STANDARD VERSUS PREMIUM INTRAOCULAR 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 premium implants.
Standard implant 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.
Premium implant options – Presbyopia correcting implants
When
deciding on cataract surgery options, you can now choose a premium technology
implant that can enhance your vision, allowing you to see near, far, and in
between without glasses or contacts.
With Presbyopia Correcting
Implants, you can expect a full range of vision, "glasses free,"
typically 95 to 100% of the time. Using modern
technology intraocular 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 premium 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 perform presbyopia correction 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 lense implants.
We
are pleased to offer the following premium presbyopia correcting implant
options, ReStor®, ReZoom™, and Crystalens®.
Other
premium intraocular 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 premium intraocular lens technology.
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.
ReStor®
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® 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. Good lighting is helpful for near
vision. Patients that might benefit more
from a different type of presbyopia correcting 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® 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® lens will provide the best close vision of all the presbyopia
correcting lenses available.
ReZoom™
The
ReZoom™ lens is reported to give better distance vision, because the center
portion of the lens is distance dominant, only.
The ReZoom™ lens tends to be a better option for those who require
better intermediate vision range. A
patient that may benefit more from a ReZoom™ presbyopia correcting implant,
maintains an active lifestyle, and enjoys golf, tennis, and other physical
activities and frequently uses a desktop computer. The ReZoom™ presbyopia implant may have a
higher incidence of halos around bright lights at night than the ReStor® lens,
although some patients may observe these symptoms with either of these lenses.
Crystalens®
Crystalens®
is a monofocal lens that flexes. This is
unlike the ReStor® or ReZoom™ 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® has been reported to be more
successful with patients who have had previous refractive surgery, especially
radial keratotomy. Crystalens® does not
provide as good close up vision, and it is necessary to employ some
postoperative blended or monovision correction for best close vision outcomes. Blended or monovision 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® patients tend to be more
dependent on reading glasses for real fine print, but may have better quality
vision for intermediate and distance than the ReStor® or ReZoom™ lens. Patients that may benefit more from
Crystalens® are typically more easygoing and have active lifestyles enjoying
tennis, golf, and other sporting or recreational activities, would not mind rarely
wearing reading glasses for smaller print and spend a lot of time on a desktop
computer. Patients that drive a lot at
night or pilots may also be better candidates for the Crystalens® presbyopia
correcting implant.
Conclusion
These
implants are wonderful alternatives to routine use of reading glasses or
bifocals. However, under rare
circumstances, patients may still rarely require the need for glasses. Presbyopia correcting intraocular 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 intraocular lens
technology is important before deciding if one of these lenses would be right
for you.
Dr.
Moretsky and Dr. Cassidy will examine your eyes and interview you to help
decide which lens is best for you.