Suggested Guidelines for Intraocular Lens Implant Surgery

Abstract

One quarter of a century has passed since Harold Ridley implanted his first intraocular lens into a human eye. The modern era of lens implant surgery that involves iris-supported or capsule-supported pseudophakoi was initiated mainly through the efforts of C. D. Binkhorst of the Netherlands. The results have been spectacular in many cases, but there have also been disasters. Some of the problems are due less to the intraocular lens implant itself than to poor selection of patients and to inadequately trained surgeons. Thus, controversy over the safety of the procedure continues. About 35,000 pseudophakoi have been implanted to date by nearly 1,000 surgeons. The attractiveness of the lens implant in overcoming the optical problems of aphakia is so great that implant surgery will not be lightly abandoned. Therefore, indications and contraindications should be set up for implant surgery, and opportunities should be provided for surgical training. No individual can