Cataract Surgery Lens Options: Everything You Need to Know
Cataract Surgery Lens Options: Everything You Need to Know
15 October 2024

Choosing the right lens for your cataract surgery is as necessary as breathing because you would not want to go through eye surgery, and spend lots of money only to end up with your vision cloudy and blurry. Just to summarize the whole surgical process for you, just know that doctors will remove and replace the cloudy lens with a new artificial lens that we know as an intraocular lens or IOL.

What does the new lens do you may ask. Let us simply do it for you. These new lenses focus light into the retina and restore your vision's clarity. Today we have a wide variety of lenses with different characteristics that will meet your vision needs.

But you may be confused about which one is the perfect fit for you. Let Vision Concern help you with that. We will give you an overview of various lenses and show you their pros and cons. So, when you have an appointment with your eye doctor, you can have a little chat with them about what is the one for you and understand their explanation better.

What are IOLs made of? How are they used?

The lenses that doctors use for cataract replacement are made of slightly different options. Common elements like acrylic, silicone, and plastic compositions are what make artificial lenses. Some are made with special materials to help fight the damage caused by UV rays so that your eyes are not affected post-surgery.

Components & Purpose of IOLs

A cataract surgery is performed when cataracts form on top of a well-functioning lens that makes your vision cloudy, faded, and dull. During the procedure, doctors replace your natural lens with an intraocular lens which helps you to see better.

Know the cataract surgery lens or IOL options?

With the advanced lenses that doctors insert into your eyes during cataract surgery, the need to wear reading glasses post-surgery has decreased so much. Hopefully, it only gets better.

Since doctors perform laser-assisted surgery for cataracts, there are so many artificial IOL options for you. Many people with cataracts have this one question: Why do we need lenses post-surgery? The only answer to this is any refractive error that you had before surgery, will follow you after surgery as well.

Let's take an example here: If you had nearsightedness before surgery, you're having that post-surgery. What these lenses do is that they correct these refractive errors and give you a clearer vision. Let's discuss some lens options to find out which is your eye's best friend.

1. Monofocal Lens

A mono-focal lens focuses on one point and uses one power for near, intermediate, and distant ranges. Monofocal lenses come under the standard IOLs. Plus point, these lenses are often included in the overall cost of the surgery, depending on what type of insurance coverage you have.

These lenses can help you with your distant or near vision so just pick what you want. Let us simplify it for you: You probably want to correct your distant vision so you can drive your car without wearing glasses but wear glasses for working on nearer stuff. If you're a dentist or an artist, you may wish to improve your near visibility and wear glasses for distant work.

2. Toric Lens

A premium type, Toric lenses are unlike any other lens when it comes to shape. While other standard lenses have a spherical surface, these lenses look like a slice of the side of a doughnuts.

People with astigmatism are recommended these corrective lenses so that they can see clearly at every distance. The term astigmatism might be new to you. But it is simply an eye condition that gives people blurred vision because the cornea or lens has become irregular. Some even can correct presbyopia.

3. Accommodating Lens

These artificial lenses improve focus to imitate the natural lens of the eye thus correcting vision at every distance. These even give a sharper distance vision than multifocal IOLs. If you choose these lenses, you are likely free from wearing reading glasses. Since the accommodating lenses use the eye's natural muscle movement to alter the shape, they give a more natural vision experience compared to other lenses.

4. Presbyopia-correcting/Multifocal Lens

The word Multifocal says it all. Yes, these lenses can correct both near and far vision just like bifocal or trifocal glasses. With corrective zones built into the lens, in some cases, multifocal lenses can also work on intermediate vision.

If you're wearing multifocal lenses, you can do up-close work like reading a book, middle-distance tasks like watching TV, and far-distance tasks like freely driving your car without needing to switch different pairs of reading glasses. Doctors also call them extended depth-of-focus lenses.

5. Light adjustable lenses

Meet a newer option for monofocal lenses i.e. light adjustable lenses. What makes this lens different from others is that this is the only one that can be customized after completing the surgery.

Your eye doctor can adjust the lens and correct refractive errors if any. It makes it easier for you to see near or far away without any glasses. This is also great for astigmatism. If you're someone who despises wearing glasses, go for light adjustable glasses.

IOL Type

Cost

Pros

Cons

Monofocal

Basic

The most affordable option, often covered by insurance

Focuses on one area only, glasses may be needed for some task

Multifocal

High

Focuses on multiple points, glasses may not be needed, resonates eye's natural lens

Needs longer to adapt, is costlier, and glasses may be needed

Accommodative

Highest

May eliminate the use of glasses

Glasses may be needed in rare case

Toric

Increased cost

May eliminate the use of glasses

Glasses may be needed in rare cases

Which lens is a perfect fit for me?

Your visual needs will tell you to pick the right lens for you. If you don't have any problem wearing glasses after cataract surgery, a mono-focal lens might be the perfect choice. In case of astigmatism and wanting to avoid weaning distance glasses, we recommend a toric lens. If you don't want to wear distance and reading glasses post-surgery, a presbyopic-correcting lens could be more appropriate.

Choose the right lens

At the end of the day, it all depends on your terms of improving your eyesight and overall lifestyle so choose wisely. No matter what you do, remember to take the guidance of an experienced ophthalmologist who knows what's best for your eyes.

Asking yourself these questions pre-surgery might make things smoother:

  • Do you value a glasses-free life?
  • Are you okay wearing contact lenses?
  • What types of activities do you frequently do? (Driving at night, using a computer, reading, watching TV, etc)
  • What is your current glasses prescription?
  • Are you satisfied with your current lifestyle? Are you willing to make changes to your glasses and contact routine?

Things to consider when choosing a cataract replacement lens

A cataract surgery is not something you can instantly decide on. You must have face-to-face meetings with your doctor and agree on various things before the procedure. Your ophthalmologist must explain the surgical procedure and the lens your eyes will receive thoroughly. Everything is better when you understand the process better.

Other things to consider are:

  • The cost of the entire procedure
  • The time you will spend adapting to it
  • Your regular vision needs
  • Your vision goals
  • Your decision to wear glasses
  • Your comfort level with your surgeon

Why consult a professional before cataract surgery?

The first and best way to a successful cataract surgery and knowing what lenses will be used in the process is getting the help of an experienced doctor. Interacting with a professional will give them the notion of what realistic results you can expect from various types of lenses. They will also tell you the pros and cons of each of them.

Do not make the mistake of blindly following all the information provided on the internet solely as some can be biased even though the information can be technically right. If you have any doubts, consider taking the advice of those who have gone through the same type of lens surgery. It will be a learning experience to hear from someone who has lived it.

While an IOL can be replaced if the procedure doesn't go right, knowing that all surgeries come with some type of risk is a no-brainer. So, do yourself a favour and spend a considerate amount of time deciding with a doctor what type of IOL you want for a lifetime. Because nobody would want to have another surgery and pay the price again.

Conclusion

Choosing the correct lens for cataract surgery is a decision that you better make after enough research. This one decision can either give you a perfect vision or trouble for life. So, find a team of experienced doctors who will guide you to the right path, and that you can trust!

At Vision Concern, our team of highly professional doctors will make sure you get cataract surgery with the most suitable lenses. We work toward making your dream of having a perfect vision a reality. Contact us right away if you have any queries or questions related to anything about this topic.

FAQs

1. How long does vision correction last?

Ans: The good news is that the vision correction that you achieve with cataract surgery is permanent. If the surgery is wrongly performed, it can be done again. But just think of the surgery, time, and money you will spend just because you didn't get it done via a professional who has years of experience.

2. What makes laser-assisted cataract surgery more preferable?

Ans: The accuracy and precision of laser cataract surgery which the traditional method might not be able to offer is your answer. The laser-assisted surgery also can reduce astigmatism, which traditional cataract surgery might not be able to do. All good things aside, know that insurance plans do not cover your laser surgery for cataracts.

3. Do I need to clean my cataract lenses?

Ans: No. Unlike contact lenses, cataract lenses are inserted permanently into a patient's eyes. They don't fall out and there is no need to clean them.