MONOVISION WITH INTRAOCULAR LENSES
If your cataract surgery involves both eyes, you might consider monovision. This involves implanting an IOL in one eye that provides near vision and an IOL in the other eye that provides distance vision.
Usually people can adjust to this. But if you can’t, your vision may be blurred at both near and far. Another problem is that depth perception may decrease because there is less binocular vision — meaning, your eyes aren’t working together as they once did.
People who do best with this method already are accustomed to monovision with contact lenses, which is a common way of correcting presbyopia. If you can’t adjust to monovision after your cataract surgery, you may wish you had tried a multifocal or accommodating IOL instead. Some surgeons will trial-fit a cataract patient in monovision contact lenses prior to inserting monovision IOLs.
Mixing multifocal lenses is another method of achieving a type of modified or “blended” monovision by using one type of IOL that emphasizes distance vision and another that emphasizes intermediate vision.
Free Yourself from Cataracts and Astigmatism in One Procedure
Do you have both cataracts and astigmatism? Astigmatism is a common condition that usually occurs when the natural surface of your eye is misshapen. If you have astigmatism, chances are you’ve worn glasses or contact lenses for much of your life.
Today’s technology means you can treat both cataracts and astigmatism at once during cataract surgery. During surgery, your surgeon replaces the cataractous lens in your eye with a new lens, known as an intraocular lens (IOL). You can choose an IOL that can treat astigmatism as well as cataracts, allowing you to enjoy more activities with reduced dependency on glasses, including playing golf and driving a car.
A TORIC intraocular lens can greatly reduce or even eliminate your need to wear glasses for clear distance vision, though you will likely still need glasses for reading.
It’s important to keep in mind that Medicare or private health insurance covers a portion of the costs of cataract surgery and astigmatism-correcting lenses for patients who qualify, but some out-of-pocket expenses are associated with astigmatism-correcting IOLs.
Astigmatism-correcting lenses may still save you money in the long run. Consider the long-term benefits of astigmatism-correcting IOLs. Care Credit offers financing for health care items that are not covered by insurance.
TORIC IMPLANTS TO CORRECT ASTIGMATISM
If you have cataracts as well as an astigmatism, new premium lens implant options are available to help minimize or even eliminate your dependence on eye glasses after cataract surgery.
Costello Eye Physicians and Surgeons are pleased to offer advanced Toric IOLs for astigmatism correction after cataract surgery. Advancements in intraocular lens (IOL) technology have now made it possible to provide an effective solution for patients that have astigmatism. Until recently, patients that were IOL candidates and had astigmatism, had no limited options that would correct the astigmatism aspect of their visual condition during cataract surgery. Surgeons would typically perform refractive surgery or LASIK after the insertion of an IOL to correct the complete visual picture or less predictable limbal relaxing incisions which tend to regress over time. With advancements in the optics of IOLs, the manufacturers have now been able to accommodate for astigmatism.
Many patients suffer from this common eye condition known as astigmatism. Often this astigmatism can lead to blurred or impaired vision if it becomes moderate or severe. The cause of the blurred and impaired vision is the result of the eye’s cornea or lens having an irregular shape. A normal eye’s cornea and lens have a circular shape whereas an eye with astigmatism has a longer more oval shape.
The Toric lens corrects for both conditions, cataracts and astigmatism. The Acrysof Toric® IOL is a foldable, single piece lens that is implanted during cataract surgery to replace the clouded lens. The unique design of the AcrySof Toric® IOL makes it possible to reduce or eliminate corneal astigmatism and significantly improve uncorrected distance vision.
Clinical Study Data for the Acrysof IQ Toric® IOL:
- 94% of patients achieved uncorrected distance of 20/40 or better
- Improved contrast sensitivity in low-light situations
- Significant reduction in both spherical and total high order abberations
- Improved functional vision in challenging environments such as night driving, glare and fog
