Much like the lens on a camera, your eye's natural crystalline lens’ primary function is to focus images. When a cataract clouds the lens, it more difficult to see clearly. When your cataract progresses to the point that daily tasks become challenging and interfere with your quality of life, cataract surgery is usually indicated.
Major types of lens implants
The type of IOL you need depends on your particular situation, and Dr. Epitropoulos will work with you to determine which lens is best for you. Until fairly recently, nearly everyone who had cataract surgery was fitted with a standard, monofocal intraocular lens, allowing the patient to see objects in the distance clearly but which require glasses to see objects that are closer
Choosing a Lens | Near | Intermediate | Distance | Astygmatism | |
Multifocal lens A lens with multiple focal point designed to replace cataracts and correct presbyopia in order to provide a full range of vision near far and in-between while offering enhanced image quality.
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Astigmatism Correcting Monofocal LensA lens with a single focal point, designed to correct both cataracts and pre-existing astigmatism, providing distance vision while offering enhanced image quality.
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Monofocal LensA lens with a single focal point, designed to correct cataracts and provide better vision at one distance. For reading OR far away.
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The type of IOL you need depends on your particular situation, and Dr. Epitropoulos will work with you to determine which lens is best for you.
During surgery, your eye's natural lens will be replaced by an artificial intraocular lens, or IOL, made of plastic, silicone or acrylic. The IOL performs the function of the eye's natural lens. Most of today's IOLs are around a quarter of an inch in diameter and soft enough to be folded so they can be placed into the eye through a very small incision. Recent advancements in lens technology not only treat the cataract and restore vision, but reduce or virtually eliminate your dependency on glasses, correcting distance vision, near vision, and astigmatism.
Standard Monofocal Lenses
Standard monofocal lenses provide clear vision but only at one fixed focal point, usually at a distance. If you are fitted with a monofocal lens, you will most likely need glasses to see up close (reading and computer vision). Each of the lens types below can have additional attributes as well. For example, there are IOLs that are multifocal, aspheric, and blue light filtering. Ask Dr. Epitropoulos about them.
Multifocal Lenses
Multifocal lenses have special features that correct your near, intermediate, and distance vision in the same lens, providing your best chance at being free of glasses for the majority of activities. Two types of multifocal lenses are the Restor and Technis lenses. A small percentage of patients with the multifocal lenses may experience bothersome glare at night.
Accommodative Lenses
Accommodative lenses are designed to move in response to your eye muscles to adjust for various distances. That said, accommodative lenses actually have a fixed focal point, which makes them a type of monofocal lens, reducing the chance of glare at night. Patients often still need to wear glasses for fine print with the accommodative lenses.
Toric Lenses
Toric lenses are designed for people with astigmatism, reducing or virtually eliminating the need for glasses for distance vision following surgery.
Presbyopic Lens implants
Now there is technology that can help you see it all.
Patients have the option of a multifocal intraocular lens, a unique technological innovation that takes the place of the cloudy cataract, which most closely restores the way the eye used to work before wearing bifocals. This technology can provide you with quality vision – both up close and at a distance – giving you increased independence from reading glasses or bifocals. Enjoy better vision than you have for decades!
There are currently three presbyopia correcting IOLs that have been approved by the FDA. These include: the AcrySof® ReSTO® IOL, the Technis™ Multifocal IOL and the Crystalens® Accommodating IOL.
The multifocal implants are designed to give you a full range of vision, could help you see everything more clearly, from the type on this page to faraway landscapes. It’s sight changing and life changing.
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The ReSTOR® multifocal implant is a unique technological innovation that allows for broader range of vision – near, far and in between - without the dependence of corrective lenses, restoring the way the eye used to work before wearing bifocals. With this new technology, more than 90 percent of patients who have these implants in both eyes are completely free of glasses for all daily activities.
Enjoy better vision than you’ve had in years, with the AcrySof® ReSTOR® IOL
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Presbyopia Correcting IOLs
Presbyopia is a condition common in people over age 40 that results in difficulty seeing up close without the aid of bifocals, trifocals, or reading glasses. This condition is commonly thought to worsen as the natural lens in the eye hardens with age, making it difficult for the eye’s muscles to change its focus. Over time, the lens becomes cloudy and develops into a cataract. The most common way to treat a cataract is to remove the cloudy natural lens and replace it with an Intraocular Lens (IOL) made of plastic, silicone or acrylic.
Things to consider
There is no single intraocular lens option that works best for everyone. As you and Dr. Epitropoulos explore which type of lens is right for you, there will be many things to think about, and choices to be made.
Your individual medical condition, your eye’s characteristics (including whether you have astigmatism), your lifestyle, and the risk and benefits of treatment options are all things that you and Dr. Epitropoulos will discuss as you consider cataract surgery.
Toric Interocular Lens"Reduces or Eliminates Astigmatism" During Cataract Surgery
Almost 65% of their patients saw 20/20 without glasses after surgery and 70% of their patients reported never having to use distance glasses.
Many patients with astigmatism undergoing cataract surgery who receive a TORIC INTRAOCULAR LENS implant they enjoy very good distance vision after surgery without the need for glasses. A study published the Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery reported 99% of patients receiving the TORIC lens in both eyes had a distance vision of 20/40 without glasses – the level required for driving.
Toric Interocular Lens
95% of their patients were very satisfied with their results. The study suggested bilateral implantation of TORIC IOLs yielded excellent and stable visual outcomes that patients rated as highly satisfactory. Edward Holland, MD et al in the journal Ophthalmology reported on a series of patients undergoing cataract surgery with the TORIC LENS implant. Half of the patients, 256, received a TORIC LENS to correct their astigmatism, the other half, 261, did not – the standard lens was used in their surgery. Over 40% of their patients receiving the TORIC LENS to correct for the astigmatism saw 20/20 at distance without glasses; less than 20% of patients receiving the standard lens achieved similar results.
Mass Eye and Ear reports that over half of the patients in their study achieved 20/25 distance vision without the use of glasses. Finally, in the Archives of Ophthalmology R. Pineda et al from Boston analyzed the economic value of the TORIC LENS. The TORICLENS costs more than the standard lens. But when the long term costs of glasses and the overall “quality of life” issue is studied, they concluded that “TORIC IOLs reduce lifetime economic costs by reducing the need for glasses or contact lenses following cataract removal.
Dr. Alice Epitropoulos has been offering the TORIC LENS for her patients for several years, and our patients have enjoyed similar fantastic results.
Call 800.964.9969
If you are interested in seeing your best without glasses, please contact Alice Epitropoulos, M.D., today. We will discuss the benefits, risks and costs. As always, Dr Epitropoulos strives to provide the latest proven solutions to protect and restore vision for you and your loved ones.