Premium Lenses

Premium Lens Implants

Can I see at multiple distances after cataract surgery?

As we age, the natural lens in the eye becomes less flexible, diminishing the eye’s ability to switch its focus from one focal plane to another, a condition called presbyopia. Aging eyes may also develop cataracts, causing the lens to become cloudy or dark. The only method of correcting an established and progressing cataract is to undergo cataract surgery.

Once you have made the decision to undergo cataract surgery with your eye doctor you will have a series of decisions to make related to the type of artificial lens implant you will have. Up until recently everyone who had cataract surgery received a monofocal (standard) lens implant. This lens enabled for vision at only one distance, typically distances far away. With new innovations, lenses are now available that provide vision at multiple distances, allowing you to achieve the vision that best fits your needs. These lenses are referred to as premium lenses and come in various formats or types.

• Multifocal Lens Implants
• Toric Lens Implants
• Multifocal-Toric Implants

In order to help cataract patients achieve better outcomes after cataract surgery and reclaim their ability to see, we offer varying advanced technologies. If you would like to see at multiple distances including far, intermediate and close ranges, we offer a wide variety of advanced lens technologies to help you achieve your goal of clear vision at all distances.

Multifocal Lens Implants

Multifocal IOL Lens Implants enable patients to see at near, far and intermediate distances after surgery. The 2 major brand names in this category are The AcrySof® ReSTOR® IOL by Alcon and the Tecnis® by AMO. (Recently acquired by Abbott). With a multifocal IOL, the central portion of the lens has a series of steps that are carved in a very precise arrangement with varying step heights and distances between steps. Each step of this diffractive optic bends the incoming light differently; creating a near focus that is quite separated from the distance focus formed by the remaining refractive portion of the lens. This large separation between the two images allows for fewer artifacts or distortion in either of the images, providing good quality vision at both distance and near.

Toric IOL Implants

Toric Lens Implants are a unique type of lens implant that is used to correct astigmatism. A toric lens implant is NOT the only method of astigmatism correction so consult a doctor about the current possibilities. Asymmetric steepening of the cornea or natural lens causes light to be focused unevenly, which is the main optical problem in astigmatism. To individuals with uncorrected astigmatism, images may look blurry or shadowed. Astigmatism can accompany any form of refractive error and is very common. Astigmatism can be corrected with glasses, contact lenses, corneal relaxing incisions, laser vision correction, and special implant lenses. If a cataract patient has astigmatism and has aspirations to be glasses-free after surgery the Toric Lens Implant is a good option. Toric Lens Implants are NOT a correction option for presbyopia. The ACRYSOF® Toric Lens Implant is a popular choice for this type of lens.