Cataract Center
Cataract surgery restores clear vision because the cloudy, rigid human lens is removed and replaced by a synthetic intraocular lens, usually called an "IOL."
Standard "Fixed Focus" IOLs
Patients with standard "fixed focus" IOLs typically need a weak pair of bifocals following surgery. These IOLs provide excellent overall clarity especially when fine tuned by the use of bifocals. These IOLs are covered by insurance as part of the costs of standard cataract surgery.
Medicare and the insurance industry allow patients to upgrade to IOLs that have more sophisticated optics. Premium IOLs are designed to reduce the dependency on glasses after surgery: Presbyopia-correcting IOLs and Toric IOLs. By paying more out of pocket, patients can choose one of these to enhance their postoperative eye sight.
Premium presbyopia-correcting IOLs
We offer two choices: Crystalens® and ReSTOR +3. Each has an advantage over the other. While Crystalens® provides superb clarity for distance and intermediate vision without glasses, patients may still need glasses to read fine print. ReSTOR +3 on the other hand provides excellent clarity for reading fine print without glasses, it may create some mild glare effects for night time driving.
Not everyone is a candidate for a presbyopia-correcting IOL. Your doctor will make a recommendation after thoroughly analyzing the health and unique optical status of your eyes. Here is how they work:
Crystalens® is the only accommodating IOL on the market. It is designed to work in the same way the natural human lens does—by flexing to change its power from far to near focus. Its flexible design is highly unique and is intended to work with the muscles inside of your eye to provide clarity for distance (i.e. driving), intermediate (i.e. computers) and reading (i.e. newspaper). The results vary from person to person to some degree. Some eyes are able to take advantage of Crystalens®’s flexibility better than others. Generally, the more one must read fine print, the more likely it is they will still need glasses at times after surgery.
ReSTOR +3 is a multi-focal IOL. Earlier generations of multi-focal IOLs created significant problems with glare and halos at night which is why we did not offer them. This has been greatly improved with the design of the ReSTOR +3. It provides a full range of vision, far to intermediate to near, through its "apodized optics"—multiple rings of different focal power in a single lens. The eye is simultaneously in focus for all distances and the mind’s eye adapts to tune into which distance it is viewing. The rings may cause undesirable haloes around lights at night which typically resolves after three to four weeks. Eighty percent of patients with ReSTOR +3 never need glasses according to FDA data.
Astigmatism Candidates
Toric IOLs are the third option available. Very large degrees of astigmatism may call for the use of a totally different type of IOL. A toric IOL may be the best option for those with marked astigmatism. The use of this IOL corrects both the cataract and astigmatism, and its use can result in the need for the weakest pair of glasses possible, glasses that will also be much more optically-pleasing due to the correction of the distortions that come with strong astigmatism. Correcting such high degrees of astigmatism with an IOL is much better than the correction achieved with spectacles.
Learn more about premium lenses on these following sites: Crystalens: www.crystalens.com, ReSTOR: www.acrysofrestor.com, Toric: www.acrysofiqtoric.com