According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, more than half of all Americans will develop cataracts by age 80. A cataract is a clouding of the lens in the eye, which can cause one’s vision to become blurry. They are common with age and can occur in one or both eyes. The clouding usually occurs slowly, but can happen quickly, especially after trauma to the eye. While cataracts are not painful, they do cause many symptoms such as blurry vision, fewer details, glare while driving or reading, dull colors, changes in your glasses prescription and double vision in one eye.
New advances and techniques have made cataract surgery one of the most successful and life-improving surgical procedures performed. We offer the latest procedures available to help remove cataracts and restore your vision, including the placement of Intraocular Lenses. Most cataract surgeries are performed on an outpatient basis and more than 95 percent of surgeries improve vision.
Intraocular Lenses:
During cataract surgery, the eye’s natural lens is removed and replaced with an Intraocular lens, or IOL. Since being approved by the FDA in 1981, IOLs have offered an effective alternative for cataract patients. Prior to the use of IOLs, cataract patients had to where very thick eyeglasses or special contact lenses in order to see after the natural lenses were removed during surgery.
Types of Intraocular Lenses (IOLs)
Conventional IOLs are only monofocal, offering patients vision at only one distance (far, intermediate or near), and still requiring them to use corrective lenses to compensate for other distances. Now, there are new multifocal IOLs available, which provide patients the ability to see well at more than one distance without the use of glasses or contacts. Some examples of multifocal IOLs include:
Other types of IOLs available are: Toric IOLs for people with astigmatisms and Blue Light-Filtering IOLs, which help to filter UV light rays.
How much do IOLs cost?
While cataract surgery and conventional IOLs are covered by insurance because it is considered medically necessary, newer lenses such as, ReStor, ReZoom and Crystalens procedures are not covered and tend to cost more because of their special features. You should discuss the portion of the procedure you will be responsible for with your Ophthalmologist prior to the procedure.