Refractive surgery with intraocular lenses

Refractive surgery with intraocular lenses involves implanting phakic or pseudophakic lenses to correct refractive errors (myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism). It is indicated for those who wish to do without an optical correction.

Phakic lenses are implanted between the cornea and the crystalline lens, without removing it; thus, they tend to be indicated for young patients (under 40/45). One of its great advantages is that it is a reversible technique. Depending on the space that is available within the eye, they can correct some 20-21 dioptres in myopia and up to 10-12 dioptres in hyperopia. They can be placed in front of the iris (iris support lenses) or between the iris and the crystalline lens (ICL lenses).

Unlike phakic lenses, pseudophakic lenses do replace the crystalline lens, either because it has lost its accommodating function or because the crystalline lens is cloudy (cataract). The prescription that can be corrected with pseudophakic lenses is up to 35-40 dioptres in myopia and up to 20 in hyperopia.

Refractive surgery with phakic IOLs is indicated for patients with a high degree of hyperopia to correct high astigmatism and, when myopia is high or there is a contraindication for laser application in surface or inner layers of the cornea (Lasik) or for the implanting of intracorneal rings.

Usually, pseudophakic intraocular lenses, which are used in cataract surgery, are implanted in some patients with presbyopia or other refractive errors, who are generally over 45 years old.

It is necessary to have an eye examination to be able to consider the best option in each case, depending on the number of dioptres to correct and other factors.