Presbyopia Correcting Lens Implants
What Are Presbyopia-Correcting Lens Implants?
Today, patients have a choice when it comes to their lens implants. Due to tremendous advances is lens technology, we are able to offer you the choice of lenses that can correct both your distance vision and presbyopia. They are called presbyopia-correcting lens implants. These lens implants provide excellent vision after cataract surgery at a variety of distances. Patients who choose presbyopia-correcting lenses will likely find that they can drive, watch television, read and do crafts with minimal, or diminished need for glasses.
Depending on your specific vision requirement and your lifestyle preferences, there are several types of presbyopia-correcting lens implants your cataract surgeon might suggest. For the vast majority of patients, having these lens implants means that you will be able to see at distance and up close with less dependence on glasses.
Multifocal Lens Implants
Multifocal intraocular lens (IOL) implants are presbyopia-correcting lenses that provide clear vision at various distances from near to far. Different multifocal lenses have different focusing properties. Careful discussion with your eye surgeon is necessary to determine which may be of most benefit for your individual lifestyle and visual needs. Three types of multifocal IOLs used by our cataract surgeons at Kadrmas Eye Care New England are:
- TECNIS® MULTIFOCAL IOL: This lens uses three complimentary technologies to restore a full range of vision following cataract surgery. In particular, it offers sharper vision in low-light conditions. This option provides particular ‘zones’, which the brain learns to ‘look’ through to provide sight at different ranges.
- TECNIS SYMFONY® IOL: This lens offers extended range or depth of focus and provides a continuous, full range of vision from near to far.
- TECNIS SYMFONY® TORIC IOL: This lens provides the same vision benefits of the SYMFONY IOL and addresses astigmatism (uneven curvature of the cornea) as necessary.
Only about 15 percent of patients who choose multifocal lens implants will require glasses some or most of the time. Patients choosing these lens implants typically experience a greater overall freedom from glasses, allowing them to participate in most everyday activities without dependence on, or the hassle of, glasses.
In some cases, patients are unable to adapt to the type of vision that multifocal correcting lenses can produce or have been disturbed by glare, halos, or other visual disturbances from these lenses and have requested replacement of the lens implant with a monofocal implant.
For most people, vision is noticeably better within the first day and continues to improve during the first week after the procedure.
