Advanced Technology Lens Implants (ATIOL)
Advanced Technology Lens Implants- Customizing Vision for You!
The natural lens of your eye will be replaced by an artificial monofocal intraocular lens (IOL) during traditional cataract surgery. This is called basic or standard cataract surgery. Typically after cataract surgery with the basic standard lens, you may require glasses or contacts for distance and/or near vision, if you required them before surgery. Many patients are satisfied with this basic lens, as it gives them clear vision at all distances with glasses or contact lenses.
Recent advances in surgical technology have created’ advanced technology lens (ATIOL). They are also known as ‘lifestyle lens’ that can be tailored to suit your individual needs. These ATIOLs offers many advantages for patients over the traditional monofocal lens.
- Ability to see distance and near without glasses
- Correction of Astigmatism
- Reduce or eliminate the use of reading glasses
- Ability to wear store bought sunglasses
- Ability to save money (No need to purchase glasses every year)
Have you dreamed of not having to use reading glasses to see menus, computer screens, and labels! We work with you at Eye Associates of South Texas to develop a customized treatment plan to suit your busy lifestyle. It is our personal commitment to deliver the topmost results to keep you free from the trouble of lifetime glasses and contact lenses.
ADVANCED LENSES: A VARIETY OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES
Tecnis Symfony IOL and Tecnis Symfony Toric IOL
For those suffering from the loss of reading vision and cataracts and astigmatism, there is a new Intraocular Lens (IOL) on the market called the Tecnis Symfony Toric. The Symfony is the first intraocular lens of its kind that is able to give you a full range of vision from distance to near, while also correcting your astigmatism. The Symfony IOL has a lower incidence of nighttime glare and haloes than earlier multifocal IOLs. Most patients get clear and crisp vision at near and distance.
The Symfony IOL will give you a great range clear range of vision from distance to reading. • The Symfony IOL is ideal for patients already with cataracts, as it will restore your vision to a more youthful time when coupled with the removal of the cataract. The Symfony IOL is implanted in the eye during cataract surgery. The Symfony IOL is used to replace the natural lens that has become cataractous, leaving clearer vision in its path. Using a Symfony IOL does not change the efficiency of the cataract surgery. It only changes the way you see it afterward. Immediately after surgery, most patients are able to see more clearly, and full results are achieved soon thereafter.
Cataract and Astigmatism Surgery
Technis Toric and Alcon Toric Advanced Technology Lens (IOL)
Until recently, cataract patients with astigmatism had few options to restore vision back to a level that eliminates everyday glasses or contacts. An advanced technology intraocular lens (IOL) has been created specifically for people with astigmatism. This advanced technology is referred to as a Toric Intraocular Lens (Toric IOL) and has the power to provide excellent all-around vision, including long distance, or if the patient prefers it can be set to reading distance. The two surgeries can be combined giving you what’s called mono-vision. One eye for distance and one eye for near.
What we offer Cataract patients with astigmatism?
We offer both the Acrysof or TechnisTORIC Lens implants at the Eye Associates of South Texas. In cataract patients with astigmatism, it offers a better option for quality distance vision with less risk of glare than the toric multifocal or depth of focus lens. At the same time as the cataract surgery, the TORIC lens has the ability to reduce or eliminate corneal astigmatism. The result for distance vision is typically enhanced vision distance and less dependence on eyeglasses or contacts.
For cataract patients with astigmatism, another option is to proceed with a standard monofocal lens and have either LASIK, PRK or a Limbal Relaxing Incision (LRI) eye surgery to correct their astigmatism. This involves two steps and a longer period of recovery. The advantage of the TORIC lens is that it allows fast recovery after cataract surgery and correction of astigmatism in one step.
Why use a Toric Lens (TIOL)?
Standard Monofocal lens implants were the only option available with Cataract surgery prior to the start of Advanced Technology Toric lenses. When cataract surgery was performed with a standard lens, that would fix your vision when combined with glasses or contacts. When you have astigmatism to reduce blurring and distortion due to astigmatism, corrective eyewear and/or additional surgery are needed. At the time of cataract surgery, the TORIC lens enables your surgeon to clear your vision and also reduce or eliminate astigmatism. There is no need for additional surgery or eyewear with the Toric Lens to address the problem of astigmatism. Clinical studies have shown that the Toric lens implant provides good uncorrected distance vision in patients with cataract surgery.
Standard Monofocal lens implants were the only option available with Cataract surgery prior to the use of Advanced Technology lenses. These standard monofocal implants are used to clear the vision, but they do not correct the natural astigmatism of the eye. To reduce blurring and distortion, corrective eyewear and additional surgery are needed. At the time of cataract surgery, the TORIC lens enables your surgeon to clear your vision and also reduce or eliminate astigmatism. There is no need for additional surgery or eyewear with the Toric Lens to address the problem of astigmatism. Clinical studies have shown that the Acrysof Toric lens implant provides good uncorrected distance vision in patients with cataract surgery.
What are the Toric Lens ‘ drawbacks?
The TORIC lens is a monofocal lens and can correct your vision for distance or near, but not both. For most patients, it is aimed at the distance and for near and intermediate vision, reading glasses are required. Limbal relaxing incisions, LASIK or PRK may be required to fine-tune the surgical result. For cataract patients who wish less dependence on reading glasses, they should consider Symfony Toric or Restor Toric IOLs.
TECNIS Multifocal
The Tecnis lens is classified as a “multifocal” lens because after surgery it offers the patient multiple focal points. In contrast to only correcting distance vision with the basic lens, the design of the Tecnis lens allows you to see well at distance, intermediate, and near… often with little need for glasses.
To be considered for a multifocal lens your eye must be healthy apart from the cataract. If you have any of these conditions you may not be a good candidate for a multifocal lens:
● large amounts of astigmatism
● history of prior corneal surgery (such as RK, LASIK, and PRK)
● retina problems (macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, previous-retinal surgery)
The new Tecnis lens design has greatly enhanced the occasional glare and halo effect seen with older multifocal lenses with few side effects. This lens is the best option for patients who do not wish to wear reading glasses and who want excellent near vision for reading.
CRYSTALENS
The only artificial lens that accommodates, is called the Crystalens. It flexes as the eye muscles contracts moving the lens a minuscule amount backward and forward, allowing you to read without glasses in some cases.
TRULIGN
The basic accommodating lens (crystalens) implant will not correct astigmatism, so these patients will need a specialized lens called a toric lens to correct astigmatism in order to have better vision without glasses. The Trulign lens is essentially an accommodating lens that also corrects astigmatism, allowing for good distance and near vision without glasses in those patients with pre-existing astigmatism. However, at the same time, this lens ‘ innovative design allows it to move within the eye when you focus on objects closer to you, providing a wider overall “range” of vision compared to a typical toric lens. This often makes good distance and intermediate vision possible with less spectacle dependence. While patients still usually need light reading glasses for near vision and smaller printing, they can do most glass-free things that complement their active lifestyle overall. This lens is an excellent choice for patients with too much astigmatism or other eye problems that make them a poor candidate for multifocal lenses, but they still want a wider range of vision and a better focus than the basic toric lens. Previously, patients with astigmatism had to use glasses or contact lenses in addition to cataracts to reduce astigmatism effects. Any imbalance created by astigmatism is reduced and even eliminated with a Toric IOL implant instead of a traditional monofocal lens, allowing for crystal clear distance vision.
VISIAN ICL and VISIAN TORIC ICL
The Visian ICL, sometimes called a permanent contact lens is made of Collamer. It is referred to as an intraocular contact lens. Collamer is an advanced lens material with unique properties. Collamer transmits light and reduces vision-interfering reflections, so you can see clearly. Collamer is also highly biocompatible, made of a copolymer and collagen. It allows the Visian ICL to rest quietly while correcting vision accurately. Collamer is the only collagen-made lens material-the best choice for a lens that will last a lifetime in your body. No structures within the eye are altered by the Visian ICL. If necessary, a simple surgical procedure can remove it from the eye. No cataract surgery is required, and it can be a solution for restoring your vision if surface laser treatment is not an option for you (LASIK and PRK). There is a new ICL that corrects astigmatism as well! This is called the Visian Toric ICL.
Acrysof ReSTOR and Acrysof ReSTOR Toric
Is a multifocal intraocular lens (IOL). This lens works much like a pair of bifocal glasses, making it possible for patients to see clearly at all distances. The toric version of this lens will also correct the astigmatism of the eye. This lens includes a range of viewing areas, bringing your vision back to its widest range. Many patients choosing the Acrysof ReSTOR will never again depend on glasses! There is a new distant dominant version of the IOL, called Active Focus. Dr. Kavanagh successfully completed the only Alcon sponsored trial of bilateral implantation of the lens in San Antonio.