I often get asked if a lens must be placed in the eye at the time of cataract surgery. Although I must admit my immediate thought is “Well, why wouldn’t you want a new lens in the eye?” I realize from the perspective of someone unfamiliar with modern intraocular lens technology that the idea of placing a foreign object inside the eye is loaded with uncertainty. “Will the lens move or dislocate? Will I feel it? Could it pop out?” Indeed, there was a time when placing a lens inside the eye was considered reckless. That was about 50 years ago.
Today, however, the intraocular lens technology has advanced so far that a surgeon would need to have a good reason NOT to place a lens in the eye. Without an intraocular lens the eye would be left very hyperopic (or far-sighted) and thick glasses or contact lenses would be needed to see anything clearly.
Additionally, it is almost always possible to place a lens in the eye either at the time of surgery or at a later date. Even if the capsular bag cannot support a lens, there are other methods that can be used to place a lens in the eye. Sometimes the lens is placed in front of the iris. In rare instances, it is even necessary to sew in the lens.
In summary, with the advanced materials and designs used to manufacture modern intraocular lenses there is little reason to perform cataract surgery without placement of an intraocular lens.
Would you like to hear more? The entire Cataract Surgery Essentials Audio Series (including the audio for this post) is now available as a CD that can be purchased online from CDBaby or eBay (just search “Cataract Surgery Essentials” to find it).
