A Brief History of Intra-Ocular Lenses (IOLs)

Over the centuries, many medical breakthroughs have helped to address the issue of visual problems, from short-sightedness to presbyopia. Despite being invented some 700 years ago, glasses remain commonplace today, while later developments such as contact lenses and Laser Eye Surgery have likewise helped to correct the sight of millions around the world. But in this article, we’re focusing on a less popular vision correction option: Intra-ocular lenses (IOLs).

What are Intra-Ocular Lenses?

Intra-ocular lenses were first invented as a solution to cataracts. The first iteration of these lenses, which are implanted into the eye to replace the natural cataract-affected lens, dates back over two centuries to 1795. These lenses were made from glass, called Casaamata, after their inventor, ophthalmologist Joannis Virgilius Casaamata.

Casaamata used these lenses to attempt the first IOL implantation after cataract surgery. However, the weight of the glass caused the lens to fall down in the eye and the attempt was unsuccessful. Alas, it would be around 150 years before usable IOL technology was invented.

This finally occurred during World War II when Sir Harold Ridley, an eye surgeon caring for crashed pilots, noticed that a material called Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) from crashed planes did not cause an inflammatory response in pilots’ eyes. This led Ridley to theorise that the material could be safely used for artificial lens implantation.

The First Successful IOL Surgery

In 1947, after further research, Ridley performed the first successful IOL surgery at Saint Thomas Hospital in London. The properties of PMMA, including its hydrophobic surface and its transmissibility of light, made it the ideal material for intra-ocular lenses, allowing Ridley to successfully treat a 45-year-old female.

IOLs – Moving into the future

Despite being initially ignored by his colleagues, by 1959, Ridley had treated 750 patients with his PMMA IOLs. By the 1970s, Ridley’s IOL surgery eventually became standard procedure to replace the eye’s natural lens after cataract surgery. Moreover, PMMA is still used as the primary material in IOLs to this day.

However, over the years since Ridley’s first IOLs, other materials have been found to be better alternatives. Today, most IOLs are made from silicone or acrylic and are coated in a special material to better protect the eyes from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays.

IOLs come in a wide range of prescription powers and can be effectively used to treat refractive errors including long-sightedness, short-sightedness, and astigmatism.

If you’d like to learn more about intra-ocular lenses and their uses, why not Book a Consultation or get in touch with one of our friendly clinic coordinators today? We’re always happy to help!