Intraocular Lens Implant Options Offered by Our San Francisco Eye Doctors
Eyecare Associates of San Francisco is pleased to offer the latest monofocal, multifocal, astigmatism (toric), and extended depth of focus lens implants for our patients who wish to restore youthful vision after lens surgery. Your surgeon will help you choose the lens that is best suited for you. All surgical procedures have risks and cataract surgery is no exception. For a complete discussion of the benefits and risks of these lenses, please contact us today to schedule an appointment or consultation with one of our doctors.
Monofocal Lenses
This common IOL type made of acrylic material has been used for several decades.
Monofocals are set to provide best corrected vision at near, intermediate or far distances.
Many people who choose monofocals have their IOLs set for distance vision and use reading glasses for near activities. On the other hand, a person whose IOLs are set to correct near vision would need glasses to see distance objects clearly.
Some who choose monofocals decide to have the IOL for one eye set for distance vision, and the other set for intermediate vision, a strategy called "monovision." The brain adapts and synthesizes the information from both eyes to provide vision at intermediate distances. Often this reduces the need for computer or reading glasses but not in all situations. People who regularly use computers, PDAs or other digital devices may find this especially useful. Individuals considering monovision may be able to try this technique with contact lenses first to see how well they can adapt to monovision. Those who require crisp, detailed vision may decide monovision is not for them.
Presbyopia is a condition that affects everyone at some point after age 40, when the eye's lens becomes less flexible and makes near vision more difficult, especially in low light. Since presbyopia makes it difficult to see near objects clearly, even people without cataracts need reading glasses or an equivalent form of vision correction.
Multifocal & Extended Depth of Focus Lenses
Multifocal intraocular lenses (IOLs) are the most striking advance in cataract and presbyopia corrective surgery in 25 years. Traditionally, artificial intraocular lens implants were monofocal, meaning that they could only focus distance, near or intermediate between the two eyes. However, in most cases, reading glasses or bifocals were still needed to permit fine visual tasks such as small print. Now multifocal intraocular lenses, also known as trifocal intraocular lenses, can eliminate the need for glasses in most patients. Studies have shown that these lenses can help you regain natural youthful vision, allowing you to drive, read, enjoy sports and outdoor activities, and work on the computer with little or no need for glasses. Recently, a new category of advanced technology lenses known as extended depth-of-focus lenses provide increased range of vision with minimal side effects.
Multifocal IOL Implants for Presbyopia Correction
As our eyes age, the ability of the natural lens to “accommodate” (focus at various distances) diminishes, generally noticeable around age forty. This is called presbyopia and reading glasses or bifocals are often needed. Multifocal intraocular lens implants allow presbyopia patients to become glasses-free once again by replacing the eye’s natural lens with an artificial lens capable of focusing far, middle, and near distances. For this reason multifocal intraocular lenses are often called presbyopia-correcting IOLs.
Extended Depth of Focus IOL Implants for Presbyopia Correction
Patients undergoing cataract surgery can now opt for a newer, high-tech extended-depth-of-focus intraocular lens, which has the ability to correct presbyopia in addition to providing high quality vision for distance and intermediate, thus minimizing the need for computer glasses. These intraocular lenses carry higher contrast sensitivity and reduced side effects like “haloes” and “starbursts” compared with traditional multifocal intraocular lenses.
Toric IOL for Astigmatism
This is a monofocal IOL with astigmatism correction built into the lens.
Astigmatism: This eye condition distorts or blurs the ability to see both near and distant objects. With astigmatism the cornea (the clear front window of the eye) is not round and smooth (like a basketball), but instead is curved like a football. People with significant degrees of astigmatism are usually most satisfied with toric IOLs.
People who want to reduce (or possibly eliminate) the need for eyeglasses may opt for an additional treatment called limbal relaxing incisions, which may be done at the same time as cataract surgery or separately. These small incisions allow the cornea's shape to be rounder or more symmetrical.