Advanced IOL Implants
Advances in intraocular lens (IOL) implant technology offer a new range of choices to ophthalmologists and their patients. Today, these choices include:
Aspheric IOLs:
These advanced lenses have optically-corrected designs to reduce aberrations in vision after cataract surgery. These IOLs compensate for imperfections in the eye’s optics, and provide better vision in low-contrast or low-light situations than traditional designs.
Presbyopia-Correcting IOLs:
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| ReSTOR® |
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| ReZoom™ |
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| Crystalens® |
Presbyopia-correcting IOLs can provide close as well as distance vision. This is the only proven way to correct presbyopia, the age-related loss of close focus that affects most people in their 40’s. The first presbyopia-correcting IOL was approved in 1997 and Coastal Eye has had extensive experience with them since that time, with excellent results. More recently, updated designs were introduced that have significantly improved the results and broadened the applicability of this class of IOLs. Presbyopia-correcting IOLs are an increasingly popular choice among patients who want to reduce and minimize their need for glasses after surgery, for reading as well as distance.
Presbyopia-correcting IOLs come in different designs, sometimes as multifocal or accommodative IOLs. Different designs such as the ReStor®, Tecnis Multifocal, and Crystalens® aim to provide good distance and close vision, and are used by Coastal Eye Specialists. Each design has pros and cons, and may not be suitable for all patients; none of them yet re-create the vision of a perfect 20 year-old eye. But for the right patient, these are the “best” and most advanced IOLs available and provide the fullest and most natural range of vision possible. Coastal Eye’s experienced team can help determine if you are a candidate for these advanced IOLs, and which design might be best for you.
Astigmatism-Correcting (Toric) IOLs:
Toric IOLs, designed to correct astigmatism (uneven, football-shaped curvature of the eye), were introduced in 1998, and Coastal Eye again has pioneered the use of these sophisticated IOLs since then. In 2006, new toric designs and predictive computer software were introduced that further increased the range and accuracy of astigmatism correction with these implants. For patients with astigmatism, use of a toric IOL can result in better, sharper vision and less need for glasses than standard IOLs.
What IOL is best for me?
Advanced presbyopia- and astigmatism- correcting IOLs are an option for patients who wish to reduce their need for glasses or contacts at the same time they have cataract surgery. A complete eye exam and consultation with the surgeon are needed to determine which type of IOL will best meet your needs, lifestyle, and budget. Not everyone is a candidate for these advanced IOLs. Most patients will get satisfactory results with a standard IOL, but for those who are appropriate candidates, these advanced IOLs offer a unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to optimize their vision and reduce their need for glasses at the same time they have their cataract removed.
Presbyopic and toric implants are considered specialty IOLs; extra measurements, calculations, planning, and post-op care are essential for optimal results with these lenses. If cataract surgery is considered “medically necessary,” medical insurance will usually approve the costs of the basic surgery and a standard or aspheric IOL. Patients are then responsible for the difference between the cost of the specialty IOL surgery and standard IOL surgery. Financing is available to help all patients who are candidates for these advanced lenses benefit from the latest technology.
Refractive Lens Exchange
Refractive lens exchange is a surgical procedure that replaces the natural lens with an intraocular lens (IOL) to correct farsightedness, nearsightedness or astigmatism. Available as an alternative to laser vision correction, this procedure avoids the need for corneal modification that is done during laser vision correction, and instead involves the same procedure used in cataract surgery. Generally, it is reserved for patients who may not be candidates for laser vision correction, often with higher degrees of nearsightedness or farsightedness, or for patients who may have early cataracts but do not wish to wait for the cataracts to become disabling.
Patients who choose to undergo refractive lens exchange have several options when it comes to the IOL that will be implanted into the eye, depending on their visual needs.
To learn more about IOL implants, please call 805-983-0700 today to schedule a consultation.
