Hi, in your view are IOL's suitable for those with a strong farsight prescription of +10?? I have received a lot of conflicting information about this and would really value some opinions.

Thanks
Paul (UK)

Paul,

It is my opinion that Clear Lens Exchange (CLE) is the only refractive surgery procedure that could be considered appropriate for someone with your incredibly high hyperopia (farsighted, longsighted).

CLE is essentially cataract surgery without the cataract. A plastic or silicone Intraocular Lens (IOL) replaces the natural lens of your eye and is of a refractive power to correct most, if not all, of your hyperopia.

Corneal based surgeries such as LASIK, PRK, LASEK, Intacs, Epi-LASIK would not predictably or reliably be able to correct that much hyperopia, and would probably induce problems in the attempt. Phakic IOLs such as the Artisan lens are not powerful enough to help you much, and really would not have enough room to appropriately fit I your eyes.

A downside to CLE is that you will lose your ability to change focus from distance to near. This means that even with the IOL of a good power, you will need reading glasses. You may also want to consider monovision correction. See:
http://www.usaeyes.org/faq/subjects/monovision.htm

Best of luck.

Glenn Hagele
Council for Refractive Surgery Quality Assurance
http://www.USAeyes.org
http://www.ComplicatedEyes.org

I am not a doctor.

Thanks fopr the information Glen. I actually have a CLE booked in for approximately 1 month time so you have allayed a few concerns to say the least. The reason why I have posted this question is that I'm only 26 year old...in your personal opinion, do you think I'm too young for a CLE?
Thanks
Paul

>Paul,

>It is my opinion that Clear Lens
>Exchange (CLE) is the only refractive
>surgery procedure that could be considered
>appropriate for someone with your incredibly
>high hyperopia (farsighted, longsighted).

>CLE is essentially cataract surgery without the
>cataract. A plastic or silicone
>Intraocular Lens (IOL) replaces the natural
>lens of your eye and is
>of a refractive power to correct
>most, if not all, of your
>hyperopia.

>Corneal based surgeries such as LASIK, PRK,
>LASEK, Intacs, Epi-LASIK would not predictably
>or reliably be able to correct
>that much hyperopia, and would probably
>induce problems in the attempt.
>Phakic IOLs such as the Artisan
>lens are not powerful enough to
>help you much, and really would
>not have enough room to appropriately
>fit I your eyes.

>A downside to CLE is that you
>will lose your ability to change
>focus from distance to near.
>This means that even with the
>IOL of a good power, you
>will need reading glasses. You
>may also want to consider monovision
>correction. See:http://www.usaeyes.org/faq/subjects/monovision.htm

>Best of luck.

>Glenn HageleCouncil for Refractive Surgery Quality Assurancehttp://www.USAeyes.orghttp://www.ComplicatedEyes.org
>

>I am not a doctor.

This is a decision only you can make. You are trading extreme hyperopia for presbyopia. In other words, you would be trading using glasses or contacts all the time and not being able to see near very well, or using glasses some of the time when you want to see near well. Of course, this is assuming that all goes well with the surgery.

I have never publicly or privately told anyone that they should have refractive surgery. It's your call, not mine. The most I can do is provide some of the facts so you can make an informed decision.

Glenn Hagele
Council for Refractive Surgery Quality Assurance
http://www.USAeyes.org
http://www.ComplicatedEyes.org

I am not a doctor.