How Do I Know if My Lens is Dislocated?
An intraocular lens (IOL) is an artificial lens that replaces the natural lens of the eye during cataract surgery to restore clear vision. While the new IOL is designed to last a lifetime, sometimes, it can become displaced or dislocated, causing vision problems and potential damage to other structures in the eye.
Keep reading to learn more about lens dislocation and how to know if your lens is dislocated!
What is a Dislocated Lens?
A dislocated lens is a lens that has moved out of its normal position in the eye. Lens dislocation can occur with your natural eye lens, though this is quite rare. However, the risk is higher with artificial intraocular lenses (IOLs) placed during cataract surgery.
During cataract surgery, the cloudy natural lens of your eye is removed. The cataract surgeon then implants a clear intraocular lens in its place.
The new IOL is inserted in a capsular bag that previously held your cloudy lens. Both the lens and capsular bag are held in place by fibers called zonules.
An IOL can dislocate if the capsular bag tears, causing the lens to move into other areas of the eye, including your vitreous, which is the fluid that fills the majority of the eye. Sometimes, the zonules may tear or rip.
As a result, the lens can move out of position. Lens displacement can happen immediately or years after your cataract procedure.
What are the Complications of a Dislocated Lens?
Left untreated, a dislocated lens can cause serious complications, including:
- Swelling
- Bleeding
- Inflammation
- Retinal detachment
- Glaucoma
What Does a Dislocated Lens Feel Like?
In some cases, patients only know if their lens is dislocated by visiting their eye doctor. Dislocated IOL symptoms can include:
Blurred Vision
One of the most common lens displacement signs is blurred vision. It may feel like your eyes can’t focus properly.
The lens of the eye bends and focuses incoming light so that it lands precisely on the retina at the back of the eye, allowing you to see clearly. If it’s dislocated, images can appear blurry or out of focus.
Seeing the Edge of the IOL
Some patients with lens dislocation also report seeing the edge of the IOL drifting out of their field of view.
Jiggly Vision
A displaced lens can cause oscillopsia. With oscillopsia, you may feel like you have wobbly or jumpy vision.
The world around you can appear to be swinging, distorted, or moving, even when it’s still.
Light Sensitivity
A misaligned IOL may cause light entering your eye to scatter, resulting in light sensitivity.
Halos and Glare
Seeing halos around light sources and sensitivity to glare could be signs of a misplaced lens.
Headache
Lens dislocation can lead to inflammation, which can trigger a headache.
Double Vision
When light passes through your pupil around the edge of the misaligned IOL, you may see two images of a single object.
Dark Shadow
You might see a curtain or shadow over your eye when the lens is out of position. This may begin as a dark shadow in your side or peripheral vision and slowly extend toward the center.
Seeing a shadow or curtain is a serious concern that demands prompt medical attention. It’s often a sign of a retinal detachment that could cause permanent vision loss without timely treatment.
Eye Pain
Eye pain is another sign of lens dislocation. You may experience eye pain if the displacement is severe.
Sudden Loss of Vision
A misplaced lens can be a vision-threatening injury that may result in vision due to high eye pressure or intraocular pressure (IOP).
If your lens is slightly dislocated, you might not experience these symptoms. It may only be discovered by your eye doctor during a routine eye exam.
Which Symptoms of Lens Dislocation Need Emergency Care?
A lens that’s out of position can lead to serious complications. For instance, a displaced lens may cause retinal detachment, which is a medical emergency.
Without timely treatment, you could lose your eyesight. So, if you notice abrupt vision changes, particularly if your vision worsens, it’s crucial to seek medical attention immediately.
Head to the emergency room right away if you’ve experienced eye trauma, notice a shadow over your vision, or your eye is painful.
Can Normal Activities Cause Dislocation?
Lens dislocation happens spontaneously. It’s a rare condition that can occur due to:
- Eye injury
- Uveitis or eye inflammation
- Repeated eye infections
- Complicated cataract surgery
- High myopia or nearsightedness
- Previous eye surgery such as vitrectomy or glaucoma surgery
- Genetic disorders such as Marfan syndrome or Ehlers-Danlos syndrome that weaken the zonules
How is IOL Dislocation Diagnosed?
Your eye doctor can diagnose a dislocated lens during a comprehensive eye exam. They’ll examine your eyes, dilate your pupils, and check the position of your lens.
Additionally, they may test your vision to see if there have been any changes or distortions in your sight. Your doctor might also use specialized imaging techniques, such as ultrasound or optical coherence tomography (OCT), to get a detailed view of your eye’s internal structure and confirm the exact position of the displaced lens.
What are the Treatment Options for a Dislocated Lens?
Timely medical attention after lens dislocation can reduce your risk of serious complications, including retinal detachment, increased eye pressure, corneal damage, and permanent vision loss. The treatment usually depends on the extent of the dislocation and whether there are any complications.
For some milder cases, treatment might not be necessary if vision is still good. In such instances, you may need frequent monitoring to ensure the dislocation doesn’t worsen.
In other cases, they may prescribe medications to manage inflammation. When the dislocation is significant and impacting your vision, your ophthalmologist can recommend surgery.
Surgery may involve repositioning the lens and securing it in place with sutures attached to the eye wall or iris (the colored part of the eye).
If the lens has fallen into your vitreous cavity, you may need a vitrectomy. A vitrectomy entails removing the vitreous, a gel-like fluid that fills the back of your eye, to retrieve the displaced lens. Then, a new IOL is implanted and secured to your eye.
Dislocated Lens Care
If you’ve suffered lens dislocation, prompt treatment at Desert Vision Center can restore your vision and prevent serious damage to your eye. Dr. Tokuhara offers advanced diagnostic and treatment methods to manage displaced lenses and ensure you see the world clearly every day.
Are you experiencing symptoms of a displaced lens? Schedule an appointment at Rancho Mirage, CA, today to safeguard your eye and vision health.