Cataracts & Intraocular Lenses (IOL's) 

What is a Cataract?

A Cataract is a change in density and/or transparency of the Crystalline Lens. The Crystalline is the lens located behind the iris and its main function is to provide the visual system of optical accommodation, much like the zoom function in a camera. With age and by the natural oxidative process of the human body, the Crystalline Lens tends to lose elasticity and transparency overtime. The lost of elasticity is know as Presbyopia and it is a progressive visual condition that starts around the age of 40.  Eventually, not only does the Crystalline Lens lose its accommodative ability, but also loses its transparency, in which case it becomes a Cataract.  At a certain point, cataracts will prevent clear vision and will have to be removed.

What is the treatment for Cataracts?

Currently, Cataracts are dealt with by a very high-tech, quick, painless and effective surgical procedure in which the Cataract is extracted. The procedure is conducted with the use of ultrasonic emulsification and aspiration of the cataract through a very small incision (2-3 mm) and under topical anesthesia (eye numbing drops). Once the cataract is removed, an Intraocular Lens (IOL) is implanted to replace the Crystalline Lens. The goal with modern day cataract and IOL surgery is to leave the eye without nearsightedness, farsightedness and/or astigmatism, so that the patient’s distance vision is the best possible without the need of glasses. More recently, multifocal and accommodating IOLs have been introduced to simultaneously address near vision as well and distance vision.  Multifocal IOLs have different thicknesses in different areas, allowing a person to have good distance vision through one part of the IOL and to have good near vision through a different part of the IOL (similar to progressive spectacle lenses).  Accommodating IOLs try to replicate the original function of the Crystalline Lens, but zooming in and out to accommodate for near vision.