What are cataract implant lenses?

Essential to surgery: A cataract is your own lens that has become cloudy. It needs to be replaced with an artificial lens during surgery. Lenses have been around for 50 years. They are very safe and will last the rest of your life. Some newer models can treat astigmatism and presybopia (need for reading glasses).

Lens implant history: The first successful lens implant in humans was in 1949 by sir harold ridley. He noticed that plexiglass (pmma) that was imbedded in the eyes of fighter pilots was inert. He made the first lens out of this material. Modern lenses are made from acrylic and silicone plastics, fit through microincisions without stitches and have the ability to change the power, astigmatism, and correct reading.

IOL: Intra Ocular Lens (IOL) are lens implants that replace the natural cloudy lens (cataract) that was removed with surgery. They refract the light limiting the need for glasses.

Implant choices: Best intraocular (IOL) choice: Depends on if you want good reading, computer, distance vision OR all distances after surgery & if you have >1 Diopter astigmatism (may need Toric IOL). If you want good reading, intermediate, distance VA, Multifocal or Crystalens may be option. Full answer: Cataract Surgery Options at eyedoc2020.blogspot.com.

Intraocular lenses: Current practice of cataract treatment involves removing the cataractous lens and replacing it with an intraocular lens (which can be called an implant lens). Almost all cases of this surgery end with the implantation of such lenses.