Can Lens Replacement Surgery Treat Cataracts?

Have you noticed blurry vision, difficulty seeing at night, or fading colors? These may be signs of cataracts, a common condition usually related to aging. Cataracts occur when your eye’s natural lenses undergo changes that cause them to become cloudy. Lens replacement surgery removes your lenses and replaces them with artificial ones. These new lenses remove cataracts and can correct your vision. 

What is Clear Lens Exchange?

Clear lens exchange, or lens replacement surgery, replaces natural lenses with artificial ones. You may have this procedure at any age to correct refractive errors such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and presbyopia. These errors can be corrected by exchanging your natural lenses for ones that cause light to focus properly. Cataracts, which affect the natural lenses as you age, cannot affect these replacement lenses. As a result, people who have this procedure will never develop cataracts, no matter how old they are. 

Can Lens Replacement Surgery Treat Cataracts?

Many people have refractive lens exchange to treat cataracts. Once age-related changes have started to affect your lenses, they cannot be reversed. Lens replacement surgery is a definitive treatment that treats cataracts and prevents them from recurring. You will never develop cataracts, regardless of the age you have lens replacement surgery. 

Whether you have this procedure at a younger age to correct refractive errors or as an older adult to treat cataracts, your artificial lenses will not undergo age-related changes. As a result, clear lens exchange is preventative as well as an effective treatment. It also prevents presbyopia, an age-related stiffening of the lenses that keeps you from seeing nearby objects clearly. 

How Does Lens Replacement Surgery Work? 

During lens replacement surgery, your eye surgeon numbs your eyes and makes a small incision to open the capsule that contains the lens. A special tool breaks up and removes the lens. Your surgeon places your new lens into the capsule, where you cannot see or feel it. You will only know you have it because of your improved vision. At Vold Vision, we use PanOptix® replacement lenses for superior results. These lenses provide enhanced vision at near, intermediate, and long distances for better vision, often without glasses or contact lenses. 

What is Recovery Like After Clear Lens Exchange?

The small incision does not require any sutures. You may experience some minor sensitivity or irritation for up to a few days. Most people can see clearly within 24 hours and drive within one to two days. You should avoid swimming and contact sports for a week after your procedure and limit exposure to airborne dust or particles. You can resume wearing eye makeup after a week. The small incision heals completely, and after your recovery, you will have no limitations on your activities. You may be able to leave behind the limitations of your corrective lenses.

What Results Will I See With Lens Replacement Surgery?

Clear lens exchange provides results almost immediately after your procedure. You will notice that objects look clearer and colors look brighter. People find that their new lenses give them noticeably sharper, more vivid eyesight without the cloudiness or glare of cataracts. In addition, you may no longer need your glasses, contact lenses, or reading glasses. Your new lenses will never require replacement and are intended to last a lifetime. 

Am I a Good Candidate for Lens Replacement Surgery?

If you have cataracts, you may be a good candidate for lens replacement surgery. This procedure will replace your clouded lenses with new, clear ones. Good candidates for this procedure are typically over 40, which is the age when people usually begin to develop presbyopia. Unlike LASIK or other types of laser eye surgery, this procedure treats cataracts and presbyopia with lasting results. 

Lens replacement surgery is also a good option for those who cannot have LASIK due to thin or misshapen corneas. These conditions can make LASIK unsafe due to the flap it creates. Since clear lens exchange does not make any changes to the cornea, you can have clear vision even if you cannot have LASIK. The fact that you will never need cataract surgery is a bonus for those who have the procedure for vision correction. 

Take the Next Step

You’ll benefit not only from the latest technologies available but also from our compassionate, personal approach. You’re more than a patient at Vold Vision in Bentonville and Fayetteville. We strive to make you as comfortable as possible while evaluating the optimal treatment plan just for you. We invite Fayetteville, Rogers, Bentonville, and Springdale residents to contact us today for a consultation at (479) 442-8653.