Whether the IOL is placed in the posterior or anterior chamber i. Thus, modern anterior chamber IOLs still provide a viable and successful second option. The type of material determines whether or not the IOL can fold. All of the lens materials discussed provide excellent optical quality and have gained FDA approval through large, rigorous studies and a proven track record of safety.
The original lens implanted over 50 years ago by Dr. This was the same type of firm plastic used in rigid contact lenses. PMMA lenses were the only lenses available until , and thus have enjoyed a long track record of proven safety. Because PMMA is rigid, these lenses do not fold, and require a larger incision to be implanted. Some eyes require an unusually strong prescription to focus.
In these unusual cases, the appropriate power may not be available in a foldable lens, and a PMMA non-foldable lens is used.
Some special situations require an IOL to be sutured into the eye. These lenses are also made of PMMA. Because PMMA lenses are the least expensive to manufacture, they are still the most commonly implanted lenses in many areas of the world.
Although more expensive to manufacture, these are now the most commonly implanted lenses in North America for this reason. The main difference is that the optic can be folded during insertion. Foldable IOLs can be inserted into the eye using one of two techniques.
One is to fold the IOL in half using a special forceps. An alternative is to use a special device that rolls the IOL and injects it slowly into the capsular bag. Once in the eye, foldable lenses open up and return to their original configuration without leaving any crease or mark in the optic.
There are many advantages to using the smallest incision possible for cataract surgery. A small incision increases safety both during the operation, and during the early postoperative period. Because a small incision heals faster, it allows for a more rapid recovery.
By not weakening the eye, patients do not have to avoid physical exertion or bending their head over. The vision will improve faster compared to if a large incision had been used.
Because the small incision will stabilize and heal faster, new eyeglasses can be prescribed much sooner. Finally, the larger the incision, the more it can potentially alter the natural spherical shape of the cornea. Thus, small incisions are much less likely to induce unwanted changes in this desired spherical shape called astigmatism.
There are three classes of foldable lens materials — silicone, hydrophobic acrylic, and hydrogel. This material has enjoyed a superb track record of safety and performance. Unlike the liquid silicone that can leak out from breast implants, IOLs are made of solid silicone polymers that are very biocompatible and completely unrelated to the liquid material. There have been no complications attributable to the material itself.
Although the three-piece design is the most popular silicone IOL, there is a variation called the plate haptic design. The acrylic material has been very popular. Their market share is currently much smaller than that of the other two materials. All of these foldable posterior chamber lenses are of excellent optical quality, are safe, FDA approved, and produce outstanding outcomes.
While cataract surgeons may have personal preferences, no clear superiority of one foldable material over another has been demonstrated.
The following discussion applies to healthy eyes with no other ocular diseases, problems, or history of surgery. After the age of 50, most patients no longer have perfect natural focus for distance.
Eyeglasses will usually improve the focus for far distance objects, such as road signs. Depending upon the activity, this additional improvement may or may not be enough to compel the patient to acquire or wear glasses.
Because of presbyopia — the loss of accomodation [link to presbyopia] — everyone by this age must do something to shift their focus from distance to near. People with contact lenses or otherwise excellent distance vision don reading glasses. People wearing glasses for distance either switch to separate reading glasses or use bifocals. Some nearsighted patients are able to simply remove their distance spectacles and read without eyeglasses. Although healthy eyes can be focused at any distance with the aid of appropriate eyeglasses, there will be some distance at which the eye will be in natural focus without glasses after cataract surgery.
However, no eye over the age of 50, with or without an IOL, can shift the focus between far and near without glasses. For others, a slight amount of myopia nearsightedness may represent a good compromise between being either very blurred for distance or very blurred for near without glasses. All optical lenses — whether eyeglasses, contact lenses, or IOLs — are manufactured in a large range of different powers.
Each IOL model is also manufactured in a large range of powers. Of the 40 to 50 available IOL powers to choose from, there is only one that will be the single perfect lens for far distance focus. Three or four others will be very close, and the rest will result in significant blur for distance without glasses.
Regardless of what the uncorrected vision is after surgery, eyeglasses can always be prescribed to provide excellent distance vision for an otherwise healthy eye. A specific lens power for the IOL is then selected with the goal of achieving this target. The surgeon uses a computer program to determine the appropriate IOL power in advance of the surgery. The calculations are based upon those dimensions of the eyeball, which determine the unique optical properties of that individual eye. These painless measurements are taken preoperatively.
Since this distance cannot be determined with a ruler, ultrasound medical sonar or similar technology is used to measure this distance in tenths of millimeter accuracy. Let us assume that the surgeon is seeking to optimize distance focus without glasses postoperatively. A variance in treatment options means a variance in treatment costs. There is no fixed cost of cataract surgery. A cataract is essentially a clouded area on the natural eye lens. This condition is an eye disease that progresses gradually over time.
As protein accumulates on the outer eye lens, it begins to block light from reaching the optic nerve. This is how vision loss occurs. When the optic nerve is no longer able to perceive light, it loses its ability to perceive vision all together. If left untreated and allowed to grow for years, cataracts can lead to complete vision loss. New insurance guidelines allow the patient to pay the additional costs associated with the Premium Toric IOL because of its astigmatism correction properties.
The fees associated with the lens upgrade may be compared to the cost of glasses to correct astigmatism after surgery.
In some cases, CareCredit, an independent financing company, may finance the additional fees with approved credit. For more information on payment options, please contact our office or visit www.
By treating astigmatism and cataracts in one step, our patients enjoy clearer distance vision while enjoying activities, such as traveling, sports, driving and other hobbies, without the hassle of glasses.
Cataract treatment is among the most commonly performed procedures in the United States. The procedure is performed in an outpatient surgery facility under local anesthesia and can be completed within a matter of minutes.
However, it is important to understand that with any medical procedure there may be unforeseen complications, and that outcomes cannot be guaranteed. Even with our best efforts, some patients may still require minimal correction to sharpen their vision.
At Eye Health Partners, patient care is of utmost concern to our surgeons and staff. Our surgeons will discuss your lifestyle and vision needs to help you determine which treatment is the best for you. Our goal is to provide the most advanced surgical treatment options while maintaining patient safety and satisfaction. For more information on the Toric IOL or other treatment options, including cataract surgery , please contact our office.
We have various locations throughout Alabama and Tennessee. In fact, most cataract surgeons believe that eventually all cataract surgery will be performed using a laser, and as time goes on and the procedure becomes more popular, the prices will likely go down. You can't put a price on the health of your eyes.
If you need cataract surgery, contact us today at New Vision Eye Center. We can talk with you about financing and other options. Posted on April 17, Paying for Laser Cataract Surgery For many patients, Medicare or commercial health insurance cover traditional cataract surgery, but unfortunately, the insurance often doesn't cover everything.
Insurance Coverage for Intraocular Lenses Intraocular lenses IOL are devices implanted inside the eye to replace the natural lens removed during cataract surgery.
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