Twenty-five years ago the usual treatment for cataracts was the removal of the clouded lens followed by wearing glasses with very thick lenses, while presbyopia required the use of reading glasses.
Today, due to the amazing advancements in IOL technology, a patient can hope for and achieve good to excellent vision quality from a lens implant without the need for glasses at all.
A lens implant or intraocular lens (IOL) is an implanted synthetic lens that replaces the eye’s natural lens. Depending on the type selected, an IOL can also correct the eye’s existing refractive error (nearsightedness or farsightedness) and a patient who has received an IOL can still have his or her vision further improved with laser vision correction.
The type of lifestyle IOL determines the quality of vision improvement.
The intraocular lens (IOL) is a foldable lens that slides through a tube like a fruit roll-up and unfolds in the capsular bag. The Thomas Eye Group cataract surgeon may center the new lens with the lens capsule if necessary. Once the lens is centered, the surgery is complete. In most cases, no stitches are required to seal the incision due specifically to the 3 mm size. This is why it is called micro-surgery by many eye doctors.
Modern-day lens implants for after cataract surgery have been significantly improved over the last 10 to 20 years. Prior to the advent of premium lens implants or multifocal IOLs, a cataract surgery patient had one option. This one option was a monofocal lens implant, which could only correct vision at one distance. Now patients have the options for multifocal and accommodating lens implants that can correct vision at near, far and intermediate distances. Some patients that receive this lens implant can even eliminate glasses from their lives. These intraocular lenses come in a variety of materials and designs. Your cataract surgeon will be able to advise you on what type of lens would be best for your unique visual situation and lifestyle requirements. It is important for patients to realize that while cataract surgery with intraocular lens implantation frequently results in a reduced dependency on eyeglasses. It is never guaranteed to eliminate this need totally.
If you are seeking a cataract surgeon in the state of Georgia, you will be happy to know that the Thomas Eye Group has a completely certified surgery center. Thomas Eye Group is a multi-specialty ophthalmology practice with offices in Atlanta, Hamilton Mill, Hillandale, Lilburn, Newnan, Roswell, Sandy Springs, Suwanee, and Woodstock, Georgia. More than three million cataract surgeries are performed in the United States each year. Cataract surgery is considered one of the safest and most effective of all medical procedures.
If you have been told that you have developing cataracts and you also have astigmatism, new premium lens implant options are available to help minimize your need for glasses after surgery. If you are unsure if you have astigmatism please check with your eye doctor.
Thomas Eye Group Among the First in the U.S. to Implant New Tecnis Symfony IOLs to Treat Cataracts, Improve Extended Range of Vision
Astigmatism is a refractive error where people are unable to see objects clearly from a distance or up close. Astigmatism is asymmetric steepening of the cornea or natural lens, which causes light to be focused unevenly. Astigmatism may occur in varying degrees in each eye and can accompany myopia or hyperopia. For individuals with uncorrected astigmatism, images may look blurry or shadowed. Astigmatism can accompany any form of refractive error and is very common.
The eye doctors at the Thomas Eye Group are pleased to offer Toric intraocular lenses (IOLs) for astigmatism correction after cataract surgery. The recent advancements in IOL technology have now made it possible to provide an effective solution for patients that have astigmatism. Until recently, patients that were IOL candidates and had astigmatism had no option built into the lens that would correct the astigmatism aspect of their visual condition. Surgeons would typically perform refractive surgery or LASIK after the insertion of a monofocal IOL to correct the complete visual picture. If patients did not have astigmatism correction after IOL implantation, then contacts or glasses would be required to deal with astigmatism. With advancements in the optics of IOLs, the manufacturers have now been able to accommodate for astigmatism.
Toric IOL technology uses biocompatible materials that have been successfully used in contact lenses and proven safe for the eye. There is an additional cost for this lens implant.
If you are seeking astigmatism correction in Atlanta, Lilburn, Lithonia, Newnan, Roswell, Sandy Springs, Suwanee, or Woodstock, please feel free to contact us to schedule an eye exam.
