Intraocular lenses or IOLs are implanted lenses that give cataract patients the opportunity to experience life without glasses post operatively.
It replaces the natural lens of the patient with a permanent artificial lens and the affected lens is removed during cataract surgery.
This enables geriatric patients the benefits of correcting common eye irregularities brought about by aging.
The main varieties of IOL being implanted in the eye are monofocal and multifocal in which the first one is the standard corrective lens where it alters the vision at just one distance, the glasses are still needed.
Unlike the latter which is the newer version of monofocal, it allows correct vision at multiple ranges without the use of glasses or regular contact lenses.
The advantage of multifocal is evident on the use of the ranges of sight, however, if it is used by the patient, there must be an adaptation in order for the brain to learn to select the visual information it needs to form an image of either near or distant objects.
The process of IOL implantation can be performed in an outpatient basis.
This may only take for a few hours and around these hours of operation, anesthetic is administered to limit the discomfort that the patient may feel during the operation.
The cataract is removed by tiny incision at the edge of the eye, thus, after the removal of cataract, the lens is implanted and inserted in the same site that the incision has been made.
The candidate of this operation must demonstrate signs of healthy eyes and stable refraction.
Not only that, but the stable refraction must be at least six months prior the surgery.
So if the patient is experiencing blurring of vision and other symptoms of cataracts, or if presbyopia can be observed, then these are the qualification for a patient to undergo IOL implants.