Cataract Surgery and Lens Options

During cataract surgery, the surgeon implants an intraocular lens (IOL) inside your eye to help you see. If you didn’t have an IOL implanted, it would be like the 1950’s and you would have to wear coke-bottle glasses to see as you would be aphakic (without any lens).  It is a replacement for your natural lens which focuses the light but stops working well when you develop a cataract.

Some of the choices of IOL:

1. Monofocal lens – Just want it sounds like – it helps you see at one focal length. Either distance or near.
2. Toric lens – Lens which helps with astigmatism management to optimize your vision.
3. Advanced Technology Lens (also known as Multifocal lens) – Help you see at multiple distances including distance, near (14-16 inches) and intermediate (18-22 inches).
4. Accommodative Lenses – lenses that try to optimize natural vision by changing inside of your eye for different distances.

Many companies (such as Alcon, Bausch & Lomb, Johnson & Johnson, Staar,  make these lenses and they are made up of different materials. Some of the most common materials are acrylic, silicone, and collamer.  We live in such an exciting time where there is continued research and development about new lenses all of the time.

Medicare and private insurances generally cover the cost of cataract surgery (except deductibles, copays and co-insurance) including a monofocal lens.  For any of the Toric, Advanced Technology and Accommodating lenses, typically the patient is responsible for the cost, approximately $1800-3000 per eye which covers the lens as well as additional surgical planning for the best outcome for you.

There are other options (if you chose a monofocal lens) during the time of surgery to think about which may help you achieve your vision goals:

1. Blended Vision (also known as modified monovision) where your dominant eye is targeted for distance and your non-dominant eye is targeted for intermediate/near.
2. Limbal Relaxing Incisions (LRI’s) – another tool the surgeon uses for astigmatism management

Discuss the best lens choice for you when you have your appointment with Dr. Pradhan.

Learn More from Trusted Sources:

EyeSmart Website

Alcon Website 

• Learn about the Alcon Acrysof IQ Monofocal Lens
• Learn about the Alcon Acrysof IQ Toric Lens
• Learn about the Alcon Acrysof IQ PanOptix Lens
  • Patient Testimonial Videos

Baush & Lomb Website

• Learn about the B&L Monofocal enVista Lens
• Learn about B&L Crystalens Accomadating Lens

Johnson & Johnson Website

• Learn about the J&J Monofocal Lens (Tecnis)
• Learn about the J&J Toric II Lens
• Learn about the J&J Multifocal Symfony Lens

Staar Website

• Learn about the Staar Monofocal nanoFlex Lens

PanOptix Brochure