IOL Options (video)

You have more options than ever before for seeing well after cataract surgery. Would you like to reduce your need for glasses after cataract surgery? While many patients are suitable candidates for "Premium" IOL's, many are not. Read this expalnation, and watch the movie to gain an understanding of this subject. At our Marin Ophthalmic Surgery Center, we provide Standard, Aspheric, Toric and Multifocal IOL options depending on the needs of the patient. Your surgeon will help guide you in your selection from the various lens implants available.

Standard IOL's

There are excellent standard (Spherical) Monofocal IOL's available, but we no longer carry them in the inventory at Marin Ophthalmic Surgery Center because there are even better lenses available. We do use them occasionally, however, for certain circumstances. The goal is "Balanced Vision" in most cases, with the expectation of needing glasses after surgery.

Monovision

Some of our patients experience reduction in their need for glasses by having Standard, Aspheric or Toric IOL's of different powers in the two eyes (Monovision). This works best for people who have experienced monovision with contact lenses or laser vision correction before their cataract developed. This option as well is economical and effective.

Aspheric IOLs provide excellent vision for those who don't mind wearing glasses

Most of our patients receive an "aspheric" Monofocal IOL. For those who do not mind wearing glasses, monofocal implants are an excellent option. Most patients elect for this option. The goal is "Balanced Vision" for most of our patients. It is economical and effective. It provides diminished optical aberration, improving vision for driving at night or in poor light compared with the "standard" IOL. These are also great lenses for patients electing to have monovision.

 

Toric IOL's generally provide less dependency on glasses than Standard IOL's

If you have astigmatism, give these lenses strong consideration: Astigmatism-correctiong (Toric) IOL's are sometimes good for either balanced vision or monovision, at a modest additional expense. The result with monovision is both near and far vision with reduced need for glasses. These lenses have excellent optics, and our patients are generally well pleased with them.

If you prefer to have balanced vision (because you don't like or have never tried monovision), you have two good options. For those hoping for distance vision (driving, for example) without glasses, the Toric IOL is a good choice, with both eyes corrected for distance. You will generally use glasses to read. Others may prefer that the goal be to read without glasses (using glasses to drive)

Finally, some will want monovision. The ideal candidate has tried it before and likes it. The cataract surgery itself (phacoemulsification) is the same as for other implants, but there are additional particular steps in the planning, preparation, implantation and postoperative management. We have been delighted with our patient's response to these new lenses.

Multifocal IOL's typically result in the least need for glasses

Selected patients elect to have multifocal IOL's in hopes of reducing as much as possible their need for glasses. These exciting lenses (as well as "accomodating" lenses) are used to provide near, far and some intermediate vision as well without glasses. The near vision correction for these lenses does take days, weeks or sometimes months to reach its best. The cataract surgery itself (phacoemulsification) is the same as for other implants, but there are additional particular steps in the planning and postoperative management. We have been delighted with our patient's response to these new lenses.

Call your Ophthalmologist today for an appointment for a cataract evaluation. If you do not hae an Eye Surgeon, call Marin Ophthalmic Surgery Center for a referral to one of our Board Certified Medical Staff. 415-454-5585

Your surgeon will help you select the best option for your needs and desires. Any of these selections can be excellent for appropriate patients, but for every choice there will be some trade-off. We are happy to try to reduce the need for glasses when requested, but cannot promise either spectacle freedom or perfect vision. All of the potential risks of cataract surgery apply, plus some other considerations: the lenses do not always provide exact correction, and some patients may wish to have an additional laser vision correction to enhance results. Glare and haloes are more often annoying to the multifocal patient than the standard IOL or Toric IOL recipient. Glasses use is highest among standard IOL patients, and lowest for multifocal patients.