What are Intraocular Lenses?
A cataract causes the eye’s natural lens to become clouded. In order to restore clear vision, an ophthalmologist must replace the eye’s natural lens with an artificial substitute, the IOL or intraocular lens. The intraocular lens is a very common surgical procedure with an estimated one million implanted in the United States each year.
The advanced technology IOLs are an important part of the Aloha Laser Vision cataract surgery services in Honolulu. You can find out which is most appropriate for your unique vision needs when you contact Aloha Laser Vision in Honolulu, Hawaii.
AcrySof® ReSTOR® Lens
The ReSTOR® lens provides significantly better vision at all distances by distributing the light coming into the eye as a response to how small or wide the pupil of the eye is at that moment. The ReSTOR® lens doesn’t work with the muscles in the eye (as do some other IOLs), so it doesn’t depend on the movement of the lens to give clear vision. Part of the ReSTOR® lens provides good near vision by using a set of graduated rings in the center of the lens. The other part of the lens provides the good distance vision.
In clinical studies, 80 percent of patients who received the AcrySof® ReSTOR® lens reported never wearing glasses for any activities. In fact, nearly 94 percent said they would have the AcrySof® ReSTOR® lens implanted again if they needed it. With the ReSTOR® IOL, you too can drive, work on a computer, or read a book with little or no need for glasses.
After receiving a ReSTOR® lens, your distance vision will most likely be very good within a day or two after surgery, and your near vision will improve within another few days or a week. Because the AcrySof® ReSTOR is a multifocal lens, you may see halos or glare, but this phenomenon is rare and usually fades with time. In addition, your intermediate vision may not be as clear as your near and distance vision.
Crystalens®
Your eye’s natural lens is flexible. This flexibility enables it to accommodate the eye for seeing objects nearby (closer than 24 inches away) and at intermediate distances (24 to 30 inches away) and far distances. The Crystalens® is a flexible IOL. It’s the only IOL that uses the natural focusing ability of the eye. The Crystalens® is engineered with a hinge to allow the part of the lens that you see through to move back and forth as you change focus on images around you.
In clinical tests:
- 100 percent of the patients implanted with a Crystalens® in both eyes could clearly see, without glasses, objects at intermediate distances (the distance for most of life’s daily activities)
- 98.4 percent were able to pass a driver’s license test without glasses
- 98.4 percent saw well enough to read the phonebook or newspaper unaided
- Some patients needed glasses for some activities
After a Crystalens® implant, your distance vision will most likely be very good within a day or two. Intermediate vision will improve next, and your near vision will improve gradually as your eye muscles get stronger and learn to focus your Crystalens®.
Drops are applied after Crystalens® surgery to promote proper alignment of the new lens and to prevent the eye muscles from moving the lens. Reading glasses may be needed during the first week or two after surgery, until the effects of these drops go away. You’ll find your near and intermediate vision beginning to improve. At that time, you can stop using glasses for near vision, to promote strengthening of the eye muscle.
Tecnis® MF
The TECNIS Multifocal intraocular lens (IOL), developed by Abbott, was developed for cataract patients with or without presbyopia. Presbyopia is typically associated with aging. It is a common condition that makes reading and focusing on objects very difficult. Conventional monofocal IOL’s were designed to focus primarily at one distance and they do not correct presbyopia.
The TECNIS Multifocal lens was developed not only to correct presbyopia but to give patients the ability to focus at near and far distances under any lighting condition. In a recent study, 9 out of 10 patients reported that they never wear glasses following surgery.
Which Advanced Technology IOL Is Right For Me?
Much depends on you – your eyes, your needs, your work, your hobbies – in short, your particular circumstances. The ReSTOR®, Tecnis® and Crystalens® advanced technology lens implants are available to cataract patients at Aloha Laser Vision in Hawaii because of the quality of vision they each provide. Dr. Faulkner will recommend the IOL that best fits your needs, following your comprehensive examination. It’s also important for you to know that an IOL can’t correct pre-existing vision problems such as a visual field that is already lost, floaters, or flashers. It is also important to note that although almost everyone experiences improved vision after cataract treatment, the post-surgery uncorrected vision of some patients will be better than that of others.
Contact Aloha Laser Vision
Dr. Alan Faulkner is committed to providing his patients with the highest quality vision treatments and procedures that serve to improve and optimize vision. To schedule a consultation, examination, or to find out more about intraocular lenses, please contact Aloha Laser Vision of Honolulu, Hawaii today.
Driving Directions
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