You Have Vision Choices

Choosing to move forward with cataract surgery is an easy conversation between you and your doctor.  The more detailed conversation is what type of vision you want after surgery.  You have options for lens replacement.  You might choose to replace your clouded lens with a traditional single-focus (monofocal) lens or prefer a multi-vision lens implant that provides a fuller range of vision (multifocal lens).

Traditional monofocal implants provide clear vision at a single focus point, usually set for distance. Newer advanced lens implants provide a fuller range of vision, improving how well you see without glasses at near, intermediate and distance. Most patients choose a multifocal lens because they’d like to be free of glasses most of the day.

CORRECTING DISTANCE VISION WITH A SINGLE-FOCUS LENS

A monofocal or single-focus lens is designed to provide clear vision at a single focal point – usually distance. This means you will be able to see objects far away, but will need glasses for reading and close, detailed work. However, if you have astigmatism, a monofocal lens will not fully correct distance vision and you will usually need glasses for all distances.

CORRECTING ASTIGMATISM

Astigmatism is a common condition where your eye is out-of-round, shaped more like a football than a basketball. Your vision is potentially affected by two types of astigmatism — corneal and lenticular — and we can correct both with advanced astigmatism treatments.

Studies show that 40% of patients who have lens replacement surgery also need to correct astigmatism in order to achieve their best vision. There are two ways we correct astigmatism during lens replacement. The most advanced method uses a Toric lens implant. For those patients who suffer from astigmatism so pronounced that they are outside the power range of the Toric lens, we recommend a combination treatment of lens replacement and relaxing incisions that delivers both improved vision and astigmatism correction.

FULL-RANGE VISION WITH MULTIFOCAL IOLS

Traditional lens replacement provided only one focal point — usually distance — leaving you dependent upon reading glasses or bifocals after cataract surgery. Recent advances in multifocal technology now make it possible for you to read magazines, newspapers, tablets and phones, without magnifying glasses or bifocals.  These still allow you to see objects at mid-range like the dashboard of your car or your food clearly, while enjoying crisp distance vision for day and nighttime driving.