# Non-UV vs. UV Blocking intraocular lens **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 13, 2003, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-uv-vs-uv-blocking-intraocular-lens/175034 "2003-05-13T20:04:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![NotMrKnowItAll](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/6bbea6/32.png) [@NotMrKnowItAll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NotMrKnowItAll)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2003, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-uv-vs-uv-blocking-intraocular-lens/175034/1 "2003-05-13T20:04:00Z")
My wife is having the cataract in her only working eye replaced. On the surgery consent form the surgeon has selected an “Ultraviolet Light absorbing intraocular lens implation.” The other choice was a non-UV absorbing one. Her question, that I’m relaying to you, “Really Bright People” (\<-- my description) is what’s the difference? We understand that blocking UV would be good, but why the choice? Does the Non-UV blocking transmit visible light better? What’s the scoop? Please understand that she cannot currently sign on and ask herself, maybe in a couple months however… ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2003, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-uv-vs-uv-blocking-intraocular-lens/175034/2 "2003-05-13T21:55:18Z")
If I had to have such surgery, I might even request the non-blocking lenses. You see, the human retina is actually sensitive into the near UV, so we would see it, were it not for absorbtion in the lens. And I, for one, think it’d be cool to have an extended range of vision. Not cool enough to justify the operation by itself, but cool enough that if I needed the operation anyway I’d want to go for it. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2003, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-uv-vs-uv-blocking-intraocular-lens/175034/3 "2003-05-13T22:20:03Z")
The human retina is indeed sensitive to some UV, but UV is can also be quite damaging to it. The less UV exposure to the retina, the better, according to my eye surgeon, who did intraocular implants in both my eyes. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2003, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-uv-vs-uv-blocking-intraocular-lens/175034/4 "2003-05-13T22:22:00Z")
Oh, and I forgot to add, **MrKnowItAll** , if you have any questions about the upcoming surgery, the best thing to do is call your doctor and ask. ---
**Author:** ![NotMrKnowItAll](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/6bbea6/32.png) [@NotMrKnowItAll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NotMrKnowItAll)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2003, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-uv-vs-uv-blocking-intraocular-lens/175034/5 "2003-05-14T00:52:45Z")
Thanks you for your replies, that is quite interesting about the UV sensitivity of the retina. We have been waiting nine years for this. It had to be a zero sum game before we could even consider it. She’s close to blind, and the cararact is large enough to interfere with her retina doctors view of the retina. **Friedo** , thanks for sharing you experience. My wife’s last lensectomy (sp?) ended horribly, thus our concerns and questions for the Doctors have to do with rubiosis and neovascularization (sp?) in general. That got her last eye, and good! The doctor selected the lens type (no questions asked), and we were just curious. We trust him. Too little too late department: My wife fell down a flight of concrete steps behind the house this evening–It’s not enough to put bright colored tape on the step i guess… Three weeks to go. No serious injuries, sprained ankle, knee and skinned bottom of foot. ---
**Author:** ![NotMrKnowItAll](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/6bbea6/32.png) [@NotMrKnowItAll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NotMrKnowItAll)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2003, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-uv-vs-uv-blocking-intraocular-lens/175034/6 "2003-05-14T01:06:44Z")
Thanks you for your replies, that is quite interesting about the UV sensitivity of the retina. We have been waiting nine years for this. It had to be a zero sum game before we could even consider it. She’s close to blind, and the cararact is large enough to interfere with her retina doctors view of the retina. **Friedo** , thanks for sharing you experience. My wife’s last lensectomy (sp?) ended horribly, thus our concerns and questions for the Doctors have to do with rubiosis and neovascularization (sp?) in general. That got her last eye, and good! The doctor selected the lens type (no questions asked), and we were just curious. We trust him. Too little too late department: My wife fell down a flight of concrete steps behind the house this evening–It’s not enough to put bright colored tape on the step i guess… Three weeks to go. No serious injuries, sprained ankle, knee and skinned bottom of foot. ---
**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2003, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-uv-vs-uv-blocking-intraocular-lens/175034/7 "2003-05-14T01:14:34Z")
Just to add (a little) to what **friedo** said, UV can lead to macular degeneration, and is believed to be the leading cause of this. My regular glasses are UV protected, both A and B. At one time it was thought that UVB was not harmful and tanning salons would boast that their lamps only radiated UVB. It is now known that both are harmful. How much work would it entail to put colored tape on the edges of the stairs? ---
**Author:** ![NotMrKnowItAll](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/6bbea6/32.png) [@NotMrKnowItAll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NotMrKnowItAll)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2003, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-uv-vs-uv-blocking-intraocular-lens/175034/8 "2003-05-14T01:30:33Z")
My first double-post…I don’t understand how it happened. I preview between each failed posting… ---
**Author:** ![NotMrKnowItAll](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/6bbea6/32.png) [@NotMrKnowItAll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NotMrKnowItAll)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2003, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-uv-vs-uv-blocking-intraocular-lens/175034/9 "2003-05-14T01:39:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by barbitu8 \* > \*\* > How much work would it entail to put colored tape on the edges of the stairs? \*\* It’s there, along with the rope lighting. If you look in her tool shed you’ll see a bunch of tools painted fluorescent orange. She likes working in the garden… Good to hear from you **barbitu8** I haven’t seen anything from you in such a long time… ---
**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2003, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-uv-vs-uv-blocking-intraocular-lens/175034/10 "2003-05-14T11:31:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by NotMrKnowItAll \* > \*\*Good to hear from you **barbitu8** I haven’t seen anything from you in such a long time… \*\* Thanks, **NotMrKnowItAll**. I haven’t frequented the message boards as much as I used to, altho I’m now retired and should have more time. In point of fact, however, I’m busier than ever doing things I enjoy: tennis, running, swimming, and playing chess. In fact, I’m in a hurry right now as I have my usual Wednesday morning bird hike to go to. ---
**Author:** ![futureman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3da27b/32.png) [@futureman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/futureman)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2003, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-uv-vs-uv-blocking-intraocular-lens/175034/11 "2003-05-15T23:00:30Z")
I’ve heard some things about UV rays causing eye problems, what with anecdotal evidence of seamen getting cataracts a lot. Is there any evidence of people having worn contact lenses a lot having a lower incidence of cataracts? All contact lenses block UV rays, AFIK, and the recent marketing effort for UV blocking contacts is just stating what was already true. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-uv-vs-uv-blocking-intraocular-lens/175034/13 "2015-10-09T00:12:30Z")
Reported.