Aphakia correction: optical, intraocular

The main goal of treating visual apparatus disorders is partial or complete restoration of visual acuity. Correction of aphakia is carried out by both conservative and surgical methods.

1. Conservative correction

This method is based on the selection of lenses and glasses. For treatment, glasses with convex lenses for distance of at least 10 diopters are used. After getting used to it, patients are prescribed glasses for near vision, which are several diopters stronger than the previous ones.

But this method of correction is not suitable for all patients. Its main disadvantage is the limitation of the field of vision and the impossibility of using glasses in the monocular form of the disease. If conservative treatment methods are ineffective, surgical intervention is used.

2. Surgical correction

This type of treatment involves implantation of an optical artificial lens. Its strength is calculated using computer programs. There are two types of intraocular lenses implanted inside the eye:

• Phakic – implantation is performed without removing the lens. It is used to correct the refraction of light rays.
• Aphakic - this is the installation of an artificial lens.

Corrective lenses are made of bioinert plastic, i.e. a material that the body does not reject. Acrylic, hydrogel, collamer and silicone can be used as a base. The soft and flexible structure of the material allows the lenses to be rolled up. There are also lenses with a filter that protects the eyes from harmful solar radiation.

With the help of contact correction, it is possible to improve vision up to 1.0. This method of treatment is not used in case of allergic reactions and individual intolerance to the lens material. With the help of modern methods of treating aphakia, doctors manage to quickly restore the patient's vision and return his usual way of life.

Methods of correction of aphakia

One of the methods of treating ophthalmological diseases is their correction. Methods of aphakia correction consist of surgical and conservative methods. The following methods can be used to normalize vision:

1. Spectacle correction is performed with converging lenses +10.0-12.0 diopters (for reading +3.0 diopters) for the emmetropic eye. This method has a number of disadvantages: limited field of vision, inability to use in the monocular form of the disease, increased retinal image. But despite the disadvantages, this is the most accessible method.
2. Contact correction – used to correct both monocular and binocular forms of the disease. With its help, vision can be improved to 1.0. Not used if there is a risk of developing infectious complications, residual aniseikonia.
3. Intraocular correction – used after cataract removal. Implantation is permitted for patients from the age of two. The advantages of this method are the normalization of the visual field. Distortion of objects is eliminated, and images of normal size are formed on the retina.

The method of correction of aphakia is determined after a set of diagnostic measures. The ophthalmologist selects the most optimal and effective method of treatment.

Optical correction of aphakia

Elimination of visual pathology with glasses is optical correction of aphakia. To create optimal conditions for vision, treatment is aimed at complete correction of refractive anomaly. Glasses are selected based on the results of refraction studies and subjective verification of correction tolerance. This type of therapy is suitable for patients over 5 years old. Patients are prescribed glasses for distance, and then glasses for near vision, which are 2-3 diopters stronger than the first lenses for distance.

Optical correction of aphakia in the unilateral form of the disease is not performed. This is due to the high risk of aniseikonia and the impossibility of restoring binocular vision. If other methods of eliminating monocular pathology cannot be applied, then physiotherapy procedures and training are prescribed to improve vision.

Intraocular correction of aphakia

One of the popular and effective invasive treatment methods is intraocular correction of aphakia. The therapy is based on the continuity of correction, but taking into account the growth of the eyeball, it does not correspond to changes in refraction.

There are several models of intraocular lenses:

• Anterior chamber
• Posterior chamber

They also differ in the method of fastening:

• Anterior chamber fixation (in the area of the iridocorneal angle).
• Fixation to the iris.
• Attachment to the iris and lens capsule (iridocapsular).
• Fixation to the lens capsule (capsular).

The most popular is the Fedorov-Zakharov iris-clip lens. Intraocular correction is suitable for both unilateral and bilateral aphakia. Restoration of binocular vision is observed in 75-98% of patients.

Implantation of an artificial lens is contraindicated in cases of complex post-traumatic complications and changes in the anterior or posterior parts of the eye, secondary glaucoma, complicated cataracts, and recurrent iridocyclitis.