Refractive Lens Exchange: IOL Options
WHY CHOOSE AN ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY LENS?
At The Eye Institute for Medicine & Surgery, our cataract surgeons provide a vast array of solutions to help people just like you to experience a better, clearer, and more natural range of vision, oftentimes without the need for prescription eyewear.
We start with learning about you and your lifestyle and vision preferences, and what you results you want from having cataract surgery. Next, our surgeon will perform a comprehensive medical eye examination to determine the state of health of the key structures of your eyes. Following your examination, the surgeon will review his findings and shares his thoughts on what he believes are the optimal choices for you, given the overall health of your eyes. Finally, you will have the opportunity to ask questions and receive the answers that will help you to make your best possible decisions regarding your cataract surgery.
LENS OPTIONS
EXTENDED RANGE, HIGH-TECHNOLOGY LENS IMPLANTS:
The Extended Range, High-Technology Lens Implants, including the Symfony Lens Implant and the Symfony Toric Lens Implant, are designed to reduce the effects of presbyopia (the loss of reading and computer distance vision) by providing an enhanced range of vision with a reduced need for eyeglasses for most tasks.
Patients receiving these lens implants enjoy freedom from the need for eyeglasses for the vast majority of tasks.
Note: When engaging in reading for lengthy periods of time, reading glasses may be required.
*TECNIS Symfony & Symfony Toric Lens Implants*
The recent FDA approval of the TECNIS® Symfony Intraocular Lens (IOL) is great news for people with cataracts and have trouble reading or focusing on close objects (presbyopia/far-sighted). The Symfony lens is the first extended range of vision IOL to correct presbyopia and improve vision in people with cataracts, as well as improving far, intermediate, and near vision, with the decreased need for glasses or contact lens after cataract surgery.
TECNIS® Symfony IOL is the first presbyopia-correcting extended range of vision IOL. It delivers a continuous full range of high quality vision with reduced incidence of halos and glare compared to a multifocal IOL.
The Symfony lens is implanted into the eye during a normal cataract operation. In most cases recovery time is minimal, with patients able to return to their usual routine just 24 hours after surgery. Unlike traditional multifocal lenses, there is a low incidence of glare or halos with the Symfony lens.
The Symfony lens is approved in more than 50 countries around the world, and has been widely studied, with data from numerous clinical studies involving over 2,000 eyes. In clinical studies, the Symfony lens:
- Provided seamless, day-to-night vision. Patients could see objects sharply and clearly at near, intermediate and far away distances, and points in between.
- Provided high-quality vision. Some IOLs may leave patients with an inability to focus clearly due to competing wavelengths of light passing through the lens at different angles (known as chromatic aberration), or with vision that is not completely focused because of the shape of the lens (known as spherical aberration). The Symfony lens has been engineered to correct these issues.
- Demonstrated a low incidence of halo and glare, which may be perceived as rings or blurring around bright lights. Glare and halo can sometimes affect an individual’s ability to drive at night or to perform other visual tasks.
**Symfony Lens Implant Patient Handout**
MONOFOCAL TORIC LENS IMPLANTS (Lenses for Astigmatism):
The Monofocal Toric Lens Implant is designed to help patients with astigmatism achieve their best possible distance vision following cataract surgery, with minimal need for distance eyeglass correction.
While many patients do not require distance correction with their toric lens implants, eyeglasses will frequently be necessary for reading and intermediate distance tasks after surgery.
*TECNIS Monofocal Toric Lens Implant*
**TECNIS Toric Lens Implant Patient Handout**
BASIC LENS IMPLANTS
The Basic Lens Implant is designed to help patients achieve their best vision following cataract surgery along with the use of corrective lenses for near, intermediate and distance vision.
Patients will frequently need an eyeglass prescription to achieve their best vision at distance, and bifocals or reading glasses for near vision tasks. Some patients who do not have astigmatism may only need glasses for reading and intermediate distance tasks after surgery.
*Basic Lens Implant*
A basic IOL is designed to help improve vision at a single distance after cataract surgery. Glasses will be needed for many everyday tasks. If you have no desire to minimize or eliminate the need for eyeglasses, this might be the best choice for you.
*Not all of these lenses or procedures are good options for every person.
As every eye is different, your surgeon will advise you of the best possible option for your best possible vision.
Next Steps
If you are interested in learning which lens option is right for you, please contact us at 321-722-4443 with questions or to schedule a screening with Dr. James McManus or Dr. Jason Darlington.