IOL Ultraviolet protection concerns

That is somewhat reassuring. But then again, I can't ignore the fact that my IOL (and other brands also, it seems), provide less protection than a natural lens. As for studies... it seems the evidence is inconclusive on whether blue-light filters provide any meaningful added protection. However, I have seen several recommendations that IOL's ought to block UV up to 400nm.

Well, honestly I have never heard UV light should be a problem in real life, and I have been interested in cataracts all my life (45 years) because I was born with cataracts. I had it fixed with Zeiss lenses 4 month ago, because vision had become so bad, that waiting was no longer an option.

I have learned a lot about cataracts all my life, and I have followed the surgery techniques and lenses all the years, and I have talked with people about cataracts all my life, because I wanted to do the right thing, when the day came.

It does not make my an expert, not at all, but I have never ever heard someone mention that the eye had become damaged, and that it was caused or maybe caused by a missing uv filter in the lenses.

I am not saying it can not happen, and I fully understand your concern, but personally I feel there are thousands of things that can happen to me, that would worry me a lot more.

Cataracts surgery is an emotional roller coaster for all of us, we get a lot of ups and downs, also in the time after the surgery, where we start to question all kinds of things about the choice we made. I have been there too, I questioned whether I had chosen the right lenses, if I had chosen the right clinic, the right time, and so on.

But now it feels like it is behind me, I have started to think about other things than my vision, many days I forget all about my vision now.

Don´t get me wrong, I really mean well, but I think you should try to tell yourself that things are ok, and let some time pass, and let things settle down, I think you are riding the roller coaster right now.

Trust me, you have chosen one of the best lenses on the marked, and future will be good 😃

Oh, I am most definitely riding that roller coaster now! So far I'm happy with how my vision turned out, even though there are some little things that don't look quite right (night vision not as good as my healthy eye, shifts in color perception, etc). But I can live with that. However, going forward I doubt I'll ever trust this IOL's UV filter. Therefore I'm looking into what the options are for UV-protection - wrap-around sunglasses, sunglasses to fit over my spectacles, UV-block in my spectacles and side shields to block UV from the temporal sides, etc. Hopefully I can find peace of mind once I found a completely UV-proof solution. Thank you for your understanding and kind words!

I think you're right about not knowing enough yet about long-term sun exposure on IOL implanted eyes. I've read as far and wide in the scientific literature as google would allow me, and it seems as if science can't really tell for sure if blue-light filtering IOL's really have any additional protective effect compared to UV-only filtering IOLs. But what is certain is that my IOL (and quite a few others on the market it seems) provide less protection than one's natural lens. So for now I'll have to be disciplined in wearing sunglasses.

Yes, think too about all the light coming into our eyes. Those who had dense cataracts for a long time had the benefit of them stopping the rays entering the eye (though the negatives of poor sight). So many feel everything is brighter post surgery and it is...some even experience light sensitivity.I wonder about the blue and white light LED coming into us. Sleep and well being is affected by light as well. For example are peoples moods improved with more light or is there a subtle change in sleep? Sunny places versus cloudy places... so many variables and so many different IOLs and starting points. Just thoughts. For now we should wear our sunglasses outside -- interesting they say at least for the first year....do deposits then build and protect the eye ?

I've also read about wearing sunglasses for a year. AFAIK there isn't any kind of protective deposit build-up, so I find the recommendation rather bizarre. I've actually read from other sources that sunglasses are strongly recommended for the rest of one's life.

wearing sunglasses when outside for rest of your life is the prudent answer. Do not depend on IOL's uv protection alone, as some UV at 380-400 nm does get through (I didn't know that until I looked at it after you posted).

But I don't see that as a problem. I'm really happy with my new sunglasses. Before cataract surgery, I could never wear nice looking sunglasses as prescription sunglasess have limits on size and curve.I have a pair of Maui Jim's now, and the vision is incredible with them on.I wear them not only because of UV protection, but you can see much better outdoors with them on. they look nice too. I like wearing sunglasses!

I'm glad you're enjoying them! 😃 For me its a little more complicated as I need prescription-glasses to be able to see properly (especially for driving on the open road). And as for UV protection, I also need to block light coming in from around the lenses, especially the from sides. So I'm looking at clip-on's, fit-over's and the like. Hopefully I can achieve wearing my prescription glasses along with UV-protection all around my eyes.

Thank you for recommendation. The sunglasses I wear now are distorting. Hard enough as the eye settles but adding more distortion is awful. I will look them up. Anyone else have a kind they love?

I had always heard good things about Maui Jims, and now that I don't need prescription glass I can get them (they do offer prescription glasses, but choice of style would be very limited due to limitations on curve of lens with prescription).

I looked up comments on opticians forums, and Maui Jim seems to be the most recommended. One fully thread, the optician describes how a salesman from another company was promoting the advantages of his brand. The optician gives him his pair of Maui Jim's to try on, and the salesman says "Whoaa".... then after a pause continues promoting his brand.

If you are in North America, Costco sells discounted styles for considerably less. I got a pair from Costco, and the optician there said the same thing. He has Maui Jims and other brands, and for clarity, and vivid colours, nothing beats Maui Jim.

I used many types of different fit-overs before i had cataract surgery.The brand I like the most was again the brand that sells at Costco in North America (ESP brand). Actually doesn't look too bad (reasonably stylish), very clear vision, and good side protection with the fit-overs.i also used Cocoons, but overall I like ESP better.

Exactly. Treat your IOL eyes just like you would treat your pre IOL eyes.

Sunglasses in sunny situations etc.

I don't think that's completely right. A healthy natural lens filters out a good deal of visible violet and blue light in addition to completely blocking UV-A. Even the crystal clear lens of a very young child filters out some violet and blue. Plus, there are IOL's on the market that filter out UV completely up to 400nm while still letting through more visible light than a very young natural lens (if I'm not mistaken, Acrysof lenses do this). I think IOL's blocking only up to 370nm is more about complying to required legal standards that define UV as being wavelengths shorter than 380nm. But yes... I need sunglasses now more than ever before.

Truth be told... unless I'm grossly overestimating/misunderstanding how harmful the extra UV on the retina actually is, I think the importance of complete UV-protection in IOL's isn't being taken as seriously as it should be.

I think most of us expect that sunglasses are of course still necessary. While I haven't dived deeply into the subject (as I plan to wear my new sunglasses whenever I'm outside), I still think my simple explanation that you can't block 100% of UV up to 400 mm unless you are willing to also block some visible light.

I have Alcon IOL, which has both blue filter and UV filter. And the blue filter means that some visible light is also blocked, which also allows the curve to block a greater percentage of UV400. if manufacturer doesn't believe in blue filter, then they won't be blocking any in the visible light spectrum, and hence the curve must allow some more in the 370-400 range to come through.

Search for "IOLs and Blue Light White Paper" for Alcon supported research paper regarding the above.

Recommendation of eye doctors:

Even though the new generation of lens implants provide ocular protection, some harmful light rays do sneak through from the sun and other sources. As a result, Alan Mendelsohn, MD, FACS, Sapir Karli MD, and Nathan Klein, OD, advocate for wearing sunglasses with maximal protection outside during daylight hours. This sunglass protection further reduces the incidence and severity of ocular maladies, such as ocular melanomas, macular degeneration, drusen, pterygium, pingueculas, and eyelid cancers. Drs. Mendelsohn, Karli and Klein strongly encourage all patients including those with perfect distance vision without eyeglass correction, to be diligent about wearing sunglasses. But please make sure that all of your sunglasses have correct protection, namely, UV 400 blocker and polarization, present on both lens surfaces.

Thanks for the research paper! I'm taking those doctors' recommendations seriously about not relying solely on an IOL's filter. However, a UV-only filtering IOL still lets through more visible light than even the crystal-clear lens of a four-year old. From a research paper from 1967 :

(note that the "total" transmission curve includes scattered light whereas the "direct" transmission curves shows light that passes through the lens without being scattered.) The blue-blocking transmission curve you posted mimics a healthy natural lens more closely.

So far, when you look up UV400 protection all you find are sunglasses.

But it does look like Zeiss has recentlly developed for eyeglasses, a way to get UV400 protection without a dark tint. This is for eyeglasses only, not for IOLs.

Search for: Zeiss Seeks to Close ‘Gap’ in UV Protection With New Technology

Could find info on whether any visible light is also partially blocked. But article does say Zeiss will not patent this so other manufacturers can use it too.

Even if you have this lens in your prescription glasses, there are still good reasons to wear sunglasses or fit-overs when outside during the day. Sunglasses will let you see better in bright sunlight, and fit-overs or wrap sunglasses will give you side protection.

Side protection is the main reason I'm looking at fit-over's and wraparounds. Ironically, I prefer bright daylight above the darkened view of sunglasses. But my longterm eye health is more important.

The ESP brand of fit-overs available at Costco aren't too dark.I really liked them a lot when I used fit-overs over prescription glasses.