Artificial Lenses

Artificial lenses have proven to be a big breakthrough in the world of cataract patients. Cataract is an eye disease which generally affects people over the age of 65. In cataract, opacity develops in and around the lens of the eye which causes myopia or yellowing of the lens which further leads to the reduction in perception of blue color. Current treatment involves replacing the natural lens with a fixed focal length lenses which are not capable of accommodation. For example, looking down at the speedometer and then looking back at the road is not possible. These lenses are called intra-ocular lenses (IOLs). IOLs are implanted by either sewing or creating an artificial membrane which did not allow the lens to slip. However, these methods had serious drawbacks as they are very complicated. Hence, artificial lenses or crystalline lenses as called otherwise are used to solve all the problems.

The artificial lens helps focus light into the retina of the eye. As these lenses are flexible, both near as well as distant objects can be viewed easily. The shape of the lens is controlled by the muscles of the eye. When these muscles contract, the pressure is taken off the lens, the power increases and it allows focusing of the nearby objects. But whenever these muscles relax, the power increases and it allows focusing on the faraway objects. The lens is implanted on the iris of the eye that is the original position of the natural lens. However, due to certain reasons such as if implantation goes wrong or the lens gets slightly moved, serious irritation can be caused between the surface of eye and the surface of the iris.

The other advantages of crystalline lenses are that they are easy to implant, no severe complications, adapt to the eye structure very well and can be used universally.

The types of artificial lenses are as follows:

1. Monofocal lenses: These lenses are folded and then put into the eyes during surgery. Once they are in the eyes they unfold themselves and give good vision at different distances. Clarity of faraway objects is ensured by the use of these lenses.

2. Multifocal lenses: These lenses provide a range of vision. It provides clear vision for faraway, very near as well as mid-range objects but the costs of multifocal lenses are more than monofocal ones.

3. The third type of natural IOL is the Acrysof. It is a foldable, monofocal lens. Blue light is generally difficult to perceive for a cataract or myopic patient. These lenses help the eyes to filter blue light.

4. Aspheric lenses: These lenses have a comparatively flat periphery.

The artificial lenses have hit the US markets in 2003 but will be enhanced further by 2010. These lenses will soon replace the IOLs during surgery and will interact with the eye muscles just as the natural lens and thus solve the cataract problem and allow focusing capability.. Implantations as many as 800-900 have already been carried out successfully with this number still growing.

Recommended Reading

1. Iols Final
Intraocular lenses are the kind of artificial lenses that can be used to replace the natural lens during the cataract...
2. Types Of Iols Phakic Lenses
Phakic lenses are a type of intraocular lenses. So basically they have some properties which are that of intraocular lenses....
3. Types Of Iols Pseudophakic Iols
Pseudophakic intraocular lenses as the name suggests are a type of intraocular lenses. So these lenses are concerned with the...
4. Advances In Artificial Lens Systems
Now days there are many advances in artificial lens technology. These advances benefit the people in many ways. For example,...
5. Types Of Artificial Lens
The lenses which you are using must be prescription lenses it means that the lenses which you are using must...