Question: I have a friend who was born blind due to cataracts and when they removed them when she was a child, they removed the capsular bag behind the lenses. She is still legally blind. Are there any new technologies/procedures that allow lens replacement in the absence of the capsular bag? How would I find out that information?
Answer: Yes, there are ways that an intraocular lens may be placed in an eye that has had the cataract removed along with the capsule of the lens, but the medical situation is likely to be much more complicated that simply inserting a lens. If the eyes have good visual potential, the patient’s vision should be correctable with the proper external lenses (spectacles). These spectacles are usually very thick and not very desirable, but they do significantly improve the vision. If spectacles do not improve the vision, it is likely that greater problems exist and the placement of an intraocular lens will not be the answer. I urge your friend to seek a comprehensive ophthalmologist for an appropriate evaluation and complete answer to this difficult question.
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