When patients are diagnosed with cataracts, most doctors agree that the time to have cataract surgery is when the quality of their vision begins to interfere with the things they like to do most in life. Thanks to recent advancements, cataract surgery may allow you to see "young again" with the many lens options available.

Cataract surgery, which removes the natural lens, is one of the most commonly performed procedures today, with over 1.5 million cataract and lens implant procedures performed annually. IOLs, (Intraocular Lens) have been used for about 50 years to restore vision after your natural lens removal. Until recently, patients undergoing lens implant surgery received a monofocal, or single focus IOL. Monfocal IOLs implanted in both eyes generally provide excellent distance vision while patients often need spectacle correction for astigmatism, intermediate and near vision ranges.

If you have enough astigmatism that interferes with your distance vision, your doctor may recommend an Acrysof® Toric IOL. This option will give you your best-corrected distance vision by addressing your corneal astigmatism, which may greatly reduce the need for corrective lenses for distance.

If you would like to lessen your dependency on wearing glasses full time, then a multifocal IOL maybe a better choice. This new technology can improve your vision in a full range of distances, from near to far. Four out of five lens recipients reported never wearing glasses after having the lenses implanted in both eyes. There are two different multi-focal IOLs to choose from. The Acrysof® ReSTOR® and the AMO Tecnis®. Both of these multi-focal lenses give you a wide range of vision from near, intermediate, and far distances.

Different types of implantable lenses are designed to meet individual eye health and lifestyle needs. Schedule an appointment to talk to your doctor about which lens is the right choice for you.

For more information on these lenses, you can visit their websites.
Acrysof® Toric www.acrysofiqtoric.com
Acrysof®ReSTOR® www.acrysofrestor.com
AMO Tecnis® www.tecnismultifocal.com