Intraocular Lens Options

Over fifty percent of people over the age of 60 (and quite a few younger than that) suffer from cataracts. Almost everyone develops cataracts as they grow older. Cataract formations occur at different rates and can affect one or both eyes.

A cataract is a progressive clouding of the eye’s natural lens. It interferes with light passing through the eye to the retina. Aging and other factors cause proteins in the eye’s lens to clump together forming these cloudy areas. Early changes may not disturb vision, but over time cataracts typically result in blurred or fuzzy vision and sensitivity to light. People with progressed cataracts often say they feel as if they’re looking through a waterfall or a piece of wax paper.

Currently ,there is no medical treatment to reverse or prevent the development of cataracts. The only way to treat cataracts is to remove the cataract using either the traditional cataract surgery method or using a femtosecond laser, then replace it with an Intraocular Lens (IOL) implant.  We offer three different intraocular lens implant options to our patients:

• Monofocal Lens: This lens is the more commonly used lens and is covered by insurance. The Monofocal lens has a single focal point for clear distance vision. However, while distance vision is usually improved, most patients still need to wear glasses for up-close tasks, like reading or working on a computer.
• Toric Lens: This lens is geared towards our patients who have astigmatism. Astigmatism is when the surface of the cornea has an uneven curvature, shaped more like a football than a basketball and vision becomes distorted. The blurred or distorted vision is due to the light rays not being focused on one spot to provide clear vision. Patients who receive a Toric lens will notice clearer distance vision, usually without the need for glasses. We offer the Tecnis® Toric IOL and Acrysof® IQ Toric IOL lenses.
• Multifocal Lens: These lenses are designed to provide a full range of clear, sharp vision. We offer the AcrySof® ReSTOR® +2.5 lens, the Tecnis® Symfony extended range of vision IOL and the Tecnis® Symfony Toric extended range of vision IOL. These lenses allow patients to see from near to far, to everywhere in-between usually without glasses. Some visual disturbances with the lens could happen such as seeing a moderate glare or halos around headlights.

Which one is best for you depends on the unique characteristics of your eye as well as your lifestyle needs. After a thorough eye examination your surgeon will make a recommendation as to which of IOL would be most advantageous for you.

If you think you may have a cataract, click here to learn more though our online cataract counseling tool.  For more information about advanced cataract treatments and IOL options, click here to request a cataract evaluation or call us at (800) 537-3327 today.