Once your old cloudy lens has been removed, your surgeon slips the new clear lens (IOL or intraocular lens) in through the incision. The IOL is then placed in the capsule that held your old lens. With the new lens in place, your surgeon is ready to close the incision. Some incisions may be closed with stitches. Others are self-sealing. That means they will stay closed on their own without stitches. The IOL does nearly the same thing that your old lens did before it became cloudy. It focuses light, letting you see sharp images and vivid colors. The IOL normally lasts a lifetime.
How small is an IOL?
Featured in
Online Medical Reviewer: Chris Haupert MD
Online Medical Reviewer: Raymond Kent Turley BSN MSN RN
Online Medical Reviewer: Rita Sather RN
Date Last Reviewed: 12/01/2022
© 2000-2025 The StayWell Company, LLC. All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional's instructions.Related Articles
Small-Incision Cataract Surgery: Removing the Old Lens
You may be surprised by how little time small-incision cataract surgery takes.
Cataract Treatment: Implanting a New Lens (IOL)
Learn about how a new lens is implanted after cataract surgery.
Cataract Treatment: Removing the Cloudy Lens
Cataract surgery involves removing the cataract and replacing the lens. Here are the two most common ways that cataracts are removed.
Refractive Surgery: Phakic IOLs
Phakic intraocular lenses (PIOLs) can help you see better without glasses or corrective lenses. Here's what you can expect.
