BMJ 2000;320:73-74 ( 8 January )

Editorials

Intraocular lens implants

Have come a long way, but the advances are not yet available to all

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Just over 50 years ago Harold Ridley implanted the first intraocular lens.1 Artificial lens implants have since revolutionised cataract surgery. In 2000 foldable intraocular lenses with a 6 mm lens optic can be delivered through a self sealing 3.2 mm valve incision. Sutured closure is not normally required, the strength of the eye wall is not diminished,2 and the refractive power of the lens can be tailored to minimise the postoperative requirement for glasses. In the absence of comorbidity, most patients can expect to see the driving standard or better without spectacle correction from the day after surgery. Though lens surgery has come a long way, development continues and access to the best new intraocular lens technology needs to be widened.

Ridley was ahead of his time. Developments in lens design and surgical technique were required to make intraocular lens implantation safe, so lens implantation did not become widely adopted as an integral . . . [Full text of this article]
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This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Thompson, A M, Sachdev, N, Wong, T, Riley, A F, Grupcheva, C N, McGhee, C N (2004). The Auckland Cataract Study: 2 year postoperative assessment of aspects of clinical, visual, corneal topographic and satisfaction outcomes. Br J Ophthalmol 88: 1042-1048 [Abstract] [Full text]  

Rapid Responses:

Read all Rapid Responses

Intra Ocular Lenses
William Jory
bmj.com, 15 Jan 2000 [Full text]
all that glitters...
Nick Rumney
bmj.com, 9 Feb 2000 [Full text]
Complications of intraocular lens implantation
D Infeld
bmj.com, 19 Jul 2000 [Full text]
Re: Complications of intraocular lens implantation
Helen R. Fierle
bmj.com, 2 Dec 2006 [Full text]
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