After a bad cataract surgery and loss of iris,can a lens still be put in the eye to see?

3 eyes doctors say no.

After a bad cataract surgery and loss of iris,can a lens still be put in the eye to see?
Anterior chamber implants with an artificial iris are just becoming available. I understand they they are at or just coming out of clinical trial stages.



This does not mean they will available to, or suitable for everyone. Everything will depend on the the individual condition of of the remnant iris and and anterior chamber angle.

Anterior chamber lenses without the iris are well established, but again do need a suitable anterior chamber angle to be stable and safe.

If the posterior lens capsule was damaged, and/or there was vitreous loss, it might be felt that further surgery carries an increased risk of retinal detachment.



I'm presuming there was loss of the crystalline lens capsule, otherwise that would normally still be the preferred location for the implant, leaving the iris as a separate issue, perhaps calling for a contact lens with an opaque iris patttern.



With an aphakic eye and a partial or complete loss of iris, the alternate route of using a contact lens with both the necessary +ve Rx and a cosmetic iris should be at least considered, as against subjecting the eye to more surgery.



The above to the best of my understanding, and not having seen the eye in question...

And I'm not a surgeon.

Optometrist, retired.