Vision Centre

Intra-Ocular Lens Implant (IOL)

Today, patients receiving IOLs often enjoy the best vision of their lives. Thanks to sophisticated formulas used to calculate the corrective prescription power of the lens, the IOL not only replaces the need for glasses (in some cases) it can also correct the eye's existing refractive error.

There are two basic types of IOLs; foldable and hard. Foldable lenses are made of silicone or acrylic and can be rolled up and placed inside a tiny tube. The tube is inserted into small incision, a very less than 2.5 mm in length. Once inside the eye, the IOL gently unfolds. Hard plastic lenses are appropriate in certain cases determined by the surgeon. Since they cannot be folded, they are placed through a slightly larger incision.

There is an abundance of IOLs from which to choose; aspheric, accommodative, tinted yellow and purple. Silicone or acrylic. One of the latest advancements in IOLs is the Multifocal. We advise that patient's with multifocal IOLs may only need glasses for 10% of the time to fine tune their vision. Statistics show 80% of patients seldom or never use glasses with Multifocal IOLs.

The Vision Centre uses two multifocal IOL's:

1) ALCON ReSTOR.

2) AMO Tecnis Multifocal.

A multifocal lens is an artificial lens that strives to replicates the performance of the eyes natural lens. The results of multifocal lens implant surgery will vary depending on individual vision. The multifocal IOL could mean independence from glasses. Traditional monofocal lenses usually provide either good distance or close up vision with a need for glasses. Whereas the multifocal IOL can offer a range of both.

Toric IOLs

Astigmatism is a common condition that may cause blurred vision. The distorted vision is due to the eye's cornea (corneal astigmatism) or lens (lenticular astigmatism) having an irregular shape. The cornea and lens of a perfectly shaped eye have a smooth circular surface, like a ball. With astigmatism, the cornea or the lens will have more of an oblong, football-like shape.

The Toric IOL can correct corneal and lenticular (lens) astigmatism.Toric IOLs may also be beneficial in cases of severe astigmatism where other treatments for astigmatism are not adequate enough for correction; patients with a history of corneal pathology, pterygium or keratoconus with penetrating keratoplasty (corneal grafts) and patients with burns and corneal scarring. The Toric IOL is specially designed to correct astigmatism, and help you regain quality vision. The STAAR Toric IOL is the only toric lens made from silicone, a stable, non-toxic and flexible material. Your need for a Toric IOL will be discussed at your preoperative consultation. The Toric IOLs effectiveness depends on its careful positioning within the eye. As a risk; the Toric lens may rotate out of position and require surgical re-positioning.

The Procedure

Shortly after you are admitted to the Vision Centre Day surgery some eye drops will be instilled to dilate the pupil for surgery.

Prior to the procedure, the eye is numbed with local anaesthetic and you will be sedated. Then the surgeon removes the lens using an ultrasound probe through a tiny incision. The surgeon completes the procedure by replacing the removed lens with an artificial lens implant. The lens implant is positioned in the same place as the previously removed natural lens.

The operation takes approximately 30 minutes, after which you will be moved to the quiet Recovery Area to recover from the effects of sedation and local anesthesia, which are slight.

It is also possible, and sometimes necessary, to have a general anaesthetic though this procedure is usually safely and successfully done with local anaesthetic and sedation. Most patients are ready to leave in a few hours. A pad may be placed over the eye until your check with the Doctor the next morning. The Ophthalmologist (Doctor) will give you drops to use after surgery, the instructions for eye care and will see you the next day to check on your progress, then in one week after that.

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