How Do I Know What Kind Of IOL Is Best For Me?
Do you have an upcoming cataract surgery scheduled? Many patients with cataracts have been living with limited vision.
Your vision may be blurry, foggy, or lack clarity. It might have been unsafe for you to drive, or even walk around at night. Luckily, your vision problems will soon be behind you.
Cataract surgery not only removes the cataract in your eye, it also restores the vision loss caused by the cataract. This is done through an intraocular lens, or an IOL for short.
This is an artificial lens that replaces the natural lens of your eye. With cataracts, the natural lens becomes cloudy and difficult to see through.
Having cataract surgery solves this problem and gives you your clear vision back. Choosing an IOL is one of the most important parts of having cataract surgery.
There are two main types of IOLs – standard and premium. While both will restore any vision you’ve lost, they differ in the degree of vision that is restored.
A standard IOL will restore your vision. It will not correct any pre-existing vision problems.
This means that you will still need to rely on glasses or contacts. A premium IOL will restore your vision and correct any pre-existing vision problems.
There are premium IOLs that correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, and even astigmatism. The good thing about both standard and premium artificial lenses is that they do not age. So the vision you have restored or corrected is permanent.
Keep reading to learn more about about IOLs to decide which one might be best for you!
Standard IOLs
A standard IOL is also known as a monofocal lens. This lens will restore your clear vision but it only corrects one distance.
That means you’ll need to wear glasses after cataract surgery. They also can’t correct any pre-existing vision problems.
Premium IOLs
There are three main types of premium IOLs: multifocal, accommodating, and toric. They can correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.
These lenses will restore your vision loss that occurred due to having cataracts. They will also correct pre-existing vision problems.
Multifocal
Multifocal lenses can correct all distances, including near, far, and intermediate. Opting for a multifocal IOL will likely allow you to ditch contact lenses and prescription glasses.
You will be able to see clearly at all distances for the rest of your life without needing visual aids.
Accommodating
An accommodating lens is a premium lens that provides you with clear vision at all distances. This includes near, far, and intermediate.
Accommodating IOLs are different because they are not perfectly round. Instead, this lens is the closest one to the shape of a natural lens.
This makes it easier to switch between focus points at a distance, no matter what you’re looking at. With an accommodating IOL, you will be able to see up close as comfortably as you do at a distance.
Toric
A toric IOL corrects astigmatism. This is a refractive error that occurs when light does not evenly pass through your cornea.
It can cause blurry and distorted vision. A toric lens is a permanent solution to astigmatism. This is the only intraocular lens that is specifically designed for correcting astigmatism.
Ready to ditch your cataracts? The first step is a cataract screening.
Schedule yours today with Pinke Eye Center in Shelton, CT!
