As cataracts develop, vision becomes increasingly cloudy, making it difficult to complete everyday activities. To restore vision, the natural lens of the eye can be removed and replaced by an artificial one, known as an intraocular lens (IOL). Cataract surgery has drastically enhanced the quality of life for people with cataracts for decades, recent technology has made cataract surgery even more effective. Here’s a look into advanced technology IOL.
What Is Advanced Technology IOL?
Traditional monofocal lenses correct vision for a specific distance and have long been considered the gold standard for treating cataracts. But they’re unable to allow people to see multiple distances, nor can they correct astigmatism.
Recent developments in lens technology have led to the development of two new lens types:
- Toric lenses to treat astigmatism
- Presbyopia-correcting lenses to correct distance vision, while also reducing or eliminating the need for reading glasses
Additionally, there are presbyopia-correcting lenses for people with astigmatism who also wish to reduce or eliminate their need for using glasses to see at multiple distances.
How We Determine Candidacy for Advanced Technology IOL
During your cataract surgery consultation, we’ll discuss the best type of IOL for your specific needs. When determining whether you could benefit from advanced technology IOL, we may ask a series of questions, such as:
- Do you spend a lot of time using near vision?
If you use glasses for both distance vision tasks (such as driving and watching TV), as well as near vision tasks (like using devices or reading), presbyopia-correcting lenses would prevent or reduce your need for glasses.
- Do you drive at night often?
There are several different design characteristics of modern Advanced Technology IOLs. Frequent night driving may influence one’s options for the type of Advanced Technology IOL, and your eye surgeon may recommend one design versus another.
- Do you have astigmatism?
Astigmatism describes an irregular curvature of the eye’s outer cover, the cornea. Astigmatism is very common, and most people have some amount of it. Astigmatism causes blurred vision due to light rays traveling irregularly through a misshapen cornea. tIf your astigmatism exceeds a mild amount, toric IOLs and the latest Advanced Technology IOLs are excellent options for treatment.
Advanced testing for eye conditions such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, or other diseases will be a part of your preoperative analysis and may prevent you from being a good candidate for Advanced Technology IOLs. The eye’s anatomy has to meet rigorous standards for the use of Advanced Technology IOLs, so not everyone is an ideal candidate for this technology. Standard monofocal lenses remain an excellent choice if someone is not a good candidate for the new lens designs. What the Process for Advanced Technology IOLs Entails
Cataract surgery is quick, safe, and painless. Our anesthesia team ensures that you’ll be completely at ease during your case. Outpatient cataract surgery involves your surgeon carefully removing the cloudy cataract, and skillfully placing a new lens implant. After a brief stay in the recovery area, you’re about to head home and enjoy a restful day. If you’re considering treatment for cataracts, allow Eye Consultants of Atlanta to help you find the best lens type to restore your vision. Request an appointment with one of our eye specialists online or by calling 404-351-2220.