Op. Dr. Mustafa KARAKOÇ is an ophthalmologist at Özel Avcılar Düzey Göz Tıp Merkezi. He works in cataract and smart lens surgery, excimer laser and diabetic retinopathy. You can leave an appointment request below by choosing your condition.
1-Smart Lens (Trifocal Lens)
Intraocular lenses were first used in the human eye in 1949 by Harold Ridley, an ophthalmologist. The discovery of intraocular lenses was a completely fortuitous event. The first lenses used were hard lenses (PMMA lenses). With the phacoemulsification method, soft intraocular lenses (silicone and acrylic lenses) came into use. For the last 15-20 years, multifocal lenses (Multifocal, Trifocal, Add-Of. We call them all together Smart Lenses) have been used frequently.
2- What Is a Smart Lens and How Does It Work?
Trifocal lenses are special artificial intraocular lenses used in cataract surgery or refractive lens replacement operations. Trifocal lenses are designed to provide clear vision at far, medium and near distances when placed in the eye.
These lenses have a special optical design. Typically, there are three different zones with different focal lengths at the top, middle and bottom of the lens. These focusing zones mimic the function of the natural lens in the eye. They work together to focus the light at different distances.
At the far distance, the upper part of the lens is used, allowing distant objects to be seen clearly. At intermediate distances, the middle part of the lens is used. Middle part provides a clear view of mid-distance objects, such as a computer screen. At close range, the lower part of the lens is used The lower part provides a clear view of close objects. Trifocal lenses are ideal for close-range tasks.
In this way, trifocal lenses allow patients to have a wide focal range. This can make daily life activities more comfortable.
3-What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Smart Lenses?
ADVANTAGES:- Wide Focal Range: Smart lenses offer a wide focal range, providing clear vision at far, medium and near distances. This allows patients to perform every day activities more comfortably.
- Reduced Need for Glasses: Smart lenses can reduce or eliminate the need for eye glasses for many patients. Because they provide good vision at both near and far distances, they often allow patients to see objects at various distances clearly.
- High Satisfaction Rate: Smart lenses have high satisfaction levels with many patients. By offering a wide focal range and reducing the need for glasses, they can improve patients’ quality of life.
- Side Effects: The use of smart lenses may cause side effects in some patients. The most important of these side effects is dispersion around the lights.
- High Cost: The cost of smart lenses is generally higher than other types of lenses. This can create an economic barrier for some patients and limit their access to treatment.
- May Not Be Suitable for All Patients: Smart lenses may not be suitable for every patient. Some anatomical features of the eye may cause situations where the use of trifocal lenses is not appropriate.
The advantages and disadvantages of smart lenses should be evaluated by considering the patients individual needs, lifestyle and surgical suitability.Therefore, it is important to perform a detailed evaluation prior to trifocal lens implantation.
4-For Who Are Smart Lenses Suitable and in Which Cases Are They Used?
- People with cataracts who want to see far, middle and near distances clearly without eye glasses.
- People who do not have cataracts but do not want to wear near and far eye glasses. These are usually people over 40 years of age.
- Those who are younger than 40 and whose eye disorder cannot be corrected by laser treatment.
5-How Are Smart Lenses Implanted and How Does Post-operative Recovery Take Place?
People who are planned to have smart lenses should undergo a good eye examination. The patient’s degree of vision should be checked and eye numbers should be determined. The severity of dry eye should be evaluated. The pupil should be dilated to see if the patient has yellow spot disease, if he/she has had any previous vascular occlusion, if he/she has diabetes, if there is bleeding in the eye or other signs of diabetes.
The surgery is a painless operation and it lasts 15-20 minutes. Afterwards, drops are used for a month. The majority of patients say that they see more clearly the day after surgery. Depending on the difficulty of the surgery and the hardness of the cataract, very good vision is achieved within 7 to 15 days. The patient recovers completely between 15 and 30 days.
6-What Are the Side Effects and Risks of Smart Lenses?
What are the side effects and risks of smart lenses?
The most common side effect of ringed trifocal lenses is light glare. Especially at night, oncoming vehicle headlights blur vision by spreading. For this reason, this type of surgery is not suitable for those who have to drive at night due to their profession. This issue should be discussed with the patient and a decision should be made. However, this problem is very rare with ringless smart lenses. Choosing this lens type will make the patient more satisfied.
As in every operation, there are risks in trifocal lens surgery. However, these risks are minimized by optimizing the conditions. Hygiene and sterilization should be very careful during the operation. The lenses used should be of the highest quality. Of course, the most important thing is the surgeon’s experience.
7-How Do Smart Lenses Compare with Other Types of Lenses?
Trifocal lenses clarify distant, intermediate and near vision thanks to the three different foci they have on them. However, monofocal lenses can only clarify far or near vision and require glasses.
8-What Is the Lifespan of Smart Lenses and How Often Should They Be Replaced?
Like all intraocular lenses , trifocal lenses last lifelong. The service life of a trifocal lens surpasses human life. Since its structure is polymer-based like plastic, it takes many years to deteriorate. The deterioration time of plastic is 176 years.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Are Not Suitable For Smart Lens?
Trifocal lenses should not be implanted in people with yellow spot disease. Also people with bleeding due to diabetes and improper eye anatomy are not suitable for trifocal lenses. Low vision due to occlusion of the eye vessels is another impediment for a smart lens implantation.
What Is The Superiority Of Trifocal Lens Over Multifocal Lens?
Those who have trifocal lenses can see intermediate distances better. For example, they can see the prices on the counter shelves, the computer screen, the distance to the counter while washing dishes and preparing food more easily.
Who Is Suitable For Smart Lens ?
- Those over the age of 40, with impaired distant and near vision.
- Those over the age of 40 and whose eye disorders cannot be corrected with laser operation.
- People with cataract at any age.
Is Smart Lens (Trifocal Lens) Operation Painful ?
The eye is numbed with an anesthetic eye drop and the patient does not feel pain during the operation.
How Long Does Smart Lens Surgery Take?
The operation is completed in about 10-15 minutes.
Can Other Eye Surgeries Be Performed In The Same Session With Smart Lens Surgery?
Eye flesh surgery and combined eye pressure surgery can be performed in combination with smart lens surgery.
How Many Days Will I Stay In The Hospital After Smart Lens Surgery?
There is no hospitalization after the smart lens surgery.
Is Smart Lens Operation Suitable Only For Patients Who Have Cataract?
No. People who do not have cataract but wear glasses are also suitable for smart lens operation. Smart lens eliminates the need for eye glasses.
How Soon Can I Start Driving A Car After Smart Lens Implantation?
Some patients can drive the day after the surgery and some patients can drive 3-4 days after the surgery.
Can I Go Swimming In The Pool Or Sea After Smart Lens Implantation?
One month waiting period is recommended for swimmimg after the surgery. Also, sea goggles should be used as a precaution.
Can Both Eyes Be Operated On The Same Day?
Two eyes should not be operated at the same time, unless it is necessary. Minimum of one day waiting period between operations is strongly recommended.
Can I watch TV After The Surgery?
You can watch television and check your cell phone after one day resting. However, you should not tire yourself during these activities.
Should I Wear Glasses After Smart Lens Operation?
You can wear good quality sunglasses on sunny days. If the vehicle headlights disturb your eyes at night, you can wear anti-headlight glasses.
Can Excimer Laser Operation Be Performed On People With Smart Lens?
In some cases smart lens can’t fix the eye. The situation can be reset with excimer laser. However, this is a very rare situation.
Can Smart Lens Operation Be Performed On Patients Who Previously Had Excimer Laser Operation?
Smart lenses can be implanted in people who have had a laser treatment before. Some patients developed cataract after the laser operation.
At What Ages Can Smart Lenses Be Implanted?
- For people at any age and with cataract (except infancy and childhood cataract)
- Those under 40 years of age and whose eye disorders cannot be corrected with laser
- Those over 40 years of age and with near and far vision impairment
How Can I Avoid Wearing Glasses If My Eye Is Not Suitable For Excimer Laser Treatment?
Your ophthalmologist can fit you with Phakic intraocular lens after performing a detailed eye examination. Or, if the conditions are suitable, he/she can perform a smart lens operation. In both methods, your refractive errors (myopic, hypermetropic and astigmatism )can be corrected.
Astigmatism Treatment With Permanent Smart Lens (Trifocal Toric Lens)
Astigmatism is an eye disease that causes blurred vision due to unequal refraction of the cornea and/or lens of the eye on the horizontal and vertical axis.For this reason, the projections of objects on the retina layer are not on a single point, but on different points. This causes blurred vision.Trifocal Toric lenses can enable us to see far, middle and near distances clearly without glasses and can also correct astigmatism eye disorder.Trifocal Toric Smart Lenses can be implanted to:
- Those who suffer from cataract and astigmatism at the same time and do not want to wear near and far glasses
- Those who do not have cataract and wear eye glasses for near vision and far astigmatism (who do not want to wear glasses for near and far vision)
- People who have astigmatism and whose eyes are not suitable for eximer laser
