What is an Intraocular Lens (IOL)?

An intraocular lens is an artificial lens that is implanted during cataract surgery.  The good news is that you have encountered cataracts at a time when intraocular lens technology has taken great leaps of progress. Traditionally, monofocal IOLs are used for cataract surgery. This type of lense is very effective at restoring functional distance vision.  However, people still need glasses to correct for near vision, and glasses or additional surgery to correct any existing astigmatism.  Recent advances have been so significant that new-generation lenses may allow you to see well at all distances without the help of glasses.  The following are three primary types of lenses currently available and what each lens is designed to do for your vision:

 

1. Monofocal lenses: These lenses have one point of focusand usually give you clear distance vision.  While distance vision is improved, most patients still need to wear glassses for certain tasks like reading or working at a computer.  These lenses are usually fully covered by health insurance.

 

2. Multifocal lenses:  These lenses such as ReSTOR or ReZoom IOLs are designed to replace cataracts and correct presbyopia(loss of near vision) at the same time.  Their goal is to give you a full range of clear vision, near to far and even in between.  These are deluxe lenses that are not fully covered by insurance and require an additional out-of-pocket expense on the part of the patient.

 

3. Astigmatic-correcting lenses:  The Acrysof Toric IOL is for patients with existing corneal astigmatism.  Similar to monofocal lenses, these lenses usually give patients quality distance vision with less dependency on glasses.  Most patients will still need to wear glasses for tasks such as reading or working at a computer.  These, too, are deluxe lenses that are not fully covered by insurance and require an additional out-of-pocket expense on the part of the patient.