Blog post by: Eye Physicians of Long Beach
Cataracts can interfere with your vision as time passes, making it increasingly more challenging or even impossible to complete simple, routine tasks. The only way to regain the vision lost to cataracts is to have cataract surgery.
During your cataract procedure, your surgeon removes your natural lens with a cataract and replaces it with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL).
Keep reading to learn more about the different types of premium IOLs and why you should consider a premium lens implant.
Types of IOLs
Before cataract surgery, you’ll need to choose an IOL. The most basic kind of IOL you can choose is a monofocal lens.
Monofocal IOLs
A monofocal lens is a standard lens implant. It can only be set to focus at a single distance, either far away or up close. That means you’ll still have to wear glasses or contacts to see at other distances.
Monofocal IOLs are the only intraocular lenses typically covered by insurance, making them a good option for those that are budget-conscious.
Premium IOLs
Premium lens implants are advanced IOLs that deliver crisper, clearer vision at multiple distances, including far away, near, and everything in between. These IOLs are not covered by insurance or Medicare, meaning you’ll have to pay out of pocket for them.
However, the long-term benefits of these lens implants are worth it.
There are many different premium IOLs available. At Eye Physicians of Long Beach, we offer the following, including:
Vivity Lens
The Vivity lens uses X-Wave™, an advanced non-diffractive technology. X-Wave ™ technology allows the Vivity lens to utilize all available light to create a continuous range of vision.
As a result, you’ll experience optimal vision in bright and dim lighting.
The Vivity IOL provides patients with exceptional vision for far away and intermediate distances and functional up-close vision.
It also protects your eyes from harmful UV rays and blue light from digital screens.
PanOptix Trifocal IOL
The PanOptix trifocal IOL allows for sharp near and middle vision without compromising far-away vision. Like the Vivity IOL, the PanOptix lens implant is made with a special material that shields your eyes from damaging UV rays and blue light.
With the PanOptix IOL, you can look forward to better vision when playing golf, interacting with friends, or doing your favorite hobbies.
Crystalens
Like many other premium lenses, the Crystalens lens implant can treat cataracts and presbyopia at the same time. Presbyopia is age-related farsightedness.
It occurs when the natural lens becomes less flexible and harder, making it difficult to see objects close up. As you age, you may extend your arm to read the small print on your smartphone or the menu.
Like the natural lens, the Crystalens IOL works with the muscles that help your natural lens change shape. These IOLs have hinges or haptic legs.
The hinges flex and move back and forth when the tiny muscles in your eyes contract and relax. This enables you to focus easily on objects at all distances, reducing or eliminating the need for prescription lenses.
ReSTOR
The ReSTOR IOL bends light and focuses it correctly on your retina, delivering quality up close, middle, and distance vision. If you want a life without bifocals or reading glasses, the ReSTOR IOL can make this a reality.
Tecnis Multifocal
The Tecnis multifocal IOL offers enhanced vision at all distances, including close-up, far away, and everything in the middle. Plus, you’ll experience improved vision in all light settings, even in dim lighting.
With a Tecnis multifocal IOL, you can get rid of glasses or contacts for good after cataract surgery.
Tecnis Symfony IOL
The Tecnis Symfony IOL provides a full range of continuous excellent vision at all distances, including up close, intermediate, and far. Moreover, this highly advanced IOL corrects presbyopia, making it a great choice if you wish to gain independence from reading glasses.
Toric IOL
Toric lenses are the only IOLs specifically designed to correct astigmatism. Astigmatism happens when your cornea is more like an oval shape, like a football, rather than an even, round shape, like a basketball.
The uneven curvature of your cornea prevents light entering the eye from focusing correctly on the retina, causing distorted or blurry vision at all distances. The unique design of these breakthrough lens implants can eliminate or significantly reduce your astigmatism and correct distance vision simultaneously.
Light Adjustable Lens
The Light Adjustable Lens is the only IOL that can customize your vision to your specifications after cataract surgery. Following your cataract procedure, your surgeon will show you your vision options.
Seeing these options will allow you to test-drive your vision in real life and adjust it to your personal preference. Once you attain the best possible vision, your ophthalmologist will lock in your vision correction power, allowing you to enjoy your new, near-perfect vision for life.
The Benefits of Premium IOLs
Some of the many advantages of premium lens implants include the following:
Decreases Your Dependence on Glasses or Contacts
Do you want to reduce your dependence on glasses and contact lenses? Selecting a premium lens implant can give you the visual freedom you’ve always desired.
Depending on the IOL you choose, you’ll no longer have to fumble for your glasses first thing in the morning to see the world around you. If you wear contacts, the cumbersome routine of cleaning, rinsing, disinfecting, removing, and putting in your contacts will be a thing of the past.
Glasses and contact lenses help you see clearly. But they can get in the way of many activities.
With a premium lens implant, you’ll achieve better vision than ever. Imagine seeing with crystal clear clarity, no matter what you’re doing.
Can Improve Vision at all Distances
Unlike standard IOLs, premium intraocular lenses offer an unmatched visual experience. When you pick a premium IOL, you’ll attain sharp vision at all distances – near, far, and everything in the middle.
Whether it’s reading the menu, cooking dinner, or sending a text message, you’ll be able to see crystal clear with your exceptional new vision.
Offers Sharper Vision
When you have cataracts, it may feel like you’re looking through a dirty window. Your vision can get blurry, colors appear faded, and you may even experience double vision in one eye.
Cataract surgery with a premium IOL provides sharper, crisper vision. You’ll see everything in high definition, with bright, vivid colors.
Treats Astigmatism
Another benefit of choosing a premium IOL is it can correct astigmatism. Toric IOLs are specially designed to correct astigmatism at the time of cataract surgery.
Corrects Presbyopia
If you want clearer vision and have presbyopia, a premium lens implant is the way to go. Premium IOLs address presbyopia and help you avoid depending on your reading glasses all the time. That way, you’ll see things close up without straining your eyes.
Allows You to Live an Active Lifestyle
There are only so many activities you can participate in when you depend on visual aids or have poor vision from cataracts. You can look forward to seeing your absolute best after cataract surgery with a premium IOL.
Premium lens implants deliver greater clarity and sharper vision. Post-surgery, you’ll enjoy activities like golfing, swimming, sailing, skiing, and tennis without the limitations of prescription lenses or poor vision from cataracts.
Bring Your World Back Into Focus with a Premium IOL
Eye Physicians of Long Beach is proud to offer the most advanced premium IOLs. With a premium lens implant, you’ll see clearly at various distances and live your life on your terms.
Are you ready to change how you see the world around you? Schedule your cataract screening today at Eye Physicians of Long Beach in Long Beach, CA, to find out if it’s time for cataract surgery and which premium IOL could be right for you.
Isn’t it time for the best vision you’ve ever experienced?