Standard vs. Advanced Intraocular Lens Implants

An Intraocular Lens (IOL) is an artificial lens that is implanted in your eye during cataract surgery. When your natural lens is removed during the procedure, an IOL is implanted in your eye to replace it. This implant will refract the light rays that enter the eye, allowing you to see again.

IOLs are made of very thin silicone, acrylic, or other plastics. They are also designed to help protect our eyes from harmful UV rays with a protective coating. After you have fully recovered from cataract surgery, your IOL implant will be virtually invisible and should cause you no discomfort at all.

At LaserVue Eye Center we offer many different types of IOL implants based on your vision goals following cataract surgery, and your ocular health. These lenses include the standard single vision lens and the Advanced IOLs.

How are Advanced IOLs Different from Standard IOLs?

A standard IOL is a monofocal lens that, after cataract extraction, replaces your natural lens, correcting your vision at one focal distance. If you are seeking to reduce your dependence from glasses or contact lenses, monofocal IOL implants may not be the best option for you.

On the other hand, Advanced IOL Implants – also known as Lifestyle Lenses – provide a larger range of vision correction after cataract surgery. With advanced implants, your dependency on corrective eyewear can be reduced or eliminated altogether.

Benefits of Advanced Intraocular Lens (IOL) Implants

With advanced IOL implants, we go beyond treating just your cataracts. Premium IOLs reduce your dependency on reading glasses or contact lenses, and can provide a lifetime of clear vision. This is because advanced IOLs come with different focusing power that can be personalized to your vision needs.

Multifocal IOLs for Presbyopia

Presbyopia is the loss of the eye’s ability to focus on nearby or close up objects. This is a common type of vision loss that usually happens gradually as we age. Multifocal correcting lenses can restore a full range of vision after cataract surgery. These lenses allow you to see well at all distances, and can greatly reduce your need for eyeglasses.

However, multifocal IOLs are not suitable for everyone. Cataract patients that have other ocular abnormalities, may not benefit from a multifocal IOL. After a comprehensive eye examination, your eye doctor will determine if multifocal IOLs are suitable for you.

Toric IOLs for Astigmatism

It is estimated that one in three candidates for cataract surgery in the United States are also affected by astigmatism. Astigmatism is a type of refractive error that results in blurred or distorted vision at any distance. Toric intraocular lenses correct nearsightedness or farsightedness, as well as astigmatism.

In the past, cataract patients with astigmatism would require the error to be corrected surgically. This additional surgery was typically performed at the same time as their cataract removal procedure. Fortunately, with the development of Toric IOLs, eye surgeons can now correct astigmatism with the implant itself.