Lens replacement
A lens replacement is a medical procedure whereby the natural ocular lens, which loses its accommodation capacity over time, is replaced by an advanced artificial lens. Discover how lens replacement offers an effective solution for age-related changes in vision and other eye problems.
As you age, the elasticity or accommodation capacity of your ocular lens decreases. This causes your vision, both near and far, to deteriorate. When the lens is replaced, your own natural lens is replaced by a very advanced artificial lens, or lens implant. This will enable your eye to see clearly again from far, medium distance, and nearby. The impact of this treatment is permanent as the lens implant has a permanent reading correction that will not change over time. In 80% of cases, no glasses are needed after the procedure. In 15% of cases, glasses may still be needed mostly for sharp vision at medium distance (60 to 70 cm). Only in 5% of the cases are glasses still regularly needed. This can almost always be corrected by means of an extra laser treatment.
Depending on your preferences and your life and work situation, we will determine which lens is best suited to you. Our doctors have experience with monofocal (sharp vision at one particular distance) and multifocal (sharp vision at various distances) lenses, as well as with the technique of ‘monovision’ (one lens for near and one for far vision). After the intake exam, we will determine the most suitable lens for you.
When are you eligible for lens replacement?
- Age
- Recent intake examination
We’re happy to help!
Discover a clear, sharp world. Are you fed up with always depending on glasses or contacts? If so, a lens replacement may be the solution. Our expert team is ready to support you through each step and to answer all your questions.
- After your intake exam, the lenses will be custom-made for your eyes.
- Three days before the procedure, you will need to apply some preparatory eye drops at home.
- When you arrive at our centre, we start with a few administrative tasks. Next, you will get some eye drops in order to dilate your pupil. This takes about 45 minutes, providing the ideal opportunity to relax with a book or a cool drink.
- Once your pupils are sufficiently dilated, we will accompany you to the operating room. There, your eyes will be anaesthetised with drops and carefully disinfected.
- While you lie back comfortably, we make a small incision in your cornea. We then replace your natural lens with an artificial lens at the perfect place in your lens capsular bag.
- The procedure takes around fifteen minutes per eye and is nearly painless. After the procedure, you can go straight home, but you do need someone to accompany you.
The price of a lens replacement varies, depending on various individual factors. We consider it important to make a personal price calculation for each patient. For an overview of our fees, please go to the fees page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a lens replacement and what are the advantages of lens replacement surgery?
In a lens replacement, we remove your own natural eye lens and replace it with an artificial lens. That artificial lens allows your eye to focus sharply again at distance, intermediate range and/or near, depending on which type of implant lens we choose. The main advantages: the result is permanent and you no longer need glasses for most daily activities. The procedure takes about fifteen minutes per eye and is painless.
How much does a lens replacement cost?
The price depends on the type of artificial lens: standard lens, comfort lens or multifocal lens. After the preliminary examination, you will receive a detailed price overview. Health insurance funds and most hospitalisation insurance policies reimburse the treatment partially or in full, provided it takes place in a recognised eye centre.
What is the recovery time after lens replacement surgery and what is the recovery like?
One day after the operation, you can already see at least 80%. Recovery is very quick: reading, watching TV and light work are possible right away. For two weeks, avoid rubbing your eyes and do not wear make-up. Put swimming and contact sports on hold for a month.
What are the disadvantages of a lens replacement and can you get blurred vision after lens replacement surgery?
Blurred vision after lens replacement surgery can occur when a secondary cataract develops: a clouding of the lens capsule that can manifest itself months or years after the procedure. We can easily resolve this with a YAG laser treatment. Another disadvantage is that some multifocal artificial lenses can cause light halos around light sources during the first few months. For very small print, reading glasses may sometimes still be needed.