ICT Eye, of Wichita, KS offers a range of services that help improve your vision, including lens replacement surgery. This is a corrective procedure that was initially developed to treat cataracts. As the procedure has become more common, doctors have adapted it to fix a variety of vision issues, including astigmatism, short- or long-sidedness, or presbyopia. The procedure can be done on one or both eyes.

Who Can Benefit From Lens Replacement?

Though it might be the original treatment for cataracts, it may also help should you be suffering from other visual issues related to the lens of the eye. As stated, it is now used to repair a number of defects in the eye. It is safe enough that it can be ideal for people over the age of 50 and may work as an acceptable alternative if laser eye surgery is not an option, even if you’ve been turned down for laser eye surgery for your issue.

How Does a Replacement Work?

Since the basic procedure has grown so commonplace, this is often an outpatient procedure. The patient may be offered a sedative to help relax the body and eye, but nothing that would put a patient completely out – only relaxed and groggy. Drops will be put in the patient’s eye to dilate the pupil, and local anesthetics are administered to numb the eye. The steps from here depend on the issue being treated and which specific procedure is used.

Phacoemulsification (Ultrasound)

The surgeon starts by making a small incision in the front (cornea) of your eye. A needle-thin probe is inserted into the lens where the cataract substance has formed. The probe emits ultrasound waves that emulsify the cataract, which is then suctioned out of the eye. This may allow for leaving the original lens without needing to replace it with an artificial lens.

Full Extraction

In cases where the ultrasound probe can not be used, the lens will likely need to be extracted in one piece. After the numbing of the eye, a larger incision is made than the one used for phacoemulsification. Through this, the front capsule of the lens is removed. The back capsule is left as it was so that it can serve as a placeholder for the artificial lens.

In any case, each eye is worked on independently. You do not need to wait the entire recovery period to do the second eye, however, as the second eye can undergo treatment in as little as a week after the first eye is treated.

The Replacement Lens

An intraocular lens is an artificial lens that will be placed into the eye where the original, damaged lens was. These lenses are usually silicone, acrylic, or a form of plastic. Many are already coated with an ultraviolet filter to help protect the eye from the sun. Since there are a variety of reasons that lead people to get one, there are as many types of artificial lenses as there are reasons to get the procedure.

Monofocal Lenses

These are the most common lenses used in cataract surgery due to their simplicity compared to other options. These lenses are designed to focus on close, medium, or long-distance viewing, but not all three. Many people who receive these lenses opt to have them set for distance vision and then wear eyeglasses for reading or close vision.

“Piggyback” Lenses

These lenses are for those who have already had a replacement. They serve as an add-on lens to balance the monofocal lenses and offer the ranges of vision that were not selected when the original lenses were set. These are placed directly on top of the monofocal lens and can be easily removed from the eye if you decide that the monofocal lenses served you better on its own.

Multifocal Lenses

These lenses offer close, medium, and long-distance viewing, ideally reducing the need for glasses. Essentially, they function similar to bifocal contact lenses, but are a permanent part of the eye. For these lenses to be an option, the cornea must have adequate optical properties and a surface that is free of streaks or dryness.

Accommodating Lenses

With monofocal lenses, the lens is designed to keep the optical portion of the lens completely stationary, with no effects from rotation and the lens unable to move forward or backward. With accommodating lenses, the lens is designed to prevent rotational movement yet is fixed, with flexibility for the optical portion of the lens to move slightly forward or backward upon the flexing of the ciliary muscle.

Toric Lenses

These lenses are designed specifically with astigmatism in mind. As it is caused by an uneven curve in the lens or cornea leading to a refractive error, this lens is customized to correct the refraction. Toric lenses are crafted on a case-by-case basis for optimum correction.

As with nearly all things, there are several brands that manufacture the same type of lenses. Our office can help determine which brand is the best of which type of lens for your particular needs.

Benefits of a Replacement Surgery

A total replacement has less stringent requirements than many laser eye surgeries. This means that people of advanced age can be offered this as an option, and it is even capable of treating presbyopia (farsightedness caused by aging). Additionally, people with severe cases of myopia or hyperopia are often unable to have laser eye surgery yet can benefit from a replacement. Corneal thickness is not altered.

In the long term, a replacement can completely circumvent the need to have cataract surgery as cataracts aren’t likely to develop in artificial lenses. Additionally, the corrective effect can be permanent, unlike with laser correction. The potential of not needing glasses or replacement contact lenses for several years can lead to a small fortune in savings. That doesn’t count the time spared from inserting/removing/maintaining contacts or looking for your glasses.

Qualifications for Prospective Candidates

You need to be at least 21 years of age or older to be considered for this surgery, with a preference for those over the age of 40. The condition in question needs to be severe enough to warrant surgery to deter unnecessary surgeries for those who have no problems other than just needing reading glasses.

Your eyes must be reasonably healthy, preferably with no history of eye diseases (other than what is being treated). Not every disease is a total disqualification. For instance, pinkeye is only going to stop surgery during the time of infection, not prevent you from getting treatment forever.

The Cost of Replacing a Lens

Despite the enhanced functions and better sight this procedure offers, this surgery is still considered an elective procedure. Though many insurance companies do not cover such, policies that offer flexible spending accounts can be used to upgrade surgeries.

Insurance may be willing to cover the expenses of the surgery if it is for treating cataracts but may not be willing to do so for correcting mild nearsightedness. Your situation, and insurance, will ultimately determine the out-of-pocket expenses for this procedure.

Preparing for Lens Replacement Surgery

Once you have decided to pursue the lens replacement, the doctor will cover the specifics of preparing for surgery. About a week prior to the surgery, your doctor will conduct an ultrasound to get the exact shape and size of your eyes. This helps determine the options of replacement lenses, if necessary. You may also be provided antibiotic eye drops to begin using before the appointment to prevent infection during the surgery.

You will likely be asked to refrain from eating after midnight of the night before the surgery. Certain medications may have to be skipped the day before or the day of the procedure, which will be covered by the doctor. Arrangements will also need to be made for someone to drive you home after completion of the replacement.

How Long Does It Take to Recover From Lens Replacement Surgery?

Fortunately, the process of lens replacement surgery has become so simple that it can be performed with no pain felt. Depending on the type of surgery that is performed, the incisions may be so minuscule that they do not require stitching after the cut is made. Once the process has been completed, you will be taken to a recovery area to rest for about 15 to 30 minutes. You will then be sent home with a list of instructions.

Your vision will be blurry for a couple of days as your eyes heal from the doctor’s visit. As the healing happens, your vision should be noticeably improved. If you had cataracts removed, colors will appear brighter, as the brown or yellow tinting of the cataract will no longer be toning down the look of colors.

Follow Up

You will be asked to follow up with your eye doctor within two days of the procedure. The next checkpoint visits will be at the one-week and one-month marks to ensure that everything has been healing as it should. Should a procedure be for more complicated circumstances, the doctor may wish to see you more frequently.

Instructions During Recovery 

Do not rub or press the eye despite any driving urge. The eye drops that were prescribed by the doctor prior to the surgery may continue to be used to prevent infection, reduce tissue inflammation, and regulate the pressure of the eyeball.

To be cautious, it may be suggested that you wear the eye patch for a couple of days and a protective shield for sleeping during the whole recovery period.

Physical Activity

During recovery, many forms of exercise may be frowned upon due to the effects of pressure in the eyeball. Your doctor will be able to tell you what activities are acceptable and what to avoid. Most regular activities, such as driving, are cleared to do within the first week of the surgery. Avoid activities in which projectiles may come at your face.

Recovery Timetable

Depending on the specific lens replacement procedure that you undergo, recovery time ranges from two to eight weeks. Certain corrective benefits may not be immediately realized as you adjust to an entirely new way of seeing, and there will be a period of blurriness. The simpler the procedure, the shorter that the recovery time will be and the sooner the visual benefits will be apparent.

Is It Time for Better Sight?

It isn’t necessary for cataracts or other defects in the eye to continue to keep you from seeing the world as it is. If you have any questions, or would like to help determine if this could be the ideal treatment for you, contact us today at ICT Eye in Wichita, KS, to schedule your initial consultation. We can’t wait to meet you and help you enhance your vision.

At ICT Eye in Wichita, KS, your health, wellness, and aesthetic are our top three priorities. If you are concerned with sagging skin due to weight loss, smoking, aging, or sun damage, we have a solution for you. You don’t have to settle for your current aesthetic. You can receive an Ultherapy treatment and shave years off of your face, neck, and chest.

How Long Do the Results of Ultherapy Last?

The longevity of your Ultherapy results will depend on several factors. These include whether you smoke, how well you protect your skin from the sun, if you drink, and whether you have certain nutritional deficiencies. On average, the results of treatment last two years. However, we strongly recommend coming in once a year to extend the results of your treatment indefinitely.

How Can I Extend the Results of My Treatment?

There are several steps you can take to extend the results of your treatment. For the most part, it all comes down to taking good care of your overall health and skin health.

Protect Your Skin From the Sun

Protecting your skin from the sun is one of the best things you can do to extend the results of your treatment. Skin sags and wrinkles as collagen breaks down. Unfortunately, UVA and UVB rays from the sun penetrate the deepest layers of your skin, damaging existing collagen and slowing your skin’s production of new collagen.

To protect your skin from the sun, apply a broad-spectrum SPF 30+ sunscreen every four hours. If you don’t like the way sunscreen lotion feels, look for a powder or aerosol with a sun protection factor of at least 30. You should also limit your exposure to the sun between the hours of 10 AM and 4 PM when the sun’s rays are at their strongest.

Stay Hydrated

Inadequate hydration does your skin no favors. To extend the results of Ultherapy, aim to drink between 64 and 128 ounces of water per day. Even if you don’t quite hit your target, you’ll probably consume between 64 and 128 ounces of water daily because the foods you eat probably have decent water content.

Stop Smoking

Smoking doesn’t just create a dull, sallow complexion that needs to be corrected by ultrasound technology. It also damages existing collagen severely and slows your skin’s production rate of new collagen. Have you ever noticed that people who smoke look years or decades older than their chronological age? That’s because their skin is wrinkled and sagging due to weak collagen.

Apply Self-Tanner

If you can’t sunbathe between the hours of 10 and 4, you can always hop in a tanning bed, right? Unfortunately, that’s not the case. Tanning beds also emit harmful UV rays that do just as much damage as unprotected sun exposure. If you feel your skin needs a little bronzing, apply a self-tanner.

Exercise at Least Five Times a Week

We know there are days you can barely drag yourself out of bed to go to work. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to do nothing for a couple of days. But for the sake of your skin, you need to make sure you are exercising five to seven days a week. Exercise is essential for a strong, healthy circulatory system.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Heart Association recommend that you perform at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise or 75 minutes of high-intensity exercise per week. This works out to 15 to 30 minutes per day, five days per week, depending on your exercise intensity.

Moisturize Your Skin Every Day

Even if your body is hydrated, your skin may not be maintaining moisture. Trap moisture into your skin by applying a gentle moisturizer every day. Aquaphor and Vaseline make excellent, incredibly cheap moisturizers that are safe and effective for all skin types.

Use Gentle Skincare Products

If your skincare products are burning or stinging your skin, they’re not right for you. Many of our clients mention that their skincare products irritate their skin. However, they continue using them because their coworkers have such great results with the products.

Listen to your skin. Do not apply skincare products that burn or sting. Just because something works for someone else does not mean it will work for you. If you don’t know what your skin type is, we can help you with that. Then, we can recommend skincare products that are simultaneously effective and gentle for your unique skin.

Wash Your Face Twice Daily

Everyone should wash their face in the morning before they go to work. It’s a great way to wake up and feel fresh, clean, and ready to tackle whatever the day throws at you. However, if you perspire throughout the day (or just on days you work out), you need to wash your face again.

Sweat is incredibly irritating to your skin. Therefore, you should wash your face as soon as possible after sweating. If you don’t have time for a shower between your workout and next meal, wash your face with a damp cloth and gentle cleanser and apply some dry shampoo to your hair. Your skin and hair will thank you.

Cleanse Your Skin Gently

Many people experience premature signs of aging because they wash their face too aggressively. Choose a gentle cleanser that does not irritate your skin. Make sure you are washing your face gently with circular motions.

When you’re done, always pat your skin dry gently. Do not rub it dry aggressively. If you have trouble removing makeup while washing your face gently, use makeup remover.

Avoid Repetitive Facial Expressions

Remember when your mom told you that your face would freeze in a certain position when she was tired of you making silly faces? Research shows that’s not too far from the truth. Muscle contractions are required to make facial expressions. After years of excessive muscle contractions, lines become permanent.

We don’t expect you to stop smiling, laughing or frowning. However, if you have lines caused by squinting excessively, see an ophthalmologist about prescription sunglasses. These are stylish, affordable and will mitigate your risk of developing crow’s feet around your eyes. You can also receive Botox to correct muscle hyperactivity lines.

Eat Healthy, Well-Balanced Foods

You feel better after you eat a healthy, well-balanced meal. You feel refreshed, rejuvenated, and reinvigorated. Your skin feels that way, too. Try to incorporate at least one fruit or one vegetable into every meal. You don’t have to eat half of a grapefruit for breakfast, but you can enjoy a nice fruit salad or put tomatoes in your omelet.

Foods that are great for your skin include berries, almonds, kale, swordfish, and poultry. As a good starting point, try to get your recommended daily allowance of all nutrients. Specifically, ensure the foods you’re eating are high in vitamins A, C, E, and K. Also, look for foods that are high in collagen. Finally, minimize refined carbohydrate consumption.

Drink Less Alcohol

We all enjoy sipping on a cold beer during a college football game. But women should consume no more than one serving of alcohol per day. Men should limit their intake to two.

What Results Can I Expect?

It can take a few months to see the results of this treatment. This is because the heat from the ultrasound energy triggers your body to produce collagen at an increased rate for around eight to 12 weeks. Collagen is the protein responsible for keeping your skin tight, smooth and beautiful.

You can expect loose skin around your neck, chin, and jawline to be lifted. This treatment also re-contours your cheeks. Collagen production can even encourage cellular turnover and result in a more even skin tone. You can also expect a smoother, tighter neck, raised eyebrows, and a smooth chest.

What Can I Expect During Treatment?

During this non-surgical facelift and neck lift, Ultrasound technology delivers heat in the deepest foundational layer of your skin. This encourages your skin to produce new collagen. Therefore, your skin will be lifted and tightened. This revolutionary treatment may take a mere 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the extent of the improvement you’re looking for.

This is in stark contrast to a surgical facelift and neck lift, which can take hours. A facelift and neck lift may take between 60 and 90 minutes, and a chest treatment will take just half an hour. Therefore, you may be looking at no more than 1.5 to 2 hours to treat your entire face, neck, and chest. There is no downtime or recovery. There is no pain or discomfort.

How Does it Work?

Once the treatment area is sanitized, ultrasound gel is applied. An ultrasound viewer allows your aesthetic professional to adjust the device to the proper settings. Once the device is placed, ultrasound energy is delivered directly to where it is needed the most.

You will feel the warmth of the ultrasound energy deep beneath your skin. This means your treatment is working and your skin is being encouraged to produce new collagen. Our clients report that this warmth feels akin to a hot stone massage. If you’d like, you are welcome to take a nap or read a book during treatment.

How Should I Prepare for Treatment?

There is nearly no preparation required for treatment. You can eat, drink, exercise and work as you usually would up until your treatment. However, you should remove any makeup and skincare products from your face and neck before you come in. If you take any NSAIDs, you should stop taking them two weeks before treatment.

What Should I Do After Treatment?

On the day of your treatment, avoid applying makeup or lotion to the treated areas. If you feel anxious about your treatment, we will provide you with a sedative. However, you will need someone to drive you home if you are given a sedative. You are free to take NSAIDs after treatment if you would like.

Hydrate your skin with a gentle but powerful lotion or cream. Treat your skin to a cream containing vitamin C and retinol to prolong and intensify your results. Clean and soothe your skin with tepid water and a gentle cleanser free from any abrasives. Make sure your hands are clean when you do this and pat your skin dry with a towel rather than rubbing.

Discover How to Enhance Your Aesthetic Today

Ultherapy is one of the best things for your skin that you can do. Treatment doesn’t take long, but the results can easily last up to two years. To determine if this is the ideal treatment for you, contact us today at ICT Eye in Wichita, KS to schedule your initial consultation. We can’t wait to meet you and help you enhance your aesthetic.