STANDARD VERSUS LIFESTYLE LENS IMPLANT OPTIONS

Patients now have options for cataract surgery

If you are diagnosed with cataract formation, Moretsky Cassidy Vision Correction wants you to be aware that there are different treatment options available for you.  Cataracts develop when the natural lens of your eyes become cloudy, affecting your sight.  Visually significant cataracts can be removed and replaced with an intraocular lens implant on an outpatient basis.  Cataract surgery is indicated when the quality of your vision interferes with your daily activities, be it driving, reading, or just unusual glare or halos associated with lights.  Years ago, patients were advised to defer cataract surgery until the cataracts became "ripe."  Cataracts are different than tomatoes, they do not need to get ripe before they are treated.  After the cataract is removed, it is replaced with an intraocular lens implant that is similar to a small soft contact lens which contains an optical prescription that is matched for you, much like your glasses.  However, we now have different treatment options available to address this prescription, the standard or lifestyle implants.  

Standard Lens Options

Traditionally, the standard intraocular lens was designed to improve vision to a level the eyes saw before cataract formation occurred, with the additional aid of glasses. Ophthalmologists today can insert a standard implant which can provide single distance vision only. Reading glasses or bifocals are then used for fine tuning and reading small print. Most patients accept this, as they are accustomed to bifocals, progressive lenses, or reading glasses.

Presbyopia

Presbyopia is a condition that requires the aid of reading glasses or bifocals.  This begins occurring around age 45 and continues to progress.   Modern technology intraocular lens implants (presbyopia correcting) are now available to permit patients to be less dependent on bifocals or reading glasses, both for distance and near. 

Lifestyle Lens Options – Presbyopia Correcting Implants

When deciding on cataract surgery options, you can now choose a premium lifestyle lens implant that can enhance your vision, allowing you to see near, far, and in between without glasses or contacts. With presbyopia correcting lifestyle lens implants, you can expect a full range of vision at distance and near, "glasses free," typically 95 % of the time. Using modern technology lifestyle lenses and advanced surgical technique, you may, once again, eliminate your dependence on bifocals and reading glasses, yet still enjoy clear far away vision.

Not all cataract patients are candidates for this presbyopia correcting technology, so our doctors will need to evaluate your eyes before you will know if this is right for you. Also, not all ophthalmologists offer or perform presbyopia correcting lifestyle lens implants with cataract surgery. Dr. Moretsky and Dr. Cassidy have over 25 years of refractive surgery experience and perform a variety of different refractive surgery procedures, including LASIK. They have a unique skill set and vast experience with all types of refractive surgery and intraocular lens implants.

We are pleased to offer the following premium presbyopia correcting lifestyle lens implant options, ReStor®, Crystalens HD® and Tecnis MF™.Other lifestyle lens options include the Toric intraocular lens which corrects for astigmatism. This improves the quality of vision for distance in patients with excess astigmatism. With Toric lenses, patients will still require reading glasses but will enjoy a new level of distance vision that would previously require contact lenses or glasses.

Medicare and commercial insurance companies cover the fee for standard intraocular lens implants. However, you are responsible for the additional cost of upgrading to a lifestyle lens implant. Financing is available for patients who are interested in taking advantage of interest free terms, as well as monthly installments. To sign up for financing, click on the Care Credit logo. 

According to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) studies, the ReStor® lens provides the highest percentage of spectacle independence in patients for distance and near when implanted in both eyes during cataract surgery. A good ReStor® 3 lens candidate would typically include a patient who is an avid reader (books, magazines, crossword puzzles), and someone who enjoys crafts, such as sewing. These patients also enjoy traveling and sightseeing. Patients that might benefit more from a ReStor® 1 lens implant would be a patient who spends more time on a desktop computer, versus a laptop computer, or who needs to see better at intermediate ranges, such as cooking and working at arm's length. With the ReStor® 3 lens, your near vision may be closer than you remember it before surgery. Expect to bring things closer to read more comfortably. You may also need to move your desktop computer closer and make minor life-style adjustments, as your eyes adjust to your new vision. However, the ReStor® 3 lens will provide the best close vision of all the presbyopia correcting lenses available. The ReStor® 1 lenses were recently introduced and permits excellent small print vision at more intermediate ranges. Good lighting is necessary for near vision with either ReStor (WF) 1 or 3 lenses.  

Tecnis Multifocal Lens™

The TECNIS® Multifocal IOL will give you good far vision. It can also give you good near and intermediate vision (at 2 - 5 feet). For example, if you play golf, you may be able to see where your drive lands, sink your putt and write down the score, without wearing glasses. Or when shopping, you may be able to read the aisle signs and the package labels, and count your change, all without glasses. You should also be able to read a menu in a dimly lit restaurant or lunch menu outside by the pool without reading glasses Overall, you may not need to wear your glasses for daily tasks.

Both the monofocal IOLs and the TECNIS® Multifocal IOLs have advantages and disadvantages. To choose an IOL, you should evaluate the factors in the comparison table as they relate to your quality of life. If you do a lot of night driving in your job or lifestyle, then the TECNIS® Multifocal IOL may not be for you. Or, if you wish to minimize halos then you may be happier with a Crystalens HD IOL. If being less dependent on glasses would make your life better for near and intermediate range vision, then the TECNIS® Multifocal IOL may be the right choice. For example, if you wish to be able to see well at far, read a newspaper, and have useful intermediate vision without glasses in bright or dim light, then the TECNIS® Multifocal IOL may be the better choice.  

Crystalens®

Crystalens HD® is a monofocal lens that flexes. This is unlike the ReStor® or Tecnis MF™ lens which rely on sharing light between distance and near. Since there are no multiple focus principles involved with this lens, it is reported that patients enjoy better distance vision, especially while driving at night. Crystalens HD® has been reported to be more successful with patients who have had previous refractive surgery, such as radial keratotomy and LASIK. Crystalens HD® does not provide superiorclose up vision, and it maybe necessary to employ some postoperative blended vision correction for best close vision outcomes. Blended vision relies on a slight increased near vision in one of the two eyes, usually the nondominant to provide a better depth of focus for close vision. Crystalens HD® patients may be more dependent on reading glasses for real fine print, but may have better quality vision for intermediate and distance than the ReStor® or Tecnis MF™ lens. Patients that may benefit more from Crystalens HD® are typically more easygoing and have active lifestyles enjoying tennis, golf, and other recreational activities. They would not mind rarely wearing reading glasses for smaller print or spending time on a laptop computer. Patients that drive a lot at night or pilots may also be better candidates for the Crystalens HD® presbyopia correcting lifestyle lens implant.

Toric IOL

Conclusion

These presbyopia correcting lifestyle lens implants are wonderful alternatives to routine use of reading glasses or bifocals. However, under rare circumstances, patients may still require the need for glasses. Presbyopia correcting lifestyle lenses are by far a modern technologic advancement, and some patients describe as a near modern miracle of medical science. Having realistic expectations and understanding the benefits and compromises involved in presbyopia correcting lifestyle lens implant technology is important before deciding if one of these lenses would be right for you.

Dr. Moretsky or Dr. Cassidy will examine and interview you to help decide which lifestyle lens is best for you