refractive lens surgery

What is refractive lens surgery?
Refractive lens surgery is also known as lens replacement surgery or clear lens extraction. The procedure involves the replacement of the eye’s natural lens with an artificial intraocular lens. The surgery is conducted in order to sharpen vision. There are three types of intraocular lenses (IOL) that can be used. These are:

• Monofocal fixed-focus IOL
  These are used to treat and correct astigmatism
• Multifocal IOL
  These are used to restore clear vision at various distances
• Accommodating IOL
  This IOL works by shifting its position in the eye, and in doing so, enables focus at various distances

How does it work?
Refractive eye surgery is almost the same as the procedure performed during cataract surgery. The only difference is that the lens that is replaced is clear, rather than cloudy in the case of the cataract. During the surgery, your surgeon will remove the clear lens and replace it with an artificial lens known as an intraocular lens.

Refractive lens surgery is typically conducted under local anesthetic so that the eye and surrounding area is numb. Your surgeon will make a small incision in the front part of the eye, through which a small surgical tool will be inserted. The cataract is then suctioned out of the eye, before the artificial lens is inserted. Your surgeon will stitch the incision closed.

It is quite normal to feel a little discomfort for a few days after the procedure, and the eye will only be completely healed after about eight weeks. Your eye may feel itchy or watery and you may feel some mild pain for some time before your eye has completely healed. Most patients notice improved vision almost immediately, although it can take as long as six months for vision to stabilise entirely.