A-Z OF EYES

Categories - Eye Treatment - Intraocular Lens (IOL)

Intraocular Lens (IOL)

The intraocular lens is an artifical lens. It is a transparent plastic disc with a similar shape to a natural lens. They are made of silicone, acrylic or PMMA, but other materials are under development.

The intraocular lens is designed to reside inside the eye and replaces your own natural lens because it has been clouded over by a cataract, or to change the eye's optical power. IOLs are often appropriate if you are not suitable for LASIK or ASLA.

Most IOLs are fixed monofocal lenses matched to distance vision. However, other types are available, such as bifocal or multi focal IOLs which provide focused vision at far and reading distance, and adaptive IOLs which provide the patient with limited visual accommodation.