Lifestyle Lens Options
If you are considering cataract surgery, one of the choices you will have to make is which intraocular lens, or IOL, will replace your natural lens during the procedure. There are many IOL options available, including advanced premium IOLs.
Premium IOLs are new lenses designed to restore distance vision like standard IOLs and improve your ability to see clearly for reading, computer work, and other daily tasks without being dependent on glasses.
What Are Premium IOLs?
When the eye’s natural lens becomes cloudy from a cataract, the only way to restore vision is through cataract surgery. During cataract surgery, your natural lens is replaced with an artificial IOL.
Standard monofocal IOLs correct your distance vision but require you to wear glasses for reading and computer work. Premium IOLs are more technologically advanced lenses engineered to provide a greater range of clear vision after surgery.
Types of IOLs We Offer
Alcon PanOptix IOL
The PanOptix by Alcon is a trifocal IOL designed for excellent visual clarity from far to near ranges. The PanOptix design allows you to perform everyday activities like looking at your phone, using the computer, and even golfing without having to wear glasses.
It delivers the broadest range of continuous, high-quality vision compared to other IOLs. Clinical studies showed PanOptix patients were able to easily perform everyday tasks like looking at their phones without glasses. Many also reported reduced nighttime halos and glare.
Alcon Clareon Vivity IOL
Another option from Alcon is the Clareon Vivity EDOF lens. It uses a specialized X-WAVE technology to generate an elongated focal point that provides continuous sharp vision for most distances.
It was also highly effective at reducing the need for glasses versus standard IOLs. The Vivity IOL is great for optimizing sight for activities like driving, using a computer, and grocery shopping.
TECNIS Synergy IOL
The TECNIS Synergy IOL from Johnson & Johnson is a multifocal IOL designed to deliver seamless near, intermediate, and distance vision.
Unlike monofocal IOLs that only correct distance vision, the advanced TECNIS Synergy allows you to see clearly up close for reading and writing, at arm’s length for computer work and applying makeup, and far away for driving and watching TV.
The toric model also corrects astigmatism by shaping the artificial lens to compensate for irregularities in the cornea’s curvature. With the TECNIS Synergy IOL, you can enjoy crisp vision for daily tasks without the need for glasses after cataract surgery.
TECNIS Odyssey IOL
The TECNIS Odyssey IOL from Johnson & Johnson is a multifocal IOL designed to deliver comprehensive clarity for near and distance vision.
It is crafted to minimize night vision disturbances while offering superior contrast and low-light performance. Constructed from acrylic, the lens incorporates J&J’s TECNIS Synergy technology, which merges light rays to ensure they focus accurately on the retina. This approach significantly differs from traditional monofocal IOLs that only focus on distant objects.
Rayner IOLs
Rayner is a trusted European IOL manufacturer that offers a wide range of monofocal, toric, multifocal, and extended depth-of-focus IOLs. These lenses are crafted from proprietary hydrophobic acrylic, which can help reduce glare after cataract surgery.
All Rayner IOLs are designed for maximum optical performance and visual outcomes using advanced material and production techniques.
Toric IOLs
Toric lenses address astigmatism, which occurs due to an irregular curvature of the eye’s lens or cornea. While regular lenses are spherical, toric lenses resemble a slice from the side of a donut. This unique design allows them to provide different refractive powers along the horizontal and vertical axes. The refractive strength changes gradually as you move around the lens.
Whether you have regular astigmatism, lenticular astigmatism, or corneal astigmatism, these lenses can help. The uneven curvature causes the eye’s refraction to vary between the horizontal and vertical planes, leading to issues like difficulty in seeing fine details, double vision, and tilted vertical lines. Toric lenses correct these issues by providing tailored refractive powers along both planes, effectively counteracting the problems caused by astigmatism.
IC-8 Apthera IOL
The IC-8 Apthera IOL (Intraocular Lens) is designed to help you see better by bending light rays so they focus properly on the back surface of your eye, known as the retina. This lens has a special feature called “extended depth of focus,” which means it helps you see clearly at various distances. It has a tiny hole (pinhole optics) that lets you focus on things that are close up (like reading a book) and things that are far away (like looking at a sign down the street).
When Is the IC-8 Apthera IOL Used?
The IC-8 Apthera IOL is for adults who:
This lens is put in the non-dominant eye after the dominant eye has already received a regular lens (monofocal or monofocal toric) for seeing far away. This helps you see well at all distances.
What Are the Benefits of Premium IOLs?
Although they are typically more expensive than other IOLs, there are many advantages to choosing a premium IOL. Key benefits of premium IOLs include:
With premium IOLs, you can optimize your vision to live life to the fullest after cataract surgery. Discuss the range of options with your eye doctor at Carolina Cataract & Laser Center in Charleston, South Carolina, to choose the best lens for your eyes and lifestyle needs.
