Chapter 3: Intraocular Lenses Check Access

Cataracts are a prevalent ocular disease that are treated by removing the diseased lens and replacing it with a prosthetic known as an intraocular lens (IOL). IOLs are transparent polymers designed to replace the function of a lens. However, some postoperative complications result in the return of vision loss, encouraging research to continually develop new strategies to improve IOLs. Advances in IOL technology, drug-delivery systems, and surgical procedures are focused on enhancing the integration of the implanted IOL to improve functionality. There is a growing focus on tuning/modulating material properties of commonly used IOLs with surface modifications to direct the biological response of the surrounding tissue. This chapter will provide an overview of cataracts, the pathology of post-operative complications, the evolution of IOL materials, and the ongoing research to fulfill the challenges present with current IOLs.