IOL Longevity

[laura5121]

Dr. Hagan:

Is it realistic to assume that after cataract surgery (with a Tecnis mono IOL implant) that assuming
the incision heals without incident and the IOL is centered properly, that one can expect the IOL
to last 10 or 20 years or more without losing visual acuity and/or complications.

Can IOLs maintain their visual acuity for many years?

Thank you.
Sincerely,
Laura5121

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

The first IOL was done by Dr. Sir Harold Ridley in England about 1948. He used Perspex plastic which is the plastic that British fighters in WWII  used in their canopies (e.g. Spitfire). He noticed that when these fragments went into the eye during the war that they were well tolerated and caused no inflammation. After the war he contacted the company and they made tiny IOLs made out of this material. While other materials are now used.

JCH MD

JCH MD

[disappointed66]

from disappointed66

That was the best post I have read in many months!  Thanks so much for that great bit of information!

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

The IOL will last much longer than you will live. The materials are strong, resist deterioration and have stayed in eyes over 50 years without problems

JCH MD