What Is An IOL?
An IOL or intraocular lens Is a medical device implanted in the eye to replace the eye's natural lens. When the natural lens of the eye becomes clouded from cataracts, cataract surgery is performed in order to remove the clouded lens. Cataract surgery replaces the natural lens with an artificial lens to provide clear vision and improved color contrast. Vision correction through the use of IOLs can also be categorized as a refractive lens exchange.
Through the combination of modern medicine and advanced micro technology, artificial intraocular lenses have achieved amazing results for patients with high nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (presbyopia), and even astigmatism. For many patients in , New Jersey, cataract surgery has improved visual accuracy and precision to that which they experienced in their youth.
How Many IOLs Are Available? What Are Their Differences?
Monofocal IOL
Premium IOL
Multifocal Lenses
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Pros & Cons For Premium IOLs
Convenience
Premium IOLs take away the hassle of juggling multiple pairs of eyeglasses or daily maintenance of contact lens cleaning & replacement. The premium IOL creates a permanent correction for a patient’s nearsightedness and farsightedness.
An IOL gives a patient clear eyesight on a daily basis, and, unlike eyeglasses or contact lenses, the artificial IOL is completely unnoticeable. An IOL replaces your natural lens acting as a completely new lens for your eye. This is one of the biggest advantages of any intraocular lens.
Cost-Effective
Patients spend hundreds of dollars annually in multifocal contact lenses or updating their pair of progressive lenses. While replacing a pair of eyeglasses may only occur after a few years, over the course of 10 years, the cost of progressive eyeglasses or multifocal contact lenses can easily match but often exceeds the cost of one cataract surgery with a premium IOL.
Intuitive
Premium IOLs are measured and calculated to handle higher-order aberrations, which reduces the effects of bright light interfering with your vision. That means those bright headlights that would have been giant starbursts at night are reduced in their brightness, helping you drive.
Lighting
While Alcon claims the Acrysof IQ ReSTOR multifocal offers optimal image quality in all lighting conditions, not all premium IOLs handle lighting conditions easily. This means your vision may not be as crisp in low light conditions compared to brightly lit conditions, still you’ll be able to drive safely at night.
A Cataract Surgeon May Utilize Multifocal & Monofocal IOLs Together
Eyesight varies on an individual basis and even per eye. Due to the health and strength of each person’s vision, a cataract surgeon in , New Jersey may even recommend a mix of IOLs to achieve the right visual balance.
For example, a standard aspheric monofocal IOL for the dominant eye can help with driving, sports, and any distance dependent work, while a premium multifocal for the non-dominant eye can enable one to finish reading through the paper, browse the internet & email, and finish a bit of reading at the end of the day.
Although this “juggling act” might seem a bit unexpected, the convenience can outweigh the need for various pairs of eyeglasses, and the eyes will adjust to the various conditions naturally.
Accommodating Lenses
Certain implants called accommodative lens implants may also be suitable for patients who want their new artificial lens to work naturally. Accommodative lenses work along with the eyes’ muscles using hinges to allow the eye to fixate on objects at all distances. Although every intraocular lens offers a unique set of features, accommodative IOLs grant the most adaptivity for one’s eyes.
Since cataract surgery replaces the natural lens of your eye with an artificial lens, patients will experience improvements in their vision, clarity, and color contrast regardless of the IOL they choose. As adjustments in vision can vary from every individual, accommodative intraocular lens implants are engineered with a versatile lifestyle in mind.
Accommodative IOLs are manufactured to address nearsightedness and farsightedness seamlessly to address most visual needs.
An accommodating lens like Crystalens utilizes a premium IOL to restore clear vision among close, far, and mid-range distances. The lens’ design adjusts the focusing power of the eye. This accommodation mimics the way the eye naturally switches focus between distances. For example, clear distances come into focus when your eye muscle relaxes, while far distances require your eye muscles to contract. The lens itself will flatten to adjust for clear distances or make micro movements for magnification when viewing at a distance. Due to the nature of the Crystalens, you can also gain clear night vision without facing halos or glare, which is ideal for late night drivers.
The two most commonly used brands of accommodating IOLs:
- Crystalens AO IOL
- Trulign Toric IOL
For more information about these services contact your Intraocular Lenses Eye Doctor at .
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Toric Lenses For Astigmatism Correction
Not everyone has the same shape of eyes, and for those with astigmatism or abnormal curvature of the cornea, a toric IOL may be recommended. A toric IOL like AcrySof can correct astigmatism as part of your cataract surgery and correct your vision.
While greater clarity will be gained from the lens implant, reading glasses may still be required for performing close-up tasks.
Brands of Toric IOLs:
- Tecnis Toric IOL
- AcrySof IQ Toric IOL
- Trulign Toric
There are far more options that can be utilized by a cataract surgeon to ensure the best outcome after surgery. Discuss the various premium IOLs with a cataract surgeon in , New Jersey to make an informed decision that addresses all of your lifestyle and visual expectations.