Dysfunctional Lens Syndrome (DLS)

What is Dysfunctional Lens Syndrome (DLS)?

DLS is a term used to define the changing state of our natural lens in our eyes as we age.

After years of great, clear vision, you now start to experience blurry vision and glare especially when driving at night. You may begin to struggle with fine print or near tasks in poor lighting.

These changes in your vision may be due to the normal aging process of your natural lens. DLS will happen to everyone progressively over time. There are no known deterrence or cure for DLS as it is part of aging.

The changes in vision are most noticeable in patients aged 40 onwards. As we age, DLS will eventually turn into cataracts which requires surgical intervention to avoid blindness.

There are three stages in DLS.

Stage 1

For patients in their 40s, the natural lens which was once clear and pliable is beginning to lose its ability to focus on near objects. The situation is made more complicated when patients have a combination of visual issues such as short-sightedness, longsightedness or astigmatism.

During this early stage of DLS, the natural lens is still clear and does not show any symptoms of clouding. The lens however is stiffer than it used to be causing the loss of flexibility to focus near. This process of aging in the natural lens is called presbyopia and will eventually affect everyone.

Patients suffering from stage one of DLS can benefit from refractive surgery such as LASIK monovision which treat near vision problems. The technology will allow patients to rejuvenate their functional near vision without the use of glasses or contact lenses.

Stage 2

For patients in their 50s to 60s, the eye’s natural lens is now beginning to turn yellow and slightly cloudy. These patients would begin to experience blurry vision and reduced night vision quality due to glare. The loss of night driving confidence is common but should never be taken lightly. This loss of vision and confidence can sometimes become dangerous depending on severity of the situation.

It is also common at this stage of DLS that glasses or contact lenses need to be replaced often as the natural lens begin to change over time.

Patients will usually require a more brighter light to see clearly and read fine print. Patients suffering from stage two DLS have an elective option to correct their vision permanently and stop the progression of their cataracts. If you choose to have corrective surgery done at this stage you will have more choices when it comes to visual outcomes. Healing is generally quicker due to age and health status and life may go on without the inconvenience of glasses and contact lenses.

Stage 3 – Cataract

For patients above the age of 60, the natural lens has become cloudy and this is often classified as cataract. Around half of Australians aged over 65 to 74 have cataracts. A cataract is a cloudy area in the lens of the eye that interferes with vision by diffusing light as it passes through the eye. There are many types of cataract including age related, secondary, congenital and traumatic. Each type may display a number of different symptoms:

• Cloudy or foggy vision
• Blurry, distorted or double vision
• Changes in colour vision or loss of contrast
• Frequent increases in eyeglass or contact lens prescriptions / progressive loss of vision
• Poor night vision (especially affected by headlights) and/or halos or glare around lights
• Progressive loss of vision
• A white or ‘milky’ spot over the pupil of the eye

The early treatment of cataracts can improve your visual outcome and reduce potential risks. If cataracts are not treated they may cause other serious damage to the eye, such as secondary glaucoma or even blindness.

While not all cataract patients want surgery, it is generally the most effective treatment and one of the safest and most common surgical procedures performed. Cataracts are successfully treated by removing the cloudy lens and replacing it with an artificial lens called an intraocular lens (IOL). This will not only improve vision but may significantly reduce dependency on reading glasses. Surgery is the only solution to eliminate cataract.

Cataract surgery is routinely performed in a day surgery environment and you can generally return to normal activities the next day.