Lens Options

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During cataract surgery, the eye’s natural lens is removed and replaced with an intraocular lens, or IOL. Since being approved by the FDA in 1981, IOLs have offered an effective alternative for cataract patients. Prior to the use of IOLs, cataract patients had to wear very thick eyeglasses or special contact lenses in order to see after the natural lenses were removed during surgery.

Technological advances in lens implants have created more choices than ever and understanding what types of implants exist is crucial to achieving the maximum benefits from your cataract procedure. The surgeons at Canyon Eye Associates are dedicated to educating patients about their procedure and lens options. Please take some time to review the following information and if you have questions, we are more than happy to answer them.

Monofocal IOL – Conventional Lenses

Conventional IOLs are only monofocal, offering patients vision at only one distance (far, intermediate or near), and still requiring them to use corrective lenses to compensate for other distances. Most patients will achieve their sharpest vision with the help of glasses after surgery.  These lenses also do not correct a patient’s astigmatism, so glasses or contacts may be needed for all ranges of vision.

The HD Lens – Sharper Vision

The Softec® HD addresses the issue of spherical aberration inherent in conventional monofocal spherical IOLs by adjusting the optic with a patented design on both the anterior and posterior surfaces. The curvature of the lens element is calculated and shaped to achieve the ideal single point of focus. This enhanced aspheric optic has minimal spherical aberrations and results in sharper vision for the patient.

The lens also comes in smaller 0.25 diopter increments to allow for a more accurate matching of a patient’s unique prescription. Combining the Softec® HD with ORA (Optiwave® Refractive Analysis) has a synergistic effect resulting in superior visual outcomes. Canyon Eye Associates is the only practice in central Ohio combining these complementary technologies.

Optiwave® Refractive Analysis (ORA) – Superior Accuracy

ORA is a technology that gives your surgeon superior information over conventional approaches to cataract surgery. Conventional measurements for implant power selection are done before the procedure. These measurements have been shown in large studies to only be highly accurate about 50% to 60% of the time. ORA takes measurements during the cataract procedure with a highly accurate method called wavefront abberometry. This approach provides your surgeon with superior information in real time and results in a more accurate procedure.

Superior information leads to superior visual outcomes. Combining ORA with Laser Assisted Cataract Surgery produces even more accurate results. The surgeons at Canyon Eye Associates are proud to be one of the only practices in central Ohio to offer this revolutionary technology.

A majority of patient’s have some preexisting astigmatism. Astigmatism is a unique curvature to the cornea that gives the cornea more of a football shape. This shape focuses the image to multiple positions on the retina and blurs the image. Fortunately, small amounts of astigmatism have little impact on visual quality. However, in significant amounts, astigmatism will distort and elongate images which will appear blurry and out of focus to the patient.

Patients with significant astigmatism will benefit greatly from a toric IOL. These implants are designed to compensate for the unique curvature of the cornea and focus a crisp, sharp image to the retina. The surgeons at Canyon Eye Associates have extensive experience with the placement of these advanced toric implants.

There has never been a better time for increased independence from glasses following cataract surgery. Patient’s that don’t want to rely on glasses to see either at a distance or near should consider a multifocal implant. These advanced implants are essentially multiple lenses inside a single implant, giving the patient a range of vision. Studies have shown that a vast majority of patients with these implants experience independence from glasses and a high satisfaction rate with their vision after the procedure.

Not everyone is a candidate for this type of implant. Examples are patients with significant astigmatism or patients with preexisting eye diseases. Mutifocal implants can also affect a patient’s night vision so patients with significant night driving needs may want to avoid multifocal implants. Speak with your surgeon at Canyon Eye Associates to see if you’re a candidate for multifocal implants.

While cataract surgery and conventional IOLs are covered by insurance because it is considered medically necessary, advanced lenses such as Toric, Mutifocal and laser procedures are not covered.