Lens Implants, for the Eye.
 

My wife is always coming up with inventive ways to spend money, this time around I think she may be on a winner.

Conductive Keratoplasty, ever heard of it, or anyone on here had it done, would like some personal feedback from a neutral source.

Apparently a lot of the nurses at the Royal Melbourne are getting this done at present. It negates the need to wear glasses permanently and unlike laser surgery is totally reversable.

Out of pocket less than 600 bucks, if one has health insurance, about the price of a pair of glasses. Actually cheaper than mine. So I may indulge.

Re: Lens Implants, for the Eye.
 

Found this link.. http://canberraeyehospital.com.au/la...k_eye_surg.htm

They have a desc, and a list of problems

Only appears to work on longsight

Re: Lens Implants, for the Eye.
 

Yehp should be ok for me, and the wife is booked in already, I'll use her as the guinea pig ;)

Re: Lens Implants, for the Eye.
 

Not heard of it.

I had LASIK 2 years ago, and would not look back. oops yer I would, but in focus :)

Re: Lens Implants, for the Eye.
 

Yes, I have heard of it. I'll explain the procedure like I would have to one of our cataract patients.

First thing they do is use a topical anesthetic gel to freeze your eye. A very small incision is made just along the edge of the iris (coloured part of the eye) where it meets the sclera (white part). A very small phacoemulsification tube is inserted into the incision. The surgeon then uses the probe to break up the natural lens of your eye and then vacuums out the debris. Once the lens is removed a new prosthetic lens is inserted into the capsule left. Some surgeons use a stitch to close the incision, but others do not. The surgeon I worked for did not use a stitch but he did patch the operated eye for 24 hours just so you don't rub it by accident. You will probably be using eye drops for a few weeks post op to prevent infection and a steroid to prevent swelling around the implant site. The procedure itself is very simple and only takes about 15 or 20 minutes per eye. I've seen it done for cataracts so many times I could probably do the surgery for you myself.

Downsides: The risk of infection is very real. You are only ever given 2 eyes and they cannot ever be replaced. Research your surgeon and the clinic well. The need for glasses is NOT removed completely. They will do something called an A-scan which will measure what strength lens is appropriate at this point in time. As you get older you will require reading glasses, as every person eventually will if they live long enough. It doesn't have anything to do with the lens in your eye, it has to do with the eye itself not being able to accomodate. There is also a possibility of the lens capsule becoming clouded and the need for further laser surgery to clear the cloudiness. Make sure the laser is included in the price should it become necessary.

After 19 years working in ophthalmology, if it were my eyes I wouldn't do it. Yes, contacts and glasses are a pain in the ass, but as I said you only get one set of eyes and I've seen some pretty nasty infections and permanent blindness caused by poor surgery.

Re: Lens Implants, for the Eye.
 

Yes I understand and I should take 100 pct note of your advice. One thing though in this procedure here as follows they use RF (radio frequency as the surgery tool rather than laser) Does that make a major difference ?


http://www.weyec.com.au/ck_surgery.htm

BTW I dont think I'll show the wife your post until after, all going well that is ;)

Re: Lens Implants, for the Eye.
 

They cannot remove a lens with laser. It is done by phacoemulsification which is a tool that uses high frequency to break up the lens. It is then sucked out of the capsule by a vaccuum. Anyone who tells you they can do the procedure with laser is lying.

Re: Lens Implants, for the Eye.
 

Apologies Dorothy I thought you said laser but you were talking about removing cataracts.

My misunderstanding

There is also a possibility of the lens capsule becoming clouded and the need for further laser surgery to clear the cloudiness. Make sure the laser is included in the price should it become necessary.

Re: Lens Implants, for the Eye.
 

Ah, I didn't read the link you sent. What that is is not a lens implant, but rather corneal reshaping. Essentially the same as LASIK, where the shape of your cornea is changed. You still will require either reading glasses as you get older and the shape of your cornea is no longer adequate for your degree of presbyopia or you will need to have the procedure re-done at a later date. I also think I would like to see long term studies done on this procedure, since as of leaving ophthalmology 18 months ago I hadn't heard or it.

Re: Lens Implants, for the Eye.
 

No, I wasn't talking about cataracts. The procedure for removing a healthy lens and replacing it is exactly the same as a cataract operation.

Re: Lens Implants, for the Eye.
 

I think the wife has made her mind already, plus she has the dates booked. She has had a pterygium removed before so she knows a little bit about the discomfort afterwards. This op would make a massive difference to me, having worn +7.50 and +8.50 since about the age of 2, it would be great to be able to see clearly whilst swimming.

BTW, thanks for calling the removing of the lens tissue "debris" put me right of my pre night shift nap it has LOL ;) (even though It's a different procedure she is booked in for)


Thanks for the advice, and see how we go once we've absorbed your info.

Re: Lens Implants, for the Eye.
 

What procedure is she booked to have? I'd be interested in how she goes. Much as I love me new career, I do miss the familiarity of eyes.

Re: Lens Implants, for the Eye.
 

Here's some more general info about alternatives to LASIK

http://www.lasik-eyes.co.uk/leftpanel/other.asp

Re: Lens Implants, for the Eye.
 

Right now the bets are on this procedure, because we are of the understanding that it's implantable lenses. This is slightly more confusing than first meets the eye (lol).....



http://www.weyec.com.au/refractive_surgery.htm

Re: Lens Implants, for the Eye.
 

That's the one that's done like a cataract operation. Very straightforward, simple surgery.