Patient and physician acceptance of this new technology has been extremely enthusiastic. Some patients with extreme forms of nearsightedness or farsightedness cannot be promised highly accurate results with the standard laser refractive surgical procedures currently available. Surgeons have turned to promising experimental applications of existing cataract surgery technology for these visually compromised patients. IOLs, or intra-ocular lenses, have been used for decades to replace the cloudy cataract most commonly seen in our senior citizens. IOLs specifically designed for patients with extreme refractive errors are now being studied in clinical trials.
Surgery involves opening the eye under sterile conditions in an operating room.
The IOL is placed into the eye and centered, using specialized legs called haptics. Some patients may elect to have their natural lens removed in order to make room for the new IOL, even though they have not yet developed cataracts. Younger patients may lose the ability to focus upon near objects, called accommodation, with removal of the natural lens. Patients with both the natural lens and a new IOL can retain their ability to accommodate. Disadvantages of the IOL include the risks of intra-ocular surgery, such as infection, bleeding, glaucoma, or retinal detachment.