Cataracts are the number one causal factor for visual impairment. It clouds the eye’s lens, causing visual problems. Over 90% of people aged 65 and older are diagnosed with cataracts, with half of those between ages 75 and 85 losing some of their vision due to cataracts.
 
The only treatment for cataracts is surgery. Cataract surgery is an outpatient procedure performed to take out the clouded lenses, which are then replaced with intraocular lenses (IOL).
 
Cataract surgery is recommended when you start experiencing glare or dimmed vision. The standard intraocular lenses used are monofocal lenses that only focus light on one point. Intraocular lenses are devices implanted in the eye after undergoing cataract surgery. Even with the IOLs, you’ll may still need glasses in order to have a full-range vision.  This has been the standard treatment until the recent breakthroughs in intraocular technology.
 
These include:
 
Presbyopia-Correcting Lenses
 
Presbyopia is a condition where your eye lenses stiffen, losing the ability to redirect focus when looking at objects near you. You need to use bifocals to view near objects. It occurs naturally as you age, starting when you’re in your mid-40s to 50s,
 
New Advanced Technology Intraocular Lenses (ATIOL) are now available with full-range vision capabilities. These implants can correct presbyopia and give you a full range of vision after your cataract operation.
 
They include the Tecnis Symfony, Vivity, and Alcon PanOptix ATIOLs. Unlike the basic IOLs, which only have a single distant focal point, these new ATIOLs are designed to provide continuous vision range from near to distance.
 
You’ll experience full range vision usually without dependence on glasses. The ATIOLs allow you to carry out your daily tasks normally.
 
Toric Lenses
 
Toric implants are ATIOLs used to correct astigmatism. Astigmatism is when your cornea is not spherical but appears to have two distinct curvatures, just like a spoon.
 
This makes your vision blurred. It can be corrected with Laser-assisted cataract surgery. If the astigmatism is advanced and significant, Toric implants can be used to correct it.
 
Toric implants contain optics that correct astigmatism. They come in two categories, Basic (astigmatism-correcting) Toric and Multifocal (presbyopia-correcting) Toric.
 
The Basic Toric corrects distance vision, while the Multifocal Toric implants correct near and intermediate visions. The Symfony and PanOptix presbyopia-correcting ATIOLs have options for Toric lenses.
 
These technological advances in intraocular lenses have helped many cataract patients to see clearly at all distances while reducing dependence on glasses. The lenses are approved by the FDA.
 
About Author
The Eye Center is the leading refractive practice in South Carolina, providing full service eye care and specializing in Refractive Surgery – Lasik, AST, PRK, PRELEX, as well as Corneal Transplant and Cataract Surgery.