Lifestyle Lenses
Lifestyle Lenses: Your Options for Clear Vision
During cataract surgery your eye’s natural lens is removed. After the lens is removed, your cataract doctor will insert a new lens to restore clear vision. The good news is that the replacement lens options are amazing.
Intraocular lenses (IOLs) are artificial lenses that provide clarity to your vision. In the past, cataract patients only had one option: monofocal lenses that provided clear vision for one distance only.
Today there are a variety of Lifestyle Lenses that have advanced features for clear vision at multiple distances reducing or eliminating the need for glasses.
- Multifocal IOLs with multiple focusing points to allow for distance and up-close vision
- Trifocal IOLs with multiple focusing points to allow for distance, intermediate and up-close vision
- Extended Depth of Focus IOLs providing a continuous range of high-quality vision in intermediate and distance ranges
- Toric IOLs to correct astigmatism as well as nearsightedness and farsightedness
Lifestyle lenses can reduce or completely eliminate your need for reading glasses or bifocals after cataract surgery.
New Technology: IC-8™ Apthera™ IOL
NewView Eye Center is proud to be the first practice in our area to offer the IC-8™ Apthera™ IOL, an advanced extended depth of focus lens that provides clear vision for patients with and without a low amount of astigmatism.
How Apthera Works
During surgery on your first eye, your cloudy lens will be replaced with a monofocal Intraocular Lens (IOL). This lens (in regular form or the toric option to correct astigmatism) will allow you to achieve clear distance vision in that eye.
Approximately 2 weeks later, you will have surgery on your second eye. During this procedure, that cloudy lens will be replaced with the Apthera IOL. The small aperture technology of this lens (known as FliterRing™) filters away the unfocused light that causes blurry vision. This lens will provide a continuous, full range of vision in that eye.
With both eyes working together, you will be able to see clearly across a full range of distances in both bright and low light conditions.
Your vision may be a bit blurry as your eyes heal and adjust to the new lenses. This may take a few days to weeks, with optimal results being achieved 1-2 months after surgery.
Multifocal Lenses: Clear Vision at All Distances
At NewView Eye Center we offer these types of Lifestyle Lenses to replace the cloudy lens that is removed during cataract surgery. Rather than just providing clear distance vision like monofocal lenses do, multifocal IOLs also correct presbyopia (the need for reading glasses to see things up close).
Permanently implanted into the eye, these prescription lenses focus light from different distances simultaneously to allow for clear vision at all distances. As a result, multifocal Lifestyle lenses can reduce or completely eliminate your need for reading glasses or bifocals after cataract surgery in Reston, VA.
Learn More About Multifocal Lenses
During a consultation with your cataract doctor, you can discuss your vision goals, find out if a multifocal IOL might help you achieve those goals and determine the cost of multifocal IOLs. After an evaluation of your lifestyle and goals, we can determine if you might be a good candidate for this type of Lifestyle Lens. Contact us today to schedule your appointment.
PanOptix® Trifocal IOL: A Full Range of Vision with One Lens
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved the first and only trifocal lens in the U.S. The Alcon AcrySof® IQ PanOptix® intraocular lens (IOL) and Alcon AcrySof® IQ PanOptix® Toric Trifocal intraocular lens are now replacement lens options for cataract surgery patients. NewView Eye Center is proud to offer this lens for our patients.
PanOptix is clinically shown to deliver an exceptional combination of near, intermediate and distance vision while significantly reducing the need for glasses after surgery. The toric lens is also able to reduce or eliminate astigmatism for most patients. Patients who choose this lens are able to read text messages on their smart phones, work on a computer and even drive without the need for glasses. This is due, in part, to ENLIGHTEN®Optical Technology, a proprietary design that optimizes intermediate vision without compromising near and distance vision.
Cataracts have a way of limiting your activities because they cause your vision to become blurry, cloudy and yellowed. Patients who live active lives may choose to upgrade their cataract surgery by choosing this trifocal lens, rather than a monofocal lens that only offers clear vision for one distance. During a cataract evaluation at our office, our doctors will assess your eye health and determine if this trifocal lens would be a good option for your vision.
To learn more about the PanOptix trifocal lens option, contact us today to schedule a Cataract Consultation.
TECNIS Symfony® IOL: Treat Cataracts & Presbyopia with One Lens
During cataract surgery, your cloudy, yellowed lens is removed and replaced with an artificial lens. Not all intraocular lenses (IOLs) are the same. Some offer clear vision at a single distance (monofocal lenses). Some offer clear vision at multiple distances (multifocal lenses). Some can correct astigmatism (toric lenses).
At NewView Eye Center, we are proud to offer our cataract patients another option for a broader range of clear vision: the TECNIS Symfony® Extended Range of Vision IOL. Not all practices offer this lens option! This is the first and only extended depth of focus lens that is FDA approved for cataract patients. The Symfony lens can actually address the problem of presbyopia (the need for reading glasses) while also correcting your cataract. The Symfony lens provides continuous, high-quality vision resulting in:
- Improved up close reading vision
- Clear distance vision
- Seamless nighttime to daytime vision
Presbyopia occurs in most people over age 40 and it gets worse as time goes by. It is caused when the eye lens loses flexibility, making it increasingly difficult for the eyes to focus on up close tasks such as reading text messages, labels, books, etc. While reading glasses can help, many people find it frustrating when these vision aids are required to read. The Symfony lens can restore up close visual freedom.
To learn more about the Symfony IOL option contact us today to schedule a Cataract Consultation.
Toric Lenses: Correct Astigmatism During Cataract Surgery
Many patients come to NewView Eye Center with not only cataracts but also astigmatism (with or without nearsightedness and farsightedness). Having worn glasses or contact lenses their entire lives, they are often surprised to learn that having cataract surgery can also correct their astigmatism as well.
Toric Intraocular Lenses (IOLs) are Lifestyle Lenses that replace the cloudy lens that is removed during cataract surgery. Toric IOLs have different focusing powers in different areas of the lens to allow for clear vision at distance or near if you have astigmatism. The lens is permanently placed in the exact position in the eye to adjust for the unique shape of your cornea.
Toric Lifestyle lenses can reduce or completely eliminate your need for bifocal eyeglasses after cataract surgery in Reston, VA.
Learn More About Toric Lenses
During a consultation with your cataract doctor, you can learn more about the cost of Toric IOLs, what type of vision could be achieved and if you might be a good candidate for this type of Lifestyle Lens. Contact us today to schedule your appointment.
For some patients, the need for cataract surgery can actually be a stroke of good luck because it can mean a reduced dependence on eyeglasses after surgery. Of course, not all cataract patients enjoy clear vision at all distances, but those who choose multifocal Intraocular Lenses (IOLs) may end up with better vision than they’ve had in years.
The Choice is Yours
You will make the decision about which IOL to choose during your consultations and exams with your doctor. The various pros and cons of each IOL will be discussed in detail, allowing you to make the best decision for your lifestyle, vision goals and budget. Your doctor can make recommendations for you, but ultimately the choice is yours.
To learn more about the different types of replacement lenses for cataract surgery, contact us today to schedule an eye exam. You can find out which Lifestyle Lens might be right for you.