For patients with thin corneas or high myopia and high hyperopia, vision can be corrected through ICL surgery. Lens implantation surgery places special lenses inside the iris. These lenses offer freedom from conditions like corneal thickness and enable broad vision correction, particularly for patients with high myopia or hyperopia. However, some patients occasionally experience a decrease in vision after ICL surgery. Let’s explore the causes of vision decline after ICL surgery.
After ICL surgery, a decrease in vision, is the cause residual astigmatism?
As the body grows, so do the eyes. Therefore, you should undergo vision correction surgery only after the body has completely stopped growing. When the growth of the eyes stops, myopia progression also stops, and vision remains stable. If you feel a decrease in vision after ICL surgery, the cause can be attributed to residual astigmatism. Residual astigmatism refers to the remaining astigmatism that is not fully corrected after vision correction. Prior to vision correction, glasses were used to correct both myopia and astigmatism. Residual astigmatism after lens implant surgery can lead to blurred vision and double vision symptoms. This may result in a perceived decrease in vision compared to before the surgery.
After ICL surgery, there may be a decrease in vision and symptoms of presbyopia.
If you feel a decline in vision after a certain period following ICL surgery, especially in your 40s, it’s a good idea to consider presbyopia as a possible cause. Presbyopia is a symptom that occurs as the eyes age. It happens when the eye’s ability to focus diminishes due to aging, resulting in a loss of elasticity in the lens and a decrease in the function of the ciliary muscles that control the lens, making it difficult to quickly switch focus and causing difficulty in seeing close objects.
Could a decrease in corneal epithelial cells after ICL surgery be a cause of decreased vision?
Some people worry that a decrease in corneal epithelial cells after lens insertion surgery might lead to decreased vision. However, a decrease in corneal epithelial cells does not necessarily lead to poorer vision. Nonetheless, since corneal epithelial cells play a role in maintaining the transparency of the cornea, it’s advisable to undergo regular check-ups after ICL surgery.
As posterior chamber phakic intraocular lens implantation is mainly performed these days, the possibility of direct contact between the lens and the corneal epithelial cells is extremely low, and since it is checked through examinations whether the space for lens insertion is sufficient before performing the ICL surgery, there is almost no sudden decrease in corneal epithelial cells. However, since various factors such as lifestyle habits, environment, and management methods can affect differently for each individual, if you have undergone ICL surgery, it is recommended to visit regularly for corneal epithelial cell examinations.