Intraocular Lens Assortment

This is a large assortment of intraocular lenses from the past. The intraocular lens is the cornerstone of today’s successful cataract surgery. Harold Ridley of Britain is known as the father of the intraocular lens. The examples shown here are primarily made of PMMA (poly-methyl-methacrylate). This material was chosen after its inertness was observed when it was seen in the eyes of flyers during world war II due to shattered airplane canopies made of the same material. Although strictly speaking these are not “antiques”, they are in a relative sense. Today we have acrylic, silicone and co-polymer intraocular lenses that can correct astigmatism and presbyopia.
They are no longer limited to cataract surgery either. Modern lenses are part of today’s armamentarium for correcting refractive errors.