If you require cataract surgery and you desire the best freedom from spectacles after surgery, you might want to think about multifocal intraocular lenses (IOLs) to broaden your variety of clear vision.
Multifocal Lens Implant Review
In the past, the primary objective of cataract surgery was to restore a person’s vision for watching television, and other distance vision tasks. To see plainly up close, an individual would have to use bifocals or reading glasses after cataract elimination to remedy the inevitable post-surgical presbyopia.
But today, cataract patients have the option of multifocal IOLs that can correct vision far away, up close and all distances between.
These innovative presbyopia-correcting IOLs remain in numerous ways much like bifocal and multifocal contact lenses. And because multifocal IOLs are implanted inside the eye, they do not require any care and routine replacement like contact lenses do.
Numerous patients who pick multifocal intraocular lenses discover they can be glasses-free or may just need reading glasses occasionally for reading small print after cataract surgery.
Presently, there are two frequently used multifocal IOLs that are FDA approved and offered for cataract surgery carried out in the United States: AcrySof IQ ReSTOR and Tecnis Multifocal IOL.
AcrySof IQ ReSTOR
AcrySof IQ ReSTOR multifocal IOLs, marketed by Alcon, have been authorized for use in the U.S. given that 2005.
These multifocal lens implants include a trademarked “apodized diffractive” style that optimally distributes light to distance, intermediate and near centerpieces, depending on the quantity of ambient light available. This optimizes image quality in all lighting conditions, according to Alcon.
For instance, in low-light conditions, as the pupil dilates, more light is distributed to components in the lens required for clear range vision. This enhances a driver’s vision of the road ahead during the night, the company states. However this likewise suggests near vision may not be as crisp with the ReSTOR lens in low light as it remains in brilliant light conditions.
AcrySof IQ ReSTOR multifocal IOLs likewise include aspheric optics to lower a specific type of higher-order aberration called round aberration. This reduces halos around lights during the night and improves image quality for improved visual clarity, the company says.
More than 93 percent of people who have actually had AcrySof IQ ReSTOR multifocal IOLs implanted in their eyes during cataract surgery have stated they would do it again, inning accordance with Alcon.
Tecnis Multifocal IOL
The Tecnis Multifocal IOL, marketed by Abbott Medical Optics (AMO), has been authorized for use in the U.S. because 2009.
The fully diffractive surface of the Tecnis Multifocal IOL provides innovative image quality at all ranges under any lighting conditions and regardless of pupil size, inning accordance with AMO.
Almost 9 from 10 individuals who have had Tecnis Multifocal IOLs implanted in their eyes delight in freedom from spectacles after cataract surgery, the company says.
Mixing Multifocal IOLs And Monofocal IOLs
Rather of using the very same multifocal IOL in both eyes, your cataract surgeon might suggest utilizing a various kind of multifocal IOL in each eye, or maybe even a multifocal IOL in one eye and a standard monofocal IOL in the other eye.
Why?
Each person has particular visual requirements and issues, and each kind of IOL has its own set of advantages and constraints. A knowledgeable cataract cosmetic surgeon can assist you pick the best mix of lens implants to match your specific needs — consisting of helping you decide if blending multifocal IOLs is a great alternative for you.
You may like to be less dependent on wearing glasses than you would be if you had basic monofocal IOLs implanted in both eyes.
In this case, your cosmetic surgeon may suggest a monofocal IOL in your dominant eye to offer you the best possible distance vision in that eye, and a multifocal IOL in your non-dominant eye to offer you a little help at the computer system or up close so you are less based on computer glasses or checking out glasses.
Another choice is to use a multifocal IOL in one eye, and another type of presbyopia-correcting IOL called a Crystalens accommodating IOL in the other eye to benefit from the unique advantages of each of these premium IOLs to broaden your series of clear vision without glasses.
Still another choice is to use monofocal IOLs in such a method to supply a monovision correction with cataract surgery, much like monovision with contact lenses.
Your eye doctor and/or cataract cosmetic surgeon can go over the benefits and drawbacks of each of these choices during your preoperative test and cataract surgery assessment.
Are You A Good Candidate For Multifocal IOLs?
Possibly the most crucial factor in figuring out if you are a great prospect for multifocal IOLs is your determination to accept some compromise in the clarity of your range vision for the convenience of being less depending on computer glasses and/or reading glasses after cataract surgery.
If you’re not ready to accept this type of compromise, or your profession requires that you have the best possible distance vision at all times or outstanding night vision — for example, if you are a pilot or somebody who spends a lot of time in unfamiliar areas during the night — then you probably are not an excellent candidate for multifocal IOLs. You may be better served with basic monofocal IOLs for optimal range vision — despite the fact that this indicates you will need bifocals, progressive lenses or reading glasses to see clearly up close.
Also, if you have a pre-existing visual condition other than cataracts that impacts your vision in one or both eyes (macular degeneration, for example), you generally will be happier with basic monofocal IOLs instead of multifocal IOLs, which require good visual capability in both eyes for best outcomes.
Your optometrist and/or cataract surgeon can examine the health of your eyes during your detailed eye examination prior to surgery to identify if you have any non-cataract-related eye issues that may impact your vision after cataract surgery.
Multifocal IOL Costs
For the best visual results with multifocal IOLs, the precise placement of the lens inside the eye is vital — even more important than when a basic monofocal IOL is used.
For this reason, if you opt to go with a multifocal IOL, your cataract cosmetic surgeon might suggest that you likewise select a laser cataract surgery procedure. Use of a femtosecond laser during certain actions in cataract surgery can help your surgeon better position the multifocal IOL to maximize the design of the lens for ideal vision at all ranges.
Upgrading to a laser-assisted procedure will likely increase your overall cost of cataract surgery. Your eye doctor and/or cataract cosmetic surgeon can recommend you of these expenses during your preoperative eye test and surgical consultation.
If you decide to upgrade to a multifocal intraocular lens or other presbyopia-correcting IOL, you will have to pay the extra costs related to these premium lenses with your money.
This added “out-of-pocket” expenditure for innovative cataract surgery with multifocal IOLs can vary from $1,500 to $4,000. Your cataract surgeon can recommend you of the specific amount during your preoperative test and assessment.
In my practice, I strongly advise versus multifocal IOLs for all my cataract patients who are considering surgery.
Unlike a spectacle multifocal, where a patient can adjust their head position to select whichever part of the lens they wish to use, with multifocal IOLs (intraocular lenses) the patient has no such option. He or she must always browse all parts of the lens that optically fills his/her pupil, no matter what the head position. The same is practically true of soft multifocal contact lenses, but a minimum of those can be removed.
IOLs are a one shot permanent repair, so you do not want something in your eye that can not be easily eliminated unless it will provide you one optic and one only. And explanting a plastic IOL you don’t like is not a cake walk. It’s even more tough and complicated than explanting a human lens.
Worst of all, as an optometrist, none of my abilities will assist an eye that has actually been permanently blurred due to at least half of the available light being out of focus at ANY viewing range.
I had a Tecnis lens implanted in my non-dominant (left) eye about 10 years ago and a monofocal in my right about 5 years ago. I have been very happy with the results. I can see well from about 8 inches to infinity. After a short period of adjustment the transition of seeing near to far became nearly indistinguishable. Most of my work is on a computer and I can sit back from the monitor and move closer without realizing that I’m switching from my right to to my left for clear vision.
There are a few of caveats to consider. 1) The Tecnis lens is slightly less sharp for distance vision. I don’t mean in definition (my vision is 20/20), but in contrast. While sharp, the vision is just a bit “softer”. 2) I do see concentric halos at night, especially around LED lights. You get used to it, but it could bother some people. 3) If you do very close up work you might not want a single multifocal lens. Up close, one eye is going to be blurred and this can affect your depth perception. If you are repairing watches or some other finely detailed work, that could be annoying.
But, after wearing glasses since age 8 and having my vision slowly deteriorate due to the cataracts, the IOLs have been life changing. The multifocal was well worth the extra expense.