How long do intraocular lens implants usually last and will my cataracts come back?

Intraocular lens implants (IOLs) are made from materials such as acrylic or silicone that are biocompatible.  This means that they do not react with the body or produce allergic reactions.  IOLs have been around since the late 1940s and were the first devices to be implanted in the body.  Unlike natural lenses, IOLs do not break down over a person’s lifetime and do not need to be replaced.  It is possible to exchange implants if necessary.  Possible scenarios would include the chance that an individual is either not happy with the results that the implant is providing, or if a newer technology becomes available.  Having a discussion with your surgeon about the different IOL options in advance of your procedure will increase the chance that you will be extremely satisfied with this permanent vision correction option!

Cataracts are caused by the normal growth and aging process of the body.  As the cells that make up our natural lenses continue to grow and age, the lenses lose their clarity.  During cataract surgery, your surgeon removes the cells from their lens capsule and replaces them with a lens implant that can neither grow nor cloud up.  The natural lens does not regrow, so cataract surgery does not have to be repeated in the future.  This makes cataract surgery a permanent vision correcting procedure.  Occasionally, the capsule can cloud up over weeks, months, or even years, causing symptoms similar to the original cataracts.  A quick laser procedure can be performed in the office to permanently remove the “cloud”, giving back the same great vision you had after cataract surgery.