Cataract Surgery
Cataract / Advanced Technology
Lens Implant
Cataract / Advanced Technology Lens Implant
Cataract is a common cause of blurred vision affecting the quality of life. A cataract occurs when the natural lens in the eye becomes cloudy leading to many possible visual symptoms. Having trouble seeing to drive at night, seeing TV print, having glare problems and even daytime vision problems can all be symptoms of cataract. One of the earliest symptoms of cataract is difficulty with glare from oncoming headlights.
It is true that vehicle headlights have become much brighter over the last 10-20 years, and many people simply avoid driving at night. In some cases, blue blocking glasses can help reduce glare at night (yellow tinted glasses available over the counter), but glasses coatings, such as anti-reflective coatings, do not do much for headlight glare.
If a person wants or needs to be able to drive at night but this is impaired because of cataract, cataract surgery can help. In general, if the effects of cataract are interfering with a person’s quality of life, cataract surgery can be considered. While cataract surgery is most frequently done in the 60+ age range, more and more people are developing cataracts younger in life, even in their 40’s.
Cataract / Advanced Technology
Lens Implant
Cataract is a common cause of blurred vision affecting the quality of life. A cataract occurs when the natural lens in the eye becomes cloudy leading to many possible visual symptoms. Having trouble seeing to drive at night, seeing TV print, having glare problems and even daytime vision problems can all be symptoms of cataract.
One of the earliest symptoms of cataract is difficulty with glare from oncoming headlights. It is true that vehicle headlights have become much brighter over the last 10-20 years, and many people simply avoid driving at night. In some cases, blue blocking glasses can help reduce glare at night (yellow tinted glasses available over the counter), but glasses coatings, such as anti-reflective coatings, do not do much for headlight glare. If a person wants or needs to be able to drive at night but this is impaired because of cataract, cataract surgery can help. In general, if the effects of cataract are interfering with a person’s quality of life, cataract surgery can be considered. While cataract surgery is most frequently done in the 60+ age range, more and more people are developing cataracts younger in life, even in their 40’s.
Cataract surgery not only removes the cloudy lens of the eye, replacing it with a clear lens implant, but often the distance glasses prescription can be greatly reduced or eliminated at the same time. Nearly any amount of nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism can be treated. New developments in lens implant technology also now allow for reading and intermediate vision to be corrected along with distance vision. At Chandler Eye Care Specialists, we use the latest technology to maximize your visual potential for everything that you do.
Management of Astigmatism with Cataract Surgery
Management of Astigmatism
with Cataract Surgery
Astigmatism is not a disease but is a condition where the eye is curved differently in different directions, like how a football is curved more steeply in one direction and more gradually in the other. In most cases this comes from the curvature of the cornea (the surface of the eye), and astigmatism is commonly corrected by glasses and contact lenses. Standard IOLs do not correct astigmatism so a residual glasses prescription will occur if astigmatism is not addressed at the time of cataract surgery.
Small amounts of astigmatism can be corrected surgically at the time of cataract extraction (and in some cases in the office even after cataract surgery). However, moderate, or high amounts of astigmatism are best corrected with an astigmatism correcting intraocular lens implant (toric IOL). While these IOL’s are not fully covered by insurance, the modest out of pocket cost is very cost effective considering the lifetime cost of glasses that would be required after cataract surgery if the toric IOL was not used. These lenses can correct much higher amounts of astigmatism, nearsightedness and farsightedness than can even be treated with refractive surgery such as LASIK.
Correction of Near and Intermediate Vision with
Cataract Surgery
Correction of Near and Intermediate Vision with Cataract Surgery
Other advanced technology Intraocular lenses (IOLs) can correct near and intermediate vision in addition to distance vision at the time of cataract surgery. Dr. Chandler prefers the Alcon Panoptix and Vivity IOLs for this purpose. These lenses can also correct astigmatism. The Panoptix IOL is a trifocal IOL that corrects distance vision, intermediate vision (dashboard distance) and near vision (reading) simultaneously, greatly reducing the need for glasses for all purposes. In most cases, a standard IOL or toric IOL corrects distance vision, but most people would still need glasses for reading after cataract surgery. The Panoptix lens goes further and corrects the near ranges as well, except possibly for extremely small print. The only side effect of this type of IOL is a night vision halo effect from light sources, but this symptom tends to improve with time. Night vision problems are much less common with the Panoptix IOL than other brands of multifocal IOLs. The Vivity IOL corrects distance, intermediate and some near range vision. The advantage of this IOL is that it has even less night vision side effects. Both Panoptix and Vivity IOLs are also not fully covered by insurance, but the charge is modest considering the increased independence from glasses these lenses provide. Dr. Chandler does not charge extra for the astigmatism correcting versions of these lenses, unlike many surgeons.
Of course, every eye is different and IOLs do not come in every possible power, so there are cases where a distance or reading prescription might still be needed after cataract surgery for some situations. Nevertheless, Chandler Eye Care Specialists uses advanced testing equipment in the office to maximize the results of cataract surgery.
If you would like to find out more about cataract, cataract surgery and these lens implant options, call Chandler Eye Care Specialists at 804-256-3020 or make an appointment to be seen for an eye exam.
Your eyes, our focus.
YOUR EYES, OUR FOCUS.
We are now scheduling new and existing patients, and even some same-day appointments are available.