You May Have Dysfunctional Lens Syndrome

What is Dysfunctional Lens Syndrome?

Dysfunctional Lens Syndrome, or DLS, is the progressive loss of function of the natural lenses inside your eye. The lens is clear and flexible when you are born. These lenses have miraculous flexibility which allows them to change shape and focus so you can see both far and near objects. Most of us take this for granted until our 40’s when the gradual loss of this flexibility finally results in the need for reading glasses, bifocals or even lens replacement.

Stages of Dysfunctional Lens Syndrome

In stage one of Dysfunctional Lens Syndrome the loss of flexibility causes you to lose your ability to focus on close objects. This deterioration continues at a steady pace, but most don’t notice it at all until around age 40 when they start having trouble focusing at 14-16 inches from their eye or reading view. At first you can move the book further away and still read, but in the end, you have to add magnification to make the letters large enough to read.

In stage two of Dysfunctional Lens Syndrome, you have the loss of focusing ability from stage one plus the proteins that make up the lens become discolored enough to cause mild glare and visual blur. Eye lens replacement could be considered.

In stage three of Dysfunctional Lens Syndrome, you lose the rest of your ability to focus and the yellowing of the lenses becomes dark enough that we call it a cataract. Left untreated, the cataract will turn dark brown. Glare develops and worsens, reading would become challenging, and eventually distance blurs and is not correctible with glasses. Once the cataract stage is reached, cataract surgery is required for good vision. Fortunately, modern techniques allow the successful correction of cataracts as well as refractive errors with excellent success.

Treating DLS With Refractive Lens Exchange

The good news about DLS is that there is a cure! Refractive Lens Exchange replaces the dysfunctional lens with a premium, prescription lens of a different shape to give you sharper vision. These eye lens replacements can be toric (astigmatism correcting) or multifocal implants that restore focusing ability. Many patients find they do not need glasses for near or far vision after Refractive Lens exchange surgery. The ability to correct Dysfunctional Lens Syndrome with eye lens replacement is one of the marvels of modern medicine.

Want to know more about Dysfunctional Lens Syndrome and the amazing benefits of eye lens replacement? Contact Magruder Laser Vision and book online now for your complimentary consultation to see how Refractive Lens Exchange can prevent cataracts and give you great, life changing vision.

Magruder Laser Vision — Correcting Eyes. Changing Lives.