IOL Options
What Is An IOL?
An IOL, or intraocular lens, is a medical device implanted inside the eye to replace the eye’s natural lens. This is commonly done during cataract surgery when the natural lens becomes cloudy. IOLs can also be used in some cases of refractive surgery to correct vision.
Since you have the option to choose how you want to use your vision after the surgery, it’s important to educate yourself about the available options. The type of lens you choose will impact your vision for the rest of your life.
Monofocal Lens Implant
Monofocal lenses, also known as traditional “single vision” lenses, are designed with multiple focusing zones to correct presbyopia, allowing the wearer to see clearly at various distances—near, intermediate, and far. The lens has different focal points built into it, so the wearer doesn’t need reading glasses for close-up tasks.
Multifocal Lens Implant
A multifocal lens option could be a great option for you if you prefer doing daily activities without the need for glasses. Multifocal lens implants are designed to help the eye focus at multiple distances, improving clarity and reading range. They can also reduce or even eliminate the need for glasses after surgery.
Toric Multifocal Lens Implant
Toric multifocal lenses have a specific shape that helps correct astigmatism, a condition where the cornea or lens of the eye is irregularly shaped, causing blurry or distorted vision. Toric lenses are designed with two different powers in different meridians to correct the uneven curvature of the eye.
Eye Surgeons of Indiana specializes in astigmatism correction and toric IOLs. In fact, more patients have their astigmatism corrected with a toric IOL at Eye Surgeons of Indiana than anywhere else in Indiana.
Cataract surgery patients wishing to maximize their visual results will often benefit from a toric IOL. With this type of premium lens implant, there is an additional charge that is not covered by Medicare or private insurance companies. Medicare and private insurance companies will still cover the cost of the surgery itself.
Light Adjustable Lens Implant
The Light Adjustable Lens (LAL) is the world’s first lens implant that can be truly customized to your eye and visual requirements. With the LAL, you can test different vision settings, allowing you to achieve your personal ideal eyesight and reducing or even eliminating the need for eyeglasses in most daily situations.
The unique feature of the Light Adjustable Lens (LAL) is that the shape and focusing characteristics can be changed after implantation in the eye using an office-based UV light source called a Light Delivery Device or LDD. The Light Adjustable Lens itself has special particles (called macromers), which are distributed throughout the lens. When ultraviolet (UV) light from the LDD is directed to a specific area of the lens, the particles in the path of the light connect with other particles (forming polymers). The remaining unconnected particles then move to the exposed area. This movement causes a highly predictable change in the curvature of the lens. The new shape of the lens will match the prescription you selected during your eye exam.
