Learn About Lenses

You Have A Choice In Lens Options!

If you have been diagnosed with cataracts and if you are undergoing cataract surgery, you have options on the lens you choose for your vision. If you select to have cataract surgery using a standard lens implant, chances are you’ll be very happy. But, you’ll most likely need to wear glasses driving and reading.

However, if your desire is to reduce or eliminate the need for glasses while reading a newspaper, driving, working on a computer or seeing the dinner menu, then a premium lens implant might be your best option.

Our practice offers a wide-selection of premium lens implants which can improve your vision to see near, far and everything in-between. Most patients who decide on a premium lens can perform most of their daily needs, even without glasses!

Premium IOL Options

Alcon Acrysof® IQ Toric Aspheric IOL

For patients with cataracts and cornea astigmatism, there is a solution, the ACRYSOF® IQ Toric aspheric IOL. This lens can correct cataracts and provides outstanding astigmatic correction, predictable outcomes and quality distance vision.

Many patients who undergo cataract surgery have a pre-existing uneven curvature of the front of the eye. This is corneal “astigmatism”. In standard cataract surgery, the cataract is removed and replaced with a standard implant, but the corneal astigmatism is still present. This means that while the operation may yield great vision, the patient may still require glasses to perform distance tasks, such as driving, watching television, or even just seeing faces across the room.

For patients wishing to reduce the need for glasses, Dr. Miller offers astigmatism correction options. For mild cases, the surgeon might be able to perform an elective procedure called an LRI, or Limbal Relaxing Incision. This is often done in combination with other premium lenses. But for patients that desire the very best correction of their corneal astigmatism, and the very best distance vision without glasses, a Toric IOL is the best solution.

ReSTOR® IOL

ReSTOR® intraocular lenses (IOLs) have a surface which rises in concentric rings, allowing for an even distribution of light. This design provides better vision at both near and far distances. FDA trials of the ReSTOR® intraocular lenses found that 80% of patients no longer needed glasses or spectacles after surgery, and an astonishing 94% of patients could read a newspaper without the assistance of corrective lenses.

The ReSTOR lens is a “distance dominant” lens, and shows its advantageous side with the excellent distance function. With normal lighting, the near function is also excellent.

As with all multifocal IOL’s, patients will notice haloes around lights, especially when driving at night. However, as the brain adjusts to the new lens, the visual impression of rings usually lessens and often goes away over time.

Tecnis Multifocal IOL

The Tecnis Multifocal IOL was originally engineered to reduce the spherical aberration of the eye, which enhances clarity. The lens provides patients with very good distance and near vision. Most patients also report good intermediate or arms’ length vision as well. The Technis Multifocal IOL is a relatively “near dominant” lens. Due to its design, the lens provides very good near vision, even in more dimmed lighting situations.

As with all multifocal IOL’s, patients will notice haloes around lights, especially when driving at night. However, as the brain adjusts to the new lens, the visual impression of rings usually lessens and often goes away over time.

Crystalens IOL

The Bausch & Lomb crystalens ® is also a premium lens implant approved to correct cataracts, while providing correction for presbyopia. The crystalens® is modeled after the human eye, and uses the tiny inner-eye muscles to flex and “accommodate” in order to focus on objects at distance, and at near. The crystalens® dynamically adjusts to your visual needs.

The crystalens® accommodating intraocular lens is made with hinges on each side that are designed to allow the optic (the central part of the lens through which you see), to move forward and backward as you change focus on images around you.

The crystalens® was the first “presbyopia-correcting” IOL that patients were allowed to choose as an upgrade, while still using their Medicare coverage for the medical portion of their cataract surgery.