# Premium Intraocular Lenses

> Citation bundle for Premium Intraocular Lenses on The Treatment Registry.
> URL: https://thetreatmentregistry.com/procedures/premium-iol
> Bundle URL: https://thetreatmentregistry.com/api/citations/procedures/premium-iol

- Category: ophthalmology

## Description

An intraocular lens (IOL) is a lens implanted in the eye usually as part of a treatment for cataracts or for correcting other vision problems such as near-sightedness (myopia) and far-sightedness (hyperopia); a form of refractive surgery. If the natural lens is left in the eye, the IOL is known as phakic, otherwise it is a pseudophakic lens.

## Overview

An intraocular lens (IOL) is an artificial lens implanted in the eye, most often to replace the natural lens during cataract surgery but also to correct refractive errors such as near-sightedness or far-sightedness. A typical IOL is a small plastic lens with side struts, called haptics, that hold it in place within the capsular bag; early rigid PMMA lenses have largely been replaced by flexible materials such as silicone, which can be rolled and inserted through a very small incision. Most lenses fitted today are fixed monofocal IOLs set for a single focal distance, usually distance vision, so reading glasses are still needed. 'Premium' IOLs refer to lens designs that aim to provide a wider range of focus. These include multifocal IOLs, which give focused vision at both far and near (reading) distances; trifocal IOLs; extended depth of focus (EDOF) lenses; and adaptive (accommodating) IOLs that provide a limited degree of visual accommodation. A separate category, the phakic IOL (PIOL), is implanted without removing the eye's own crystalline lens and has been used since 1999 to correct larger refractive errors; in people with significant near-sightedness, phakic IOLs appear to carry lower risk than excimer laser surgery. Where the natural lens is removed and replaced, the procedure is very similar to cataract surgery — performed under local or topical anaesthesia with the patient awake, and lasting roughly 30 minutes.

## Common risks

- Wound leakage
- Infection
- Inflammation
- Astigmatism

## FAQs

### What is a premium intraocular lens?

An intraocular lens (IOL) is an artificial lens implanted in the eye to replace the natural lens or to correct refractive errors. 'Premium' lenses are designs that aim to provide a wider range of focus than a standard monofocal lens, such as multifocal, trifocal, extended depth of focus (EDOF) and accommodating lenses.

### How do premium IOLs differ from standard monofocal lenses?

Most IOLs fitted today are fixed monofocal lenses set for a single distance, usually far vision, so reading glasses are still needed. Multifocal IOLs provide focused vision at far and near distances, and adaptive (accommodating) IOLs provide a limited degree of visual accommodation.

### What is a phakic IOL?

A phakic intraocular lens is implanted without removing the eye's own crystalline lens. It has been used since 1999 to correct larger near-sighted, far-sighted and astigmatic errors, and in people with significant near-sightedness it appears to carry lower risk than excimer laser (LASIK) surgery.

### How is the lens implanted?

Flexible IOLs can be rolled and inserted through a very small incision. When the natural lens is being replaced, the procedure is very similar to cataract surgery — done under local or topical anaesthesia with the patient awake, and lasting about 30 minutes.

### What are the risks?

For lens-replacement (clear lens extraction) surgery, reported risks include wound leakage, infection, inflammation and astigmatism. Patients are usually advised to attend regular follow-up visits so the implant can be monitored.

### How long is recovery?

People generally recover from lens-replacement surgery within one to seven days. During that time they should avoid strenuous exercise or activities that significantly raise blood pressure, and attend follow-up appointments over the following weeks.