What You Might Experience After Intraocular Lens Implantation (IOL) Side Effects
Hello.
I'm Dr. Kim Joong-hoon, Head Director of Gangnam ID Eye Clinic.
It's a pleasure to greet you.
If you have poor eyesight, whether congenital or due to acquired factors,
the inconvenience in daily life can be significant.
While glasses or contact lenses can be alternatives for vision correction,
they can be cumbersome to wear and may also have a negative aesthetic impact.
Vision correction surgery might be considered, but not everyone
is eligible for laser vision correction. Depending on specific eye conditions,
it may not be possible. Therefore, the most suitable method can vary from person to person,
so it's wise to undergo a thorough eye examination before making a decision.
As surgery on the eyes, one of the most delicate parts of the body, used to be
considered somewhat difficult to access, but with continuous advancements in medical technology,
it has recently become increasingly popular, especially among younger people.
If laser vision correction is not an option, don't be discouraged. There's an alternative:
intraocular lens implantation (IOL).
Today, we'll explore various aspects of IOL implantation, including the principles
of the procedure, important considerations, and its pros and cons.
"Why are LASIK and LASEK not possible in some cases?"
Common vision correction surgeries like LASIK and LASEK involve using a laser
to reshape the corneal stroma.
If the cornea is too thin, various complications can occur, making the procedure
unfeasible. It's also not recommended for those with severe dry eye or corneal
dystrophies such as Avellino corneal dystrophy.
In cases of high myopia, astigmatism, or corneal opacity due to corneal inflammation
or injury, cutting the cornea can be burdensome, limiting the procedure.
In such cases where laser vision correction is not possible, IOL implantation
can be presented as an alternative.
"What to know about Intraocular Lens Implantation"
Lens implantation corrects vision by inserting a biocompatible lens into the eye
without cutting the cornea. A small incision of about 3mm is made to insert the lens,
correcting myopia and astigmatism.
The procedure involves implanting a special lens made of collamer, a material approved
by the US FDA, which is biocompatible. It's flexible, transparent, and can be stably
maintained inside the eye.
It also covers a wide range of refractive errors and provides immediate vision
correction. It maintains the structural stability of the eye, with few side effects,
making it a relatively safe vision correction surgery.
It can be removed if necessary, allowing flexible response to vision changes.
This reversibility is a significant advantage. It's also called a relatively safe vision
correction surgery because it has almost no side effects seen in laser vision correction.
"What are the side effects of lens implantation?"
However, IOL implantation is relatively more expensive than general laser vision
correction. Although rare, complications such as infection or inflammation may occur
after vision correction, requiring caution.
Particular attention should be paid to the possibility of glaucoma. Glaucoma is a disease
in which the optic nerve is damaged due to increased intraocular pressure, leading
to visual field loss. While it can be managed with thorough pre-operative examination
and a precise procedure, one of the main causes of glaucoma after IOL implantation
is when the size and position of the implanted lens do not match the eye's anatomical structure.
If the lens is larger than the internal space of the eye, it can interfere with the flow
of aqueous humor (the clear fluid inside the eye), increasing intraocular pressure,
which can lead to glaucoma. Therefore, careful examination and procedure are necessary.
Although you can return to daily life immediately, caution is needed regarding eye health
for a certain period, so regular check-ups are important.
"What are the differences between anterior and posterior chamber lens implantation?"
IOL implantation is divided into anterior chamber lens implantation and posterior
chamber lens implantation depending on the implantation location.
Anterior chamber lens implantation involves fixing the lens between the cornea and the iris.
While the lens is relatively stably fixed, it requires an iridotomy and has the disadvantage
of potentially reducing corneal endothelial cells in the long term.
Since endothelial cells do not regenerate once damaged, this number is an important
factor that must be checked before the procedure.
On the other hand, posterior chamber lens implantation involves placing the lens in the space
between the iris and the crystalline lens. It does not require an iridotomy and has a
relatively lower risk of endothelial cell damage, making it a safer method recently.
In particular, the lens used in posterior chamber lens implantation has a small hole in the
center, which does not interfere with the flow of aqueous humor and can reduce the risk
of increased intraocular pressure.
Lens implantation is a good way to stably correct high myopia or astigmatism without
touching the cornea, but whether it is possible depends on the individual's eye structure.
Even a slight difference in lens size or implantation location can cause side effects,
so a high degree of difficulty is required. Therefore, it is important to carefully
decide whether to proceed through precise examination and sufficient consultation.
"What to check to avoid lens implantation side effects"
Lens implantation has many advantages, but it is not applicable to everyone, so if you
are considering proceeding, accurate diagnosis and precise examination of your eye
condition are essential.
It is necessary to determine whether it is possible through various indicators such as
corneal thickness, anterior chamber depth, and endothelial cell count, and it is difficult
to expect accurate results without the help of precise measuring equipment, so the space
where the lens will be inserted, pupil size, and aqueous humor flow status must be
carefully checked through a thorough eye examination.
In addition, thorough pre- and post-operative management and the experience and skill
of skilled medical staff can be factors that determine satisfaction so that the lens can
settle well in the eye.
It is also important to check whether the latest equipment is available, whether both
anterior and posterior lenses can be inserted and removed, and then to choose a place
where continuous check-ups and aftercare are provided.
If you have received the correct customized IOL implantation, it is essential to
continuously monitor intraocular pressure and optic nerve condition through regular
eye examinations, and it is important to have precise examinations at regular intervals.
Thank you for reading this long article. This has been Kim Joong-hoon, Head Director
of Gangnam ID Eye Clinic.
Source :https://blog.naver.com/tkatlrltkatl/224055267485
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