabilise. In the first few days, as your
eye begins to heal, your vision may be a little fuzzy or blurry, or
sensitive to light. You may also experience glare or halos around lig
hts. These symptoms usually go away as your eye recovers. If
you experience prolonged or severe pain in your eye or other unusual
symptoms (bleeding, blank spots, debris), you should contact your eye
doctor immediately. You will be given a follow-up appointments after 1
week, and it is recommended that you return for a check up after 6 months,
if possible, and then on a yearly basis.
Long
term care:It
is very important to follow your doctor’s advice for your eye
care following surgery. The condition of your lens could change without you noticing that anything is different, so your doctor needs the
opportunity to regularly examine the health of your eye. If you develop any irregularities with your vision, such as flashing lights, blank
spots or unusual pain, you must contact our clinic immediately. It is important that you continue to have regular eye exams including the
monitoring of your endothelial cell density, on a yearly basis. Thi
s is especially important should you need eye surgery in the future.
Complications
What
Can Happen? Permanent Lens Replacement is usually very successful, with over 95 out of
every 100 patients noticing an improvement in their vision after the
surgery, if there are no other pre-existing eye conditions. However
, it is important to realise that there is always a risk of complications
associated with any operation, and some of the complications that may
occur during the operation include:
-
-
Damage
to other structures of the eye including the capsule surrounding the lens.
-
Incomplete
removal of the cataract.
-
Part
of the cataract falling into the back of the eye.
Some
of these complications can be dealt with at the time of the surgery or
shortly after surgery.
Potential
complications occurring after the operation include:
-
-
Fluid
accumulating at the back of the eye (in the retina, the light-sensitive
layer at the back of the eye).
-
Detachment
of the retina.
-
Clouding
of the membrane behind the lens
These
complications can sometimes occur even if the operation itself is carried
out perfectly. Many of these complications are manageable, although it may mean that other treatments may be required and the recovery
period may be longer than usual. This may include the need for additional
surgery. The most serious consequence of all the complications is
the risk of loss of vision in extreme rare cases. If the membrane be
hind the artificial lens becomes cloudy, this will make your vision blurry
again. If this happens, laser treatment may be needed some time after the
surgery, restoring back your clear vision.
It should be stressed that these risks are not common and that all
necessary precautions will be taken by the professional staff to ensure
that you have an uneventful procedure. |
