IOL Exchange

Intraocular Lens Exchange after Cataract Surgery

Multifocal intraocular lenses are designed reduce dependency on reading glasses after cataract surgery. Although these lenses can be expensive for patients, they can offer patients a blend of vision through focal zones or rings designed into the intraocular lens (IOLs). Depending on where light focuses through the lens, the person may be able to see both near and distant objects clearly simultaneously.

In certain patients, due to the nature of the technology, multifocal intraocular lenses can lead to a variety of symptoms such as glare or starbursts at night or in dark settings. This is because intraocular lenses divide the incoming light into two or more images on the retina and produce stray light. In some patients, these symptoms can even become severely debilitating while driving at night.

In patients who are debilitated by symptoms, one solution can be a lens explantation of the multifocal lens with implantation of a monofocal lens for clear distance vision and reading glasses for near vision correction. With this surgery, tiny microinstruments instruments are used in order to cut the old lens into easily removable pieces after the lens has been free of its surrounding attachments and a new lens is implanted at the end of the surgery.

Here at Mid Atlantic Cornea we have expertise in intraocular lens exchanges for a variety of reasons including glare and halo with multifocal lenses, negative dysphotopsias (seeing a shadow in your temporal vision after cataract surgery), positive dysphotopsias (seeing glittering or lights in your temporal vision after cataract surgery). This surgery is usually the most technically straight-forward in the months after your cataract surgery, but also may be an option several years after surgery depending on the level of fixation the intraocular lenses has on the natural capsular bag which holds the lens implant in place.

If you are unhappy with your vision after cataract surgery and want to learn more about intraocular lens exchange. Schedule an appointment with us today!

IOL Exchange

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