So much has changed in cataract surgery over the past few years! A cataract is a loss of clarity of the crystalline lens inside of the eye. When a cataract begins to affect a person’s ability to do the things they enjoy and a change of glasses doesn’t improve the situation, then it is time to consider cataract surgery. With cataract surgery, the cloudy crystalline lens is removed and is replaced with an artificial lens implant. Generally speaking, cataract surgery should be a painless and relatively quick outpatient procedure. Advances in cataract surgery have brought us to the point where surgery can be performed without the use of needles or stitches.
Premium lens implants can allow a person to see both far, intermediate and near objects without the use of glasses. The two general categories of these high tech implants are multifocal lenses and accommodating lenses. The multifocal lenses are made such that the lens implant has different zones, which focus light at distance, intermediate and near focal points. There are currently three lenses approved by the FDA: the ReSTOR® lens, the ReZoom® lens and the Tecnis® multifocal lens. The only currently approved accommodating lens implant is the Crystalens®. This lens is designed to flex forward with near effort which allows the eye to see up close. Astigmatism-correcting lenses, such as the Acrysof Toric® are available to correct astigmatism. With all of these choices, how do you know what to pick?
It is most important to consider what it is that you really want. Do you care if you have to wear glasses after surgery or do you want to enjoy life without glasses? If you are interested in having your best uncorrected vision at distance, then any significant astigmatism that exists needs to be reduced with either a toric lens implant or limbal relaxing incisions performed on the cornea to improve its shape. For those who want both far, intermediate and near vision, the choices come down to a multifocal lens or an accommodating lens implant. It is important that your cataract surgeon have experience with these lenses in order to properly guide you in making the choice that is right for you. Each of these lens types have potential down-sides that need to be discussed. Matching the lens-type to the needs of the patient takes experience and good communication. When this is done the results are extremely rewarding!
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