New lens implant options

Implant technology for cataract surgery has improved leaps and bounds in the last 20 years. The evolution started when the first foldable implants were developed. This allowed the implant to be inserted through a 3mm incision. Prior to that the incision needed to be enlarged to 6mm, and needed to be sutured. The foldable implant, made of silicone or acrylic, was the beginning of sutureless surgery. The next big leap was in 1997 with the approval of the first multifocal implant called Array. The multifocal lenses evolved to the ReStor,ReZoom and ReStore 3.0. The Crystalens was also introduced as the only accomodating implant. All of the lenses are designed to give a patient distance and near vision after cataract surgery. Another huge advance is the Toric implant which corrects astigmatism. Just last week it was announced that a lens that corrects distance,near and astigmatism is being used in Europe. With all this new technology it's a great time for patients who need cataract surgery.

Does a Cataract Grow Back?

There is a common misconception that cataracts can grow back after they are removed. I am asked this question every week in the office. I'm here to tell you that they don't grow back. The cataract forms within the natural lens of the eye. During cataract surgery the entire cataract and lens are removed. An implant lens, usually made of acrylic, is placed in the area where the cataract was removed. This lens will stay in the eye for the rest of your life. It can also focus the light so you would not need glasses after surgery.

So why do so many people think that the cataract grows back? The reason is, most patients will later need a laser procedure to clear haze that can form behind the implant. They assume that this is the cataract reforming. It is really the membrane which supports the lens becoming cloudy or hazy over time. It is sometimes called a secondary cataract, which only adds to the confusion. This one minute laser procedure is painless and will clear the vision. The laser only needs to be done once following surgery

What is a Cataract?

There is definitely confusion about what a cataract is. Many people think that it is a film that grows over the eye and can easily be seen. It is actually a clouding or opacification of the natural lens in the eye. The same lens you were born with that has been sitting behind your pupil, now that it is cloudy is called a cataract. This clouding generally occurs gradually due to aging but is also related to UV light exposure, genetic predisposition, trauma and systemic diseases. Some cataracts especially in younger patients will form more rapidly. As a cataract worsens, the vision diminishes and often people complain of glare. The only treatment for a visually significant cataract is surgery. Next time we will talk about cataract surgery.

Welcome to the Shanbom eye specialist blog. Look forward to info on the latest advances in eye surgery, interesting facts about ophthalmology and other tidbits on LASIK and cataract surgery. So, see you soon on the blog.