Intraocular lens
IOL's main function is to replace the cloudy lens in patient's eye by the cataract surgery. IOL must be similar to the lens and compatible with the eye tisses.
When the lens is removed, probably around 2000 degree refractive index is removed (varies according to the patient's axial length). Before the invention of the IOL, thick convex lens glasses was used to correct vision. This approach is not pleasant nor convenient. IOL acts like the implanted eye glasses and it can provide a clear vision of cataract patients.
Artificial lens is mainly divided into two parts, one part of the mirror for the refraction function. Another part is supporting the lens and to ensure the IOL is placed smoothly in the eye.
In order to meet the requirements in long-term, the IOL must have good bio-compatibility, and steadily fixed in the capsular bag of different sizes in order to maintain stable vision.
Materials of Intraocular Lens
(1) Silicone
Silicone was firstly used to make soft intraocular lens, silicone is not invented for the eyes, so it is not compatible with the eye tissue. Also, the patient will suffer a higher risk of post-operative complications, such as higher Secondary Cataract and inflammation.
(2) Hydrophilic Acrylic
Hydrophilic Acrylic belongs to the early production of artificial crystal material and it leads to a high probability of Secondary Cataract. Furthermore, the hydrophilic Acrylic material would lead to calcification and surgery would be needed to remove the deterioration IOL. As the result, patients would expose to the risk of re-operation.
(3) Hydrophobic Acrylic
In 1994, "non-hydrophilic" acrylic material is invented. The lens is soft and foldable, so it is easy to implant through a small incision intraocular. More importantly, it is resilient silicone IOLs, avoid IOL rebound cause tissue damage. According to the study, Non-hydrophilic Acrylic Material not only has the characteristics of a collapsible, and the percentage of leading to secondary cataract is lower than Silican and Hydrophilic Acrylic.
IOL series is a patented hydrophobic Acrylic. Throughout the long-term clinical validation, it is now the world's widely used by ophthalmologists in the United States and around the world. The statistic shows that more than forty million eyes were implanted with IOL.
