Geneva - Some eye tests are required to determine your eligibility You can continue all your normal activities few days after the surgery Annual eye examination will be enough after recovery period of surgery The surgery doesn’t have more risks than a regular cataract surgery which is the most frequently performed surgery in the United States, with more than 3 million Americans undergoing cataract surgery each year. New generation intraocular implants have come onto the market. The implants are made of the same material of intraocular lenses implanted during the cataract surgery. These implants can also be used in some eye diseases as heterochromia,ocular albinism, coloboma of iris, aniridia,iris atrophies,etc. The implantation is performed by experienced eye surgeons all over the world Restrictions and side effects of color contact lenses are not seen with these implants Summary of some complications related to contacts As with any contact lens, cosmetic color contact lenses carry risks of mild and serious complications, including ocular redness, irritation, and infection. All individuals who decide to wear cosmetic lenses should check with an eye care provider prior to first use, and periodically over long term use in order to avoid potentially blinding complications. Extended contact lens wearers may have an increased risk for corneal infections and corneal ulcers, primarily due to poor care and cleaning of the lenses, tear film instability, and bacterial stagnation. Corneal neovascularization has historically also been a common complication of extended lens wear, though this does not appear to be a problem with silicone hydrogel extended wear. The most common complication of extended lens use is conjunctivitis, usually allergic or giant papillary conjunctivitis (GPC), sometimes associated with a poorly fitting contact lens. Complications due to contact lens wear affect roughly 5% of contact lens wearers each year.Excessive wear of contact lenses, particularly overnight wear, is associated with most of the safety concerns. Problems associated with contact lens wear may affect the eyelid, the conjunctiva, the various layers of the cornea and even the tear film that covers the outer surface of the eye. Studies conducted on side effects from long-term wearing of contact lenses, i.e. over 5 years, such as by Zuguo Liu et al., 2000, concludes that "Long-term contact lens wear appears to decrease the entire corneal thickness and increase the corneal curvature and surface irregularity." Eyelid * Ptosis(drooping of the upper eyelid) Conjunctiva * Giant papillary conjunctivitis * Superior limbic keratoconjunctivitis Cornea * Epithelium o Corneal abrasion o Corneal erosion o Corneal ulcer o Hypoxia * Stroma o Infection and keratitis Bacteria Protozoa: Acanthamoeba + Fungal: Fusarium Infections related to contact lenses are devastating and vision threatening!!! o Contact lens acute red eye (CLARE) o Keratoconus * Corneal endothelium Some advantages of the implants over contacts You don’t have to take these implants off when you swim or sleep. These implants don’t cause dryness. You don’t have to wear these in the morning and take them away at night You don’t have allergic reaction to these implants The implants can be explanted by your doctor whenever you want Implants are not detectable to the naked eye. AND… The new implants which can also correct refractive errors are on the way!!!