- What is it? This procedure involves a lens made of plastic or silicone or acrylic material. It is inserted into the eye through a small incision. One version of the procedure, phakic intraocular lens treatment, is performed without removing the eye’s natural lens. Unlike other procedures, your own lens remains in place with this procedure. There are also types of intraocular lens treatments that involve removing the natural lens before inserting a synthetic or glass lens. These treatments can be helpful for patients who have undergone cataract surgery to remove their blurry natural lenses.
- What does it do? The new lens inserted into the eye corrects refractive errors, which are weaknesses in the eye’s ability to focus properly. If an image is blurry, that means the natural lens is not bending the light that enters the eye directly on the retina, the part of the eye that sends images to the brain. The inserted lens adjusts this so that the image is projected directly on the retina and the image appears clear.
- Who is it for? Phakic and other intraocular lens treatments can be particularly helpful for patients who are extremely nearsighted, because the inserted lens allows the eye to refocus on the retina and once again enjoy clear images. Cataract patients may also benefit from replacing their previous blurry lens with an inserted lens that is clear and allows crisp vision once again.
If you are considering any eye surgery or are curious about intraocular lenses, call us at Boston Eye Group or Boston Laser. You can reach us for appointments and consultations at (617) 274-8130 or by visiting us online.
A study appeared in August of 2010 in the Journal of Refractive Surgery that was conducted on 100 eyes. It revealed that after a cataract surgery using either multifocal or monofocal IOL (intraocular lens) implantation, that yes, in general LASIK was safe.
However, LASIK performed on those specifically with the monofocal lenses provided a more accurate end result than those with multifocal lenses.
For more information on this study, please visit Journal of Refractive Surgery.
