How can you choose which IOL is right for you?
IOL Carlsbad CA
Cataracts are very common; in fact, nearly everyone will develop cataracts if they live long enough. However, although cataracts were formerly a leading cause of blindness, technology has made them very treatable. Patients’ sight may be restored to its former acuity or, in some cases, it may even be better after the cataract surgery than it has ever been. This is thanks to new advances in the field of intraocular lenses (IOLs).
What is an intraocular lens?
The eye’s natural lens is located just behind the pupil. It focuses light onto the retina, the light-sensing tissue at the back of the eye. Small muscles located around the lens pull it into different shapes to change the focal length, which allows you to see objects clearly at different distances.
When the eye’s natural lens becomes clouded or opaque, this is a cataract. To restore vision, the lens can be removed, and replaced with an artificial lens. This is called an intraocular lens, or IOL.
What types of IOLs are available?
When it comes to choosing an IOL, you have a variety of different options. Dr. Chen has carefully curated a selection of the best to offer here at our office. There isn’t one best intraocular lens; rather, the best lens for you depends on your needs, goals, and lifestyle. Here are some of the options.
Monofocal IOLs
The first IOLs to be developed were monofocal. These lenses have a single point of focus, which is usually set for distance vision. The patient then uses reading glasses for closer vision. A monofocal lens will restore vision by replacing the clouded natural lens, and is the most economical option for patients who are on an extremely tight budget.
Many patients with cataracts also have presbyopia (age-related changes in the eye’s natural lens, making it difficult to focus up close) and are using reading glasses anyway. Because of this, some patients don’t mind still needed reading glasses after their cataract surgery. However, many of our patients would like to be free of glasses once they’ve had their procedure. This is why newer options were developed.
Multifocal IOLs
Rather than having a single point of focus, a multifocal IOL has multiple discrete focal points. In order to focus at different distances, the brain switches between these different focal points. Some multifocal IOLs that we offer here at our office include ReSTOR® and ReZoom™. Although most people’s brains do learn to do this seamlessly over time, there can be a period of adjustment while this process occurs, which some patients find uncomfortable or disorienting.
Extended depth of focus IOLs
This is a new category of IOLs. In 2016, the Tecnis Symfony® became the first extended depth of focus IOL to be approved by the FDA. At North County Laser Eye Associates, we offer this revolutionary new technology to our patients. This type of IOL offers sharp focus over an extended range of distances, so that the brain doesn’t have to switch between different focal points.
Accommodating IOLs
An accommodating IOL is able to change shape as the ciliary muscle contracts, much like a natural lens would. This allows the patient to change the depth of focus, very similarly to how the natural lens worked before the IOL placement. Although it may not function exactly like the eye’s natural lens, it offers the possibility of getting very close to natural vision. We offer Crystalens® to our patients here at North County Laser Eye Associates.
Want to learn more about your options? – IOL Carlsbad CA
If you’re considering receiving IOLs, live in or near Carlsbad, CA, and would like to learn more about these various options, please contact our office to schedule an appointment with Dr. Chen. He can explain the different IOL options in more detail and help you to make an informed decision about what’s right for you. Your medical situation, lifestyle, and preferences will factor into your choice, so there’s no best IOL for everyone. We want to answer all of your questions, so that you feel completely comfortable making this decision.
