Standard Intraocular Lens Implants (IOLs)
Intraocular lens implants (IOLs) were first developed over 50 years ago and have been used routinely to correct vision after cataract surgery since the 1980’s. Traditional lens implants, whose costs are covered by health insurance, do an excellent job for many people in restoring vision after the removal of their natural lens. These implants provide good focusing at ONE specific distance (Monofocal) usually resulting in excellent distance vision and pretty good intermediate vision. To be able to also have excellent reading or near vision, reading glasses are usually required.
Toric Lens Implants
Blurred or distorted vision due to an irregularly shaped cornea is called astigmatism. In some cases astigmatism can be corrected during cataract surgery but this is not an option for all patients. Toric IOLs effectively eliminate astigmatism and are a better option for many people. Toric IOLs are designed to correct pre-existing corneal astigmatism, which is the inability of the eye to focus clearly at any distance because of difference curvatures on the cornea, and provide better uncorrected distance vision. Toric IOL are an upgrade to standard IOLs and will require a additional charge.
Multifocal Lens Implants
For people with more demanding lifestyles, new multifocal lens implants provide much greater visual freedom. Multifocal lens implants offer a more complete range of good vision, day and night, from distance to near reading vision, without cumbersome or unsightly reading glasses or bifocals.
How Multifocal Lens Implants Work
Multifocal IOL’s with multiple optical zones have a series of concentric focusing rings extending from the center of the lens to the lens periphery. Each ring selection has its own focusing power and corresponding focal point. With these lens designs, distant vision is very good right after surgery and intermediate and near vision may improve quickly during the healing period. Unlike spectacles with progressive or trifocal designs, the vast majority of patients adjust to these implants with a very short adjustment period.
Panoptix / Panoptix Toric
The
Panoptix lens, marketed by AcrySoft, is a trifocal lens. A trifocal lens gives you a full range of vision while relying less on glasses. AcrySof
® IQ PanOptix
® Trifocal Family of IOLs are types of multifocal lenses (sometimes called “presbyopia-correcting IOLs”) designed to allow for clear distance, intermediate, and near vision with the potential to be more independent of the need to use glasses for daily tasks. AcrySof
® IQ PanOptix
® Trifocal Toric IOLs which correct for astigmatism as well as cataracts. Some patients may notice halos around lights while driving at night.
Vivity / Vivity Toric
The AcrySof® IQ Vivity™ Extended Vision IOLs provide clear distance vision, and better intermediate, and some near vision compared to a standard monofocal IOL. Vivity is a first-of-its-kind, non-diffractive extended depth of focus IOL with which stretches and shifts light without splitting it. The Vivity delivers excellent distance, as well as intermediate (at arm’s length), and functional near vision (up close).
Crystalens / Trulign Accommodating IOL
The
Bausch + Lomb Crystalens IOL, uses a different lens design to achieve a more complete range of vision than standard Monofocal lenses. The Crystalens IOL uses the eyes zonules and ciliary body muscles to move the lens either forward or backward to adjust the focal point for good vision. With this lens design distant vision is good right after surgery, and over time, the brain learns how to manage the zonule and ciliary muscle combination to control the movement of the Crystalens IOL and provide good distant, intermediate or near vision as needed. For those patients with cataracts and astigmatism the TRULIGN Toric IOL, is a premium IOL that can treat both. The TRULIGN Toric IOL works the same as the Crystalens hinged IOL with the additional ability to improve or correct astigmatism.
