Intraocular Lenses: How To Choose The Best IOL For Your Cataract Surgery

What can I expect from different lens options for my cataract surgery?

Intraocular lenses (IOLs) are medical devices that are used in a type vision correction surgery called refractive lens exchange. The surgeon implants the IOLs in the eye to replace the natural lens that is removed during cataract surgery.

Since no device was implanted during cataract surgery before IOLs, post-op patients would have to wear very thick eyeglasses or special contact lenses.

IOLs are FDA-approved and have been available since the early 1980s. Today there is a wide variety of premium IOLs to choose from that best fits your lifestyle and specific visual needs.

During your pre-op exam and consultation, your surgeon will help you decide which lens is best for you.

Toric IOLs

Toric IOLs correct astigmatism & nearsightedness or farsightedness. Just like the contact lens, toric IOLs correct astigmatism because they have different powers in different meridians of the lens.

Just prior to surgery will put temporary markings on the cornea to identify the location of the most curved meridian on the front of the eye.

During the cataract procedure, the surgeon will rotate the lens to match the marks on the lens up with the marks on the cornea.

Multifocal IOLs

Multifocal IOLs can decrease your need for computer or reading classes after cataract surgery.

These IOLs contain added magnification in different parts of the lens so you have a wide range of vision to see things clearly at all distances without corrective contact lenses or glasses.

Multifocal IOLs have been known to likely cause glare or mildly blurred distance vision, but provides better near vision than accommodating IOLs, as a tradeoff.

Monovision

There is no such thing as a monovision IOL. Monovision is a technique that fully corrected the refractive error of someone’s one eye that intentionally makes the other eye slightly nearsighted.

This technique has been successful with contact lenses for many years and now can be done during cataract surgery.

To learn more about cataract surgery head over to our Cataract Surgery Page and call our Office at 480-994-1872 to make an appointment with you Cataract Surgery Coordinator!