Astigmatism is a common refractive error where people are unable to see objects clearly from a distance or up close. Astigmatism is caused by an irregular steepening of the cornea, which causes light to be focused unevenly. This can accompany nearsightedness or farsightedness, and can occur to varying degrees in each eye. To individuals with uncorrected astigmatism, images may look blurry or shadowed.
Toric intraocular lenses (IOLs) are used for astigmatism correction during cataract surgery. They are positioned in a certain direction in order to provide the best visual outcome.
Multifocal intraocular lenses (IOLs) have more than one focal point, which can help patients to see objects that are both far away and up close. These lenses are a great option for patients with active lifestyles who wish to continue reading the newspaper, knitting, surfing the internet and playing tennis without needing to be dependent on glasses or contact lenses.
More recently, the first trifocal lens, the PanOptix®, was introduced in the United States. This lens has three different focal points and corrects for vision at near, intermediate (reading) and distance!
Due to the design of these lenses, patients may sometimes experience glare and halos after implantation. However, the brain learns to adapt and these symptoms usually decrease over time. Patients with multifocal lenses are usually very satisfied with their visual outcomes!
Instead of splitting light into several different focus points, like multifocal/trifocal lenses, extended depth of focus lenses elongate the area of focus providing clear vision over a wider range of distances. Many patients with these lens implants are able to achieve good distance and computer vision without correction, as well as functional near vision. Patients with extended depth of focus lenses also do not experience as much glare and halos as patients with multifocal lenses.
Insurance will generally cover the cataract part of the procedure as well as the surgical facility and the anesthesiology fee. Any upgrade to premium lens technology or advanced laser cataract technology is the patient’s responsibility. All upgrade fees are collected in advance. Please inquire about financing options.
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