What Is a Lensectomy?

Lensectomy is an eye surgery procedure to remove a diseased or damaged lens from your eye. An ophthalmologist performs the procedure to remove a natural, crystalline lens to treat cataracts and a wide range of vitreoretinal disorders. During a lensectomy procedure, your eye doctor makes a tiny incision in your eye. After removing the natural lens, the doctor replaces it with an implant, called an intraocular lens (IOL).

Along with the cornea, the lens in your eye focuses light rays onto the retina at the back of your eyeball. When the lens focuses on nearby objects, it thickens. It thins when it focuses on distant objects. When an image is focused properly onto your retina, that image is sent to your brain through the optic nerve.

A diseased natural lens distorts your clear vision, requiring a diagnosis by an eye specialist. At Vitreous Retina Macula Consultants of New York (VRMNY), top ophthalmologists use advanced diagnostic imaging and other methods to determine the cause of your poor eyesight so they can treat it. To treat a range of eye conditions, these eye specialists offer:

• Medications
• Laser surgeries
• Surgical procedures
• Other in-office procedures

What Can Lensectomy Treat?

Eye specialists use lensectomy to treat eye conditions and complications such as:

• Retained lens fragments after a cataract surgery
• A dislocated IOL after your cataract surgery
• Treatment for complex retinal detachments
• The presence of an intraocular foreign body
• Severe refractive errors
• Complications from a previous surgery that threaten your eyesight
• Severe myopia or hyperopia, but you’re not eligible for LASIK eye surgery
• Already diagnosed with presbyopia
• Your desire to avoid wearing glasses

The potential of lensectomy surgery continues to expand, as ophthalmologists identify more uses for it. At VRMNY, the most experienced eye doctors and retina specialists perform this and other eye surgeries. They’ve invested heavily in eye care research, and they’re on the leading edge of the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

What Are the Different Approaches to Lensectomy Surgery?

For your doctor to choose the most effective eye surgery, your diagnosis has to be correct. The eye doctors at VRMNY’s state-of-the-art eye facilities in New York City have access to advanced diagnostic equipment. These eye doctors carry out extensive diagnostic tests before developing an individualized eye treatment plan for you.

Once you’re diagnosed with cataracts or another lens-altering condition, your eye doctor recommends an appropriate lensectomy procedure. The different types of lensectomy procedures include:

• Lensectomy vitrectomy. This eye procedure involves the removal of the natural, crystalline lens through a small incision. During the procedure, your doctor also removes the vitreous partially or totally and replaces it with a solution like saline in a procedure called vitrectomy. As you recover, your eye produces natural fluid, called the aqueous humor, to replace the saline.
• Pars plana lensectomy. For this eye procedure, your eye doctor removes the entire lens and replaces it with an IOL. The pars plana lensectomy procedure is effective for removing pre-senile cataracts.
• Clear lensectomy. A clear lens extraction or clear lens surgery — such as refractive lensectomy or refractive lens exchange — is an eye procedure similar to cataract surgery. During the procedure, your eye doctor removes your eye’s natural lens and replaces it with a synthetic lens.
• Refractive lensectomy surgery. Refractive lens exchange is an eye procedure to remove the natural lens from your eye. Your eye doctor performs the procedure to correct myopia or hyperopia. The doctor replaces your damaged eye’s natural lens with an artificial IOL implant.

What Are Cataracts?

One of the main indicators for lensectomy is the presence of cataracts. Cataracts affect the normally clear lens of your eye, causing clouding and blurred vision. This lens problem develops gradually, so you may not even realize your eyes have a problem. Signs of cataracts include:

• Clouded vision
• Problems seeing at night
• Constantly changing prescriptions for your eyeglasses or contact lenses
• Double vision in one eye
• Increased sensitivity to light and glare
• Difficulties reading
• The presence of halos around lights at night

The main causes of cataracts are cigarette smoking, alcohol use, air pollution, and family history. Regular eye exams can help detect the problem at an early stage, allowing for effective cataract treatment. If cataracts are impairing your vision, a pars planar lensectomy procedure may be the best solution.

How Is a Lensectomy Done?

Lensectomy is an outpatient procedure performed at your eye doctor’s office. If you need a lensectomy in both eyes, your doctor treats one eye at a time. The procedure takes just 10 to 15 minutes. The main steps in the treatment procedure include:

1. Before surgery, doctor describes any pre-surgery steps you need to take. These may include stopping or reducing certain medications.
2. Anesthesia. Your eye is treated with a topical or local anesthesia to numb your eye.
3. Lensectomy. Your doctor makes a tiny incision, through which to remove your eye’s natural lens. The ophthalmologist then vacuums the lens out through the incision.
4. Implant. Using the same micro-incision, your eye doctor inserts a folded intraocular lens, sets it in position and unfolds it. The incision requires no sutures, as it heals itself.
5. There’s no hospital stay, and recovery takes a day or two. You can resume normal activities afterward. You need to be patient while you adjust to the new lens, as the results may not be immediately obvious.

If you’ve noted a gradual decline in your vision, contact the eye specialists at VRMNY. These professionals at the oldest ophthalmology practice in New York City treat you gently as they work to diagnose and address your vision problems.