During cataract surgery, the clouded natural lens is dissolved and replaced with a plastic intraocular lens (IOL). The IOLs used over the last 30 years are called standard monofocal IOLs because their focus is set to provide distance or near vision, but not both. Patients who receive a standard monofocal IOL usually still need to wear glasses to achieve the clearest focus for distance and near objects because of astigmatism and presbyopia (the need for reading glasses).
Today there are a variety of Lifestyle Lenses that have advanced features for clear vision at
multiple distances.
- Multifocal IOLs with multiple focusing points to allow for distance and up-close vision. We offer several brands of multifocal IOLs.
- Extended Depth of Focus IOLs have one corrective zone that can stretch and shift light entering your eyes so you can obtain a continuous, extended range of vision. With this type of lens, you may not need glasses (even readers) to see clearly at all distances after cataract surgery.
- Trifocal IOLs can deliver an exceptional combination of near, intermediate and distance vision while significantly reducing the need for glasses after surgery. Most patients who choose this lens are able to read text messages on their smart phones, work on a computer and even drive without the need for glasses.
- Toric IOLs to correct astigmatism as well as nearsightedness and farsightedness. Many lens types come in toric versions.
Expert Guidance During Cataract Surgery: ORA™ System
Prior to your cataract surgery, your doctor will determine what type and power of replacement
Intraocular Lens (IOL) to implant in your eye. This choice is based on preoperative measurements of your eye and your vision goals.
However, the surgical process can alter these measurements slightly, making it difficult to pinpoint the exact power necessary to produce the very best vision results…until now.
At Premier Eye Care & Surgery, we incorporate Optiwave Refractive Analysis (ORA) technology to provide real-time intraoperative measurements of your refractive error after the cloudy lens is removed – during surgery – so we can adjust the IOL power if necessary. The ORA system takes a Wavefront analysis of the eye after the cataract has been removed to calculate the proper IOL.
Benefits of the ORA System
With the ORA System, your cataract doctor can assess your eyes on the spot to:
- Measure the true refractive power of your eye
- Choose the IOL power that will provide a better visual outcome
- Completely tailor your procedure
- Reduce the need for follow-up surgeries
ORA technology is especially helpful for patients who have astigmatism. Patients are often amazed at how quickly their vision is restored.
How Toric IOLs Help Astigmatism?
Astigmatism is characterized by an irregular curvature of the cornea. The eye of a person with astigmatism is shaped more like a football or the back of a spoon. For this person, when light enters the eye it is refracted more in one direction than the other, allowing only part of the object to be in focus at one time. Objects at any distance can appear blurry and wavy. About half of the population is born with corneas that are shaped in a way which create astigmatism. If you have astigmatism, and you want to see clearly in the distance, you need to wear glasses or contact lenses. The toric IOL can correct, or at least partially correct, your naturally occurring corneal astigmatism so you won’t be so dependent on glasses to see in the distance after cataract surgery.
How Lifestyle IOLs Help Presbyopia?
With time, almost everyone is affected by presbyopia. Presbyopia is a part of the normal aging process and happens to all of us. Presbyopia is caused by the loss of flexibility of the natural lens and the weakening of the lens’s focusing muscle. It becomes evident to most of us at about age 45 and that’s why we have to start wearing reading glasses or need to begin wearing bifocals. We just can’t see up close without them. Everyone who undergoes cataract surgery with a standard monofocal IOL needs to have reading glasses to see up close afterward because presbyopia is not treated by the standard monofocal IOL. But over the past few years, there have been several IOLs introduced which that correct presbyopia after cataract surgery. Patients who choose one of these presbyopia-correcting IOLs can usually see far away, at midranges, and up close while greatly reducing their need for glasses, possibly eliminating them.
Paying for Your Lenses
Depending on the results of your examination, you may have the option to choose a standard monofocal IOL or a lifestyle lens. Regardless of your options all of the lenses will help you see well, so there is no wrong choice. Medicare and insurance typically cover the cost of cataract surgery with a standard monofocal lens. If you would like to take advantage of advanced lenses, the procedure will still be covered, and you can choose to pay an additional fee for these lenses.
Request a cataract evaluation with us by calling (847) 459-6060 (Buffalo Grove office) or (847) 382-4116 (Barrington office) so we can discuss these options in greater detail.