lens implant, an artificial lens that is usually implanted at the time of cataract extraction but may also be used for patients with extreme myopia, diplopia, ocular albinism, and certain other abnormalities. The operation is usually performed with a local anesthetic in an outpatient center. Eyedrops containing an antibiotic such as neomycin are instilled before surgery to prevent infection and several times a day for a number of weeks after surgery. After extraction of the cataract, the lens is inserted through a corneal incision. It may be held in place in the anterior chamber by extremely fine sutures to the iris, or, if the lens is implanted into the capsular sac, a miotic agent such as pilocarpine is used to prevent the iris from dilating too widely, which would allow the implant to slip. The implanted lens does not cause the problems with abnormal peripheral vision that are associated with cataract spectacles.
