London Eye Hospital
0800 612 2021
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Treatment of Cataracts
Which lens implant?
The only way to see clearly after cataracts develop is to have them
removed and replaced by an intraocular lens implant to restore vision. It
is a safe and commonly performed medical procedure. Worldwide it is
each year.
Surgery is performed on an outpatient basis and typically takes only 15-30
minutes. The eye is most commonly numbed by topical anaesthesia
making the procedure virtually painless without using any needle
injections. A tiny incision as small as 1.4mm is made at the edge of the
cornea and through this the natural lens (cataract) is gently broken up
and removed. Micro-incision cataract surgery usually refers to an incision
of about 2.85mm. This is Ultra small incision surgery where the implant
is injected through a fine cannula and opens up inside the eye. The new
lens implant is then positioned in the same space the natural lens
occupied. You will be allowed to go home soon afterwards where you can
relax and enjoy the rest of the day. Most people can resume their daily
activities in a day or so.
Everyone heals at a different rate but in most cases vision is improved
within 24 hours and continues to improve as your eye heals and you
become more accustomed to using your new lens.
removed and replaced by an intraocular lens implant to restore vision. It
is a safe and commonly performed medical procedure. Worldwide it is
each year.
Surgery is performed on an outpatient basis and typically takes only 15-30
minutes. The eye is most commonly numbed by topical anaesthesia
making the procedure virtually painless without using any needle
injections. A tiny incision as small as 1.4mm is made at the edge of the
cornea and through this the natural lens (cataract) is gently broken up
and removed. Micro-incision cataract surgery usually refers to an incision
of about 2.85mm. This is Ultra small incision surgery where the implant
is injected through a fine cannula and opens up inside the eye. The new
lens implant is then positioned in the same space the natural lens
occupied. You will be allowed to go home soon afterwards where you can
relax and enjoy the rest of the day. Most people can resume their daily
activities in a day or so.
Everyone heals at a different rate but in most cases vision is improved
within 24 hours and continues to improve as your eye heals and you
become more accustomed to using your new lens.
Until recently patients undergoing cataract surgery received a monofocal lens implant which has only one
focal distance. Having monofocal implants in both eyes generally provides good distance vision but
patients still need bifocal or varifocal glasses for near and intermediate vision.
Due to advances in lens implant technology, patients cannot only resume doing the things they enjoy most
but have the possibility of seeing life like they did when they were much younger. Patients can choose to
have vision restored with a presbyopia correcting lens implant, designed to provide excellent distance,
intermediate and near vision. These lenses are also known as multifocal implants.
There are also implants which are tinted and may reduce the risk of developing age related macular
degeneration or implants with a specially designed aspheric profile which can reduce glare and improve
contrast and may improve vision further.
focal distance. Having monofocal implants in both eyes generally provides good distance vision but
patients still need bifocal or varifocal glasses for near and intermediate vision.
Due to advances in lens implant technology, patients cannot only resume doing the things they enjoy most
but have the possibility of seeing life like they did when they were much younger. Patients can choose to
have vision restored with a presbyopia correcting lens implant, designed to provide excellent distance,
intermediate and near vision. These lenses are also known as multifocal implants.
There are also implants which are tinted and may reduce the risk of developing age related macular
degeneration or implants with a specially designed aspheric profile which can reduce glare and improve
contrast and may improve vision further.
| Traditional micro-incision surgery via a 2.85mm incision |
| via a 1.6 mm incision |