Is Cataract Surgery Permanent?

When you develop cataracts, you will need to have cataract surgery to have them removed. But this surgery is about more than just removing your cataracts.

It also removes the natural lens of the eye. The natural lens is then replaced with an artificial lens called an IOL.

IOLs, short for intraocular lenses, are made of durable plastics. The use of acrylic and silicone do not allow cataracts to reform.

A healthy natural lens will provide vision at several ranges. An IOL can provide much of the same vision.

Depending on how much you want to invest in your vision, you may end up with better vision than you’ve ever had before! Keep reading to learn more about cataract surgery and to find out if it’s permanent!

IOL Varieties

IOLs come in various shapes and designs. The most basic and cost-effective option is the standard monofocal IOL.

This intraocular lens can only focus on one distance. This means it only focuses light at one distance, and you will need to use glasses to make up for the opposite.

You will have to use glasses while reading or doing other up-close tasks. This may include tasks like driving or activities that you need to see at a distance.

If you don’t like the idea of needing glasses after cataract surgery, you want to consider a premium IOL. The first kind of premium IOL is similar to the monofocal IOL.

The difference is its design with several focusing zones. This allows the user to see at more than one distance. These IOL designs are called multifocal IOLs.

Accommodating IOLs are another premium IOL design. With an accommodating IOL, the lens adjusts inside the eye. This is a smoother vision experience and is much like the way a natural lens moves.

If you have astigmatism, you can opt for toric IOLs. Toric IOLs are the only IOL that’s specifically designed for people with astigmatism. They also provide correction of other refractive errors, allowing you to achieve clearer vision.

You can also go a step further and decide on aspheric IOLs. Aspheric IOLs have a shape that is much closer to that of a natural lens. This reduces the chance of certain visual aberrations that spherical IOLs can cause like glare and halos.

Secondary Cataracts

There is no way for cataracts to “grow back” but you can still experience symptoms of having a cataract after surgery. If this occurs, it’s something called a secondary cataract.

It’s not actually a cataract, since the natural lens of the eye was completely removed during cataract surgery. But it is possible for the membrane that holds the artificial lens in place to become more opaque and block more light.

The treatment for this is even simpler than normal cataract removal. The surgeon will puncture the membrane just enough that light is able to spill through uninhibited.

Cataracts are in no way the end of your vision. Think you may have cataracts? Schedule a cataract screening at Vermont Eye Laser in Burlington, VT!

There’s no reason to continue living with the debilitating symptoms of cataracts any longer!