Making a Lens Choice

What Are My Lens Replacement Options?

 

Cataracts 1
An intraocular lens (IOL) is a lens implanted in the eye during cataract surgery, after the cloudy crystalline lens (otherwise known as a cataract) has been removed.

 

 

Monofocal Lens

 

Traditional cataract surgery uses a standard single-focus lens, or monofocal, lens implant to replace the clouded natural lens to help improve vision. A monofocal lens implant provides excellent vision after cataract surgery-but only at one set distance-usually for seeing things at a distance, you will likely still need glasses for any type of near vision activity-for example reading, sewing, keeping your golf score, or fine detail work. Full-time glasses, however, may still be needed for patients whose prescriptions are more complex.

In the past, there really weren’t any options for patients. Today, we are able to offer you the choice of a multifocal lens implant.

 

Multifocal IOL

 

A multifocal lens implant provides excellent vision after cataract surgery at a variety of distances. Patients choosing to have a multifocal lens implant will likely find that they can drive, watch television, read or do crafts without the need for glasses.

Bifocal Multifocal IOLs are designed to eliminate your need or reduce your dependence on glasses after cataract surgery compared to the traditional monofocal IOLs. They are designed to provide two focal points at all times.

Trifocal Multifocal IOLs are designed to help you achieve excellent vision with less dependence on glasses at all ranges. They provide continuous near (close up), intermediate (at arm’s length) and distance (far away) focus at all times.

As with any surgical procedure, there are associated risks and benefits. While virtually everyone experiences an improvement in vision after cataract surgery, some people will have better uncorrected vision than others. Therefore, it is important to discuss the potential risks and benefits with your doctor. Good candidates for the Multifocal lens implant should have realistic goals for their vision and receive a complete evaluation by a BVA Ophthalmologist specializing in multifocal lens implantation.

Accommodating IOL

 

This type of lens is called an accommodating lens because it is flexible and able to change focus in response to the focusing muscles in our eyes just as the natural lens does for people under the age of forty

The Bausch & Lomb Crystalens® accommodating lens is designed to restore the eye’s accommodation ability, which is gradually reduced as presbyopia progresses. Like your natural lens, Crystalens works naturally with muscles in the eye to retain the eye’s ability to “accommodate” – shift focus between nearby and distant objects – after cataract surgery.

The Crystalens has the great advantage of allowing virtually all patients to see at both distance and intermediate distance without using glasses. In addition, most patients are able to read without glasses for all but the finest of print. In practice, the Crystalens is able to satisfy the visual needs of most patients for most of their daily activities without glasses. It is particularly good for driving, computers, cell phones, and newspaper-sized print.

Most patients with cataracts or who have had corneal refractive surgery and retained good eye health are acceptable candidates for Crystalens implantation, but those who have already had cataract surgery are not. Good candidates for the Crystalens should have realistic goals for their vision and receive a complete evaluation by a BVA physician.

Toric IOL

 

For cataract patients with astigmatism, successful cataract surgery is only half the battle for regaining quality vision. BVA Advanced Eye Care offers the AcrySof Toric lens implant, a design proven to correct both your cataracts and astigmatism simultaneously. Implanted in the eye to restore distance vision after cataract surgery, the AcrySof Toric lens has a unique patented design that provides both spherical and astigmatic correction.

For more information please call our office or e-mail us.

Trifocal IOL

 

Cataracts form gradually as our eyes get older, and 9 in 10 Americans develop them by the time they’re 65. The good news is that cataract surgery is one of the safest, most common, and most effective procedures performed today. At the time of cataract surgery, you have the opportunity to enhance our vision with the PanOptix® Lens(Trifocal Lens)

The lens you choose matters. While a monofocal lens can help you see far away, the PanOptix® Lens gives you a full range of vision, so that you can participate in a full range of activities—all while relying less on glasses. Imagine how you could use clear complete vision to see far away with clear distance vision (spot a familiar face, see a movie, drive a car, watch TV), see at arm’s length (use a computer, read a menu or see in the mirror), and see up close (read a book, craft or use your cell phone).