New Eye Surgery May allow you to Reduce Your Dependence on Glasses

Richard W. Lucius, MD, FACS

St. Cloud Eye Clinic

2055 north 15th street

St. Cloud, MN 56303

(320)251-1432

www.stcloudeye.com

Would you like to have a full range of vision once again? Believe it or not, this may be possible with modern cataract and refractive lens exchange surgeries. First, I would like to go over some of the changes that occur with our vision as we age.

As we age, the lens inside our eye loses its flexibility. These changes decrease your ability to switch focus from distance to near and back again. This is called presbyopia and it usually becomes symptomatic when people are in their early forties. Bifocals have been a frequent solution to fix this problem.

By the time we reach sixty years of age, the lens inside of the eye has become cloudy. When this change occurs, the light rays cannot easily pass through the lens and vision becomes blurred. Common symptoms include glare, halo, starburst around lights, difficult far and near vision, fading colors, and distorted vision.

Cataracts are the most common source of preventable blindness in the world. Fortunately, cataracts can be treated. More than 1.5 million cataract surgeries are performed in the United States each year. Cataract surgery is among the safest and most successful operations that modern medicine has to offer. Many patients may experience vision that is even better than before they developed cataracts.

Refractive lensectomy is a surgical procedure that uses the same successful techniques of modern cataract surgery. Refractive lensectomy corrects nearsightedness or farsightedness by replacing the eye's natural lens, which has the wrong power, with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL) implant that has the correct power for the eye.

The main difference between standard cataract surgery and refractive lensectomy is that cataract surgery is primarily performed to remove a patient's cataract that is obstructing and clouding their vision, while refractive lensectomy is performed to reduce a person's dependence on glasses or contact lenses. Refractive lensectomy and cataract surgery may be combined with other procedures that treat presbyopia, near sightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.

Unlike cataract and refractive lensectomy surgery of just three years ago, there are new implants that can be used to reduce your dependence on glasses. These implants are called presbyopia correcting intraocular lenses (IOLs). Presbyopia correcting IOLs differ from standard lenses by offering a combination of distance, intermediate, and near vision in a single lens. Not even lasik can give those with presbyopia the full range of vision available with these new implants.

The goal of a presbyopia correcting IOL is to reduce or eliminate your dependence on glasses or contact lenses. Greater than 90% of those who receive these implants report wearing glasses either “never” or “occasionally”. We cannot guarantee, however, that you will have the results you desire.

For most people, there is a period of weeks when your brain is learning to “see” up close and at distance with the new lens. This adjustment period is usually complete within 6 to 12 weeks. A common side-effect during this “learning period” may include halos or glare around bright lights. These symptoms vary from person to person and can be dependant on the IOL used at the time of surgery. In most cases it is more noticeable during the first few months after the procedure when your eyes are more sensitive. For most people this diminishes over time. Some people are more likely to have difficulty with glare and halos, so ask your doctor to explain this possible condition to you before your procedure.

Serious complications with cataract extraction and refractive lensectomy are rare. They are safe, effective and permanent procedures, but like any surgical procedures, there are some risks. Going to an eye specialist experienced with the procedure can significantly minimize the risks involved.

The decision to have cataract surgery or refractive lensectomy is an important one that only you can make. Although nothing will give you the same vision that you had when you were twenty years old, a presbyopia correcting IOL may allow you to live your life without glasses.