intraocular lens

4.6

A small clear plastic piece put in the eye to replace the part that focuses light after cataract surgery

noun
/ˌɪntrəˈɑkjələr lɛnz/

Specialized

: lente intraocular

This apodized diffractive intraocular lens (IOL) provides high-quality distance vision.
intraocular lens implant

Examples

An intraocular lens is often needed when the natural lens of the eye is removed due to cataracts.
In 1983, she moved from Philadelphia to Southern California to work in the emerging intraocular lens (used in cataract surgery) industry.

Academic text (2009)
Where were these intraocular lenses when I really needed them?

Academic text (2007)
A corneal transplantation, iris reconstruction and intraocular lens implantation.

All I See Is You (2017)
After cataract surgery, the ophthalmologist advised using an intraocular lens for improved vision.
Patients receiving an intraocular lens implant can expect a significant enhancement in their clarity of vision.

Synonyms

IOL

vsintraocular lens

Specialized

1 6.1

A clear man-made lens put inside the eye to replace a cloudy lens after cataract surgery

is the full formal name rather than the shortened form

lens implant

vsintraocular lens

Specialized

4.1

A clear artificial lens placed in the eye to replace a cloudy natural lens after cataract surgery

is the general medical term covering that device

interocular lens implant

vsintraocular lens

Specialized

5.1

A clear artificial lens placed inside the eye to replace the natural lens after cataract surgery

is the standard term for the same placed optical device

monofocal IOL

vsintraocular lens

Specialized

6.7

A lens placed in the eye during cataract surgery that gives clear distance vision

is the general term that includes all focus types

monofocal lens implant

vsintraocular lens

Specialized

5.2

An artificial lens with one focus placed in the eye to give clear distance vision after cataract surgery

is the general name that covers various focus designs

accommodating lens implant

vsintraocular lens

Specialized

6.5

A small artificial lens placed in the eye that moves to help you see near and far

is the broad device category not limited to moving focus types

accommodating IOL

vsintraocular lens

Specialized

5.8

An artificial lens placed in the eye that moves to help you focus on near and far things

is the general name including many focus mechanisms

multifocal lens implant

vsintraocular lens

Specialized

6.3

An artificial device put in the eye that helps you see near and far without glasses

is the general term covering single and multiple focus options

multifocal IOL

vsintraocular lens

Specialized

6.7

A man-made lens put inside the eye that helps you see near and far

is the generic name for clear artificial optical devices replacing the natural one

Surface Forms

intraocular lens singular

intraocular lenses plural

Morphology

intraocular + lens

The term literally combines 'intraocular' (within the eyeball) and 'lens' (a device that focuses light), so its meaning 'a lens located inside the eye' is directly derivable from the parts. This is a straightforward, compositional medical compound that follows cross-linguistic patterns, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would understand it.

Etymology

Intraocular lens is a literal name: intraocular means 'inside the eye' and lens is a piece of glass or plastic that helps focus light. Surgeons implant this artificial lens inside the eye to 'replace' a damaged natural lens, which is why the term means an implanted lens used after cataract surgery.