How Long Do Cataract Lens Implants Last?

Are cataracts affecting your ability to read, drive, perform routine tasks, and enjoy life? It could be time for cataract surgery. If you’re getting ready for cataract surgery, you may be wondering about the longevity of the IOL you chose. Will they need to be replaced, or can they endure for years?

Keep reading to learn more about how long cataract lenses last!

What is a Cataract?

A cataract develops when proteins in the natural lens of your eye break down and build up, turning the usually clear lens cloudy. Over time, a cataract can grow bigger and cloud a larger area of your lens, causing symptoms such as blurred vision, glare and halos, light sensitivity, double vision in one eye, and difficulty seeing at night.

When cataracts begin to impair your vision, making it challenging to recognize faces, read, cook, drive, and perform other regular activities, your ophthalmologist may suggest cataract surgery. Cataract surgery is the only way to permanently eliminate cataracts and restore clear vision.

The procedure involves removing the natural lens of your eye and replacing it with a cataract lens or intraocular lens (IOL). The new IOL takes over the role of the natural lens of your eye, enabling you to see clearly again.

How Long Do Cataract Lens Implants Last?

Before your cataract procedure, you’ll need to select an IOL. Your cataract surgeon will take your eye measurements to determine the most appropriate focusing power for your new IOL.

Much like your contact lenses or glasses, an IOL contains your specific prescription to ensure you can see as clearly as possible. IOLs or cataract lenses are artificial implants designed to last a lifetime.

They’re made of biocompatible, medical-grade materials, such as silicone or acrylic, which are not biodegradable. Once implanted, intraocular lenses don’t need to be replaced.

They’re not affected by wear and tear or age-related changes. While cataract surgery is highly effective and safe, it’s still a surgical procedure, meaning there could be complications.

Choosing an experienced surgeon like Dr. Tokuhara and the use of advanced technology, such as the ORA system, can significantly decrease the risk of IOL failure and ensure it remains effective and in position for the rest of your life.

The ORA system helps your cataract surgeon confirm in real-time that they’ve picked the right lens for optimal vision correction and ensures the ideal IOL placement location in your eye.

This considerably reduces your chances of needing to alter or replace your intraocular lens down the road.

Can Cataract Lenses Fail After Cataract Surgery?

Although rare, cataract lenses can require repositioning or replacement for some people after cataract surgery.

This may be due to complications such as:

Cataract Lens Dislocation

IOL dislocation is a rare but serious complication that can happen weeks, months, or years after cataract surgery. It occurs when your IOL slips out of position, causing symptoms such as:

• Decreased or blurred vision
• Glare and halos
• Seeing the edge of the lens
• Double vision
• Eye pain

If a dislocated IOL isn’t treated, it can lead to complications such as inflammation, high eye pressure, retinal detachment, and even vision loss.

How is IOL Dislocation Treated?

Treatment will depend on the extent of the dislocation. When your lens has only moved slightly and doesn’t cause any vision problems, often no treatment will be required. Instead, your ophthalmologist may suggest regular checkups to ensure your IOL doesn’t shift further.

Severe IOL Lens dislocation may require surgery to put the lens back in place or replace it with a new one.

Refractive Surprise

Your vision may not be as crisp and clear as you and your cataract surgeon anticipated due to a residual refractive error called a refractive surprise. There are several reasons why this may happen, including:

• Pre-existing astigmatism
• Error in preoperative measurements
• Changes in the effective lens position
• Previous corneal refractive surgery, such as LASIK

You may have a refractive surprise if you have the following symptoms:

• Blurred vision at certain distances
• Unexpected reliance on visual aids for clear vision
• Poor night vision or difficulty seeing in low-light settings
• Not being able to perform up-close tasks without glasses

How is a Refractive Surprise Fixed?

If you have a large refractive surprise, your IOL may need to be surgically extracted and replaced with a new one of the adjusted power.

When lens exchange isn’t possible, your surgeon may implant another intraocular lens in front of the existing one to fix the residual refractive error.

Posterior Capsular Opacification

Posterior capsular opacification (PCO), also known as secondary cataracts, is a clouding of the lens capsule that holds the new cataract lens. It’s a common complication of cataract surgery and can happen months or years after your procedure.

Patients with posterior capsular opacification often think their cataract has returned because the symptoms are similar. However, a cataract can never form in the artificial IOL.

During cataract surgery, the surgeon removes your cataract-affected lens. However, sometimes lens epithelial cells can be left behind. These cells may then migrate and accumulate on the usually clear lens capsule, causing it to become cloudy.

This can lead to symptoms such as:

• Blurred or cloudy vision
• Halos and glare
• Trouble reading
• Sensitivity to light

How is Posterior Capsular Opacification Treated?

Your ophthalmologist will treat posterior capsular opacification with YAG laser capsulotomy. YAG refers to the kind of laser used.

During the in-office procedure, your ophthalmologist will apply numbing eye drops. They’ll then use the YAG laser to remove the opacification in the cloudy lens capsule, allowing you to see as clearly as you did after cataract surgery. The procedure takes only 5 minutes to complete.

Achieve a Lifetime of Clear Vision

Dr. Tokuhara uses the ORA system, which has been clinically proven to offer better visual outcomes for cataract surgery patients. This technology, combined with Dr. Tokuhara’s extensive experience, allows for a more accurate and predictable surgical procedure, significantly reducing the risk of complications.

Are you struggling with poor vision due to cataracts? Schedule your appointment at Desert Vision Center in Rancho Mirage, CA, today to find out if it’s time for cataract surgery.