The eye lens also known as the crystalline lens, is an important part of the eye’s anatomy. It is located behind the iris of an eye. An eye lens is used to focus on outer objects from varying distances. Eye Lens helps to focus the light landing on the retina and thus enables us to see the world.
However, the eye lens’s power to focus decreases over time or through any trauma, causing a refractive error or unclear vision. To treat this vision problem, a patient has to go through a lens replacement surgery procedure.
In this context, we curated a blog that explains the basics of lens replacement surgery while covering the cost, benefits, recovery time and much more.
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What Is Lens Replacement Surgery?
Lens replacement surgery is an outpatient surgery that deals with the removal of natural lenses and implantation of artificial lenses, known as intraocular lenses (IOL). This surgery also has different terminologies like refractive lens exchange (RLE) and cataract surgery that refer to the two specific procedures under the lens replacement process.
Lens replacement procedure helps to correct the refractive error and assists in attaining clear vision and focus. The artificial lens, also called an intraocular lens (IOL), is made from acrylic or silicone metals that replace natural lenses and reduce the dependency on glasses or contact lenses.
The Procedure Of Lens Replacement
Lens replacement surgery is an outpatient surgery that involves a small incision on the cornea and outer layers of the eye above the lens. The scalpel or laser-guided tool is used to make a small incision over the eye lens to open it. During lens replacement eye surgery, an ophthalmologist inserts a probe or laser-guided tool to break the natural lens.
Once the natural lens slips away from its original place, the vision expert replaces the natural lens with an artificial lens. This eye lens replacement surgery procedure usually takes 15 to 30 minutes to complete and has no discomfort involved during the procedure. After the completion of the procedure, patients typically experience a significant improvement in their vision clarity and quality of life.
Benefits Of Lens Replacement Surgery
Eye lens replacement is an effective way of improving your vision as well as getting rid of glasses and contact lenses. There are numerous benefits of going through lens replacement operations, however, some of those are listed below:
- Corrects Various Vision Issues: Going through eye lens replacement surgery corrects various vision-related issues such as nearsightedness (myopia), far-sightedness (hyperopia), astigmatism, and presbyopia.
- Eliminate Dependency On Glasses Or Contact Lenses: Replacing your distressed natural lens with an artificial lens will lead you to drop your glasses or contact lens dependency and further enhance your vision nearly the same as the healthy natural lens.
- Remove Cataracts: The eye surgery removes the cloudy lens from your eye. Doing so eliminates the cloudy vision problems from your life and grants you a clearer and sharper vision.
- Flexible And Easy Procedure: The surgical procedure hardly takes 30 minutes to complete and complications during the operations are rare. And, if a patient’s artificial lens moves from its place due to any reason, doctors can easily reposition it without any further complications.
- Painless Surgical Procedure: Eye replacement operation is one the top surgical procedures that complete its course without giving a pain sensation to the patient. However, the patient is injected with topical anaesthesia to numb the eye muscles to initiate the procedure.
Risks Of Lens Replacement Surgery
There are several lens replacement surgery risks associated with it. However, these risks are minor and can be treated by seeing a vision specialist doctors. Some of the associated risks of having lens replacement surgery are given below:
- Irritable Eye: Irritable eye is one of the common risks that one can develop due to disturbance of eye blood vessels. However, the feeling of irritation can be eliminated by putting the suggested eye drops in the eyes. It is worth noting that the irritation feeling may be there for 6 to 8 weeks.
- Infection: Less than 0.05% of cases have shown a record of severe infection after the lens replacement eye surgery. However, some mild symptoms of infection may be felt due to disturbed tears films. Antibiotic medicine and eye drops are generally prescribed treatments that an ophthalmologist suggests for these mild infections.
- Blurred Vision: Blurry vision is one of the common risks that one can have after going through the lens replacement procedure. Because the eyes take time to heal and adjust to new lens implantation.
- A feeling of reduced peripheral vision: Natural lens has the compensatory peripheral vision that however lacks in the artificial lens. That’s why patients going through refractive lens exchange or eye replacement surgery, experience a feeling of reduced peripheral vision.
- Dislocated intraocular lens (IOL): Dislocation of intraocular lens is rare after the completion of the surgical process. But in some rare cases, the artificial lens gets dislocated from its original place and causes various vision issues. However, this is a completely treatable phenomenon and can be relocated by the doctor without any complications.
The Cost of Lens Replacement Surgery
The cost of the lens replacement surgery can vary depending on location. However, if you reside in the UK, approximately £2600/eye is the cost of lens replacement surgery costs in the UK. You can book a free consultant for lens replacement surgery at Paragon Clinic, a leading and sought-after eye & ophthalmology clinic in the UK.
Recovery Duration & Expectation After Lens Replacement Operation
Recovering from lens replacement surgery can vary from person to person and how their eyes react to the changes. However, a patient can expect to get back into their day-to-day life within a week and enjoy a sharper and clearer vision. The doctor can call for a re-examination after a week to check the condition and recovery process of one’s eye.
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Conclusion
Lens replacement surgery is a gift for those who lost their ability to see clearly due to an accident or ageing. It transforms one’s vision and gifts them a natural lens-like sight by implementing an artificial lens into one’s eye. However, it is essential to choose a reputed and experienced doctor to mitigate the risks and complications after the lens replacement surgery.
Paragon Clinic is a reputed and sought-after clinic for lens replacement surgery in Shrewsbury that takes care of your safety and concerns. Choose us for your lens replacement surgery to rest assured about your safety. Book a free consultation today!
Lens Replacement Surgery FAQ
Ans: Yes, going through lens replacement surgery surely improves vision as it replaces the distressed natural lens with an artificial lens to offer clearer and sharper vision.
Ans: No, intraocular surgeries are completely painless procedures and patients don’t experience any pain during the surgery.
Ans: The recovery time depends on person to person and how their body is reacting to certain changes. However, the patient can do their day-to-day tasks as the week passes by.
Ans: During the lens replacement surgical procedure, the distressed natural lens is replaced by an artificial lens, known as an intraocular lens. Thereafter, a patient will be prescribed some medicines and glasses for a certain period.
Mr. Bal Manoj
With over 25+ years of experience in advancing eye care, Mr. Bal Manoj serves as director and co-founder of Paragon Clinic in Wolverhampton, Shrewsbury, and Stafford. His expertise in cataract surgery, glaucoma, and general ophthalmology, coupled with a track record of 10,000+ successful procedures, reflects his commitment to excellence. Connect with Mr. Bal Manoj today for expert eye care solutions.
About Mr. Bal Manoj
With over 25+ years of experience in advancing eye care, Mr. Bal Manoj serves as director and co-founder of Paragon Clinic in Wolverhampton, Shrewsbury, and Stafford. His expertise in cataract surgery, glaucoma, and general ophthalmology, coupled with a track record of 10,000+ successful procedures, reflects his commitment to excellence. Connect with Mr. Bal Manoj today for expert eye care solutions.