Lens Implant Options

Lens Implant Options

Cataract surgery removes the cloudy, natural lens of the eye. This cloudy lens is replaced with an intraocular lens implant, or IOL. IOLs are typically acrylic material and are safe for your eye. IOLs not only replace the cloudy lens removed during cataract surgery, they correct errors of the eye—nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism—to improve vision. Below is an overview of IOL technology available today.

Monofocal IOLs

Monofocal IOLs are a single focus lens. This IOL allows for correction in either far or near vision, not both. Monofocal IOLs are widely used today and improve vision for many of our patients.

Advanced IOLs

Advanced IOLs such as PanOptix® and Vivity®, can correct vision at more than one distance. The PanOptix® IOL is a multifocal lens that can correct for near, far, and ranges in between. The The Vivity® IOL is an extended depth of focus (EDOF) lens that provides patients with monofocal-quality distance with excellent intermediate and functional near vision. Patients select these types of lenses if they desire greater glasses independence.

Toric IOLs

Toric IOLs such as Clareon Toric, are a single focus lens that is used to correct astigmatism of the eye. Astigmatism blurs vision due to an uneven shape of the cornea. Standard monofocal IOLs do not correct astigmatism and uncorrected astigmatism reduces vision. Many people who are nearsighted and farsighted also often have astigmatism. This lens should be considered if you want to lessen the amount of astigmatism after cataract surgery.

Each IOL has their own benefits and one of our cataract surgeons will discuss them with you to ensure the most appropriate IOL is chosen for you based on your needs and lifestyle.

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