EXPLORE THE BEST CATARACT LENS

OPTIONS FOR YOU

With cataract surgery, making sure you make the right choice for your vision and lifestyle includes understanding ALL your options for FDA approved intraocular lenses (IOLs), such as:

• AcrySof^® IQ PanOptix^® Trifocal
• monofocal
• toric
• multi-focal
• accommodating
• TECNIS SYMFONY

HOW DOES AN IOL LENS WORK?

An intraocular lens (IOL) works by replacing the focusing power of your eye’s natural lens. Today’s IOL technology can give you better vision—often without glasses—than before cataract surgery.

Your Ophthalmic Consultants of the Capital Region physician thoroughly evaluates your eyes before recommending an IOL. We’ll also talk about your work, hobbies, and other activities to make sure your IOL fits your lifestyle.

About Standard IOLs (Single-focus)

Standard IOLs give you sharp focusing power at a single distance, either close up (near vision) or far away (distance vision). They are also called single-focus or monofocal IOLs.

If you choose an IOL for near vision, you wear glasses to drive or see objects at a distance. If your IOL is designed for distance vision, you wear glasses for reading and other close-up activities.

You might choose one IOL for near vision and one for distance. This is called monovision. As part of your custom cataract treatment plan, your Ophthalmic Consultants of the Capital Region physician can help you select the best option.

All About Premium IOLs

At Ophthalmic Consultants of the Capital Region, we offer the most advanced lens implants after cataract removal. These premium intraocular lenses (IOLs) give you the best possible vision. With premium IOLs, many people never need glasses after cataract surgery or only wear them occasionally.

Premium IOL implants refer to a category of lens implants determined by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) as New Technology Intraocular Lenses (NTIOLs). Medicare does not cover the cost of premium IOLs. However, they do allow members to pay for the new technology lenses when they have their cataract surgery.

Types of Premium IOLs

Multifocal and Accommodative Premium IOLs may be used to treat myopia, hyperopia, and presbyopia and may allow less reliance on glasses to see clearly at both distance and near.

• A cataract multifocal lens, or multifocal IOL, has several rings of different powers built into the lens. The part of the lens (ring) you look through will determine if you see clearly at a far, near, or intermediate distance.

• An accommodative IOL is hinged to work in coordination with the eye muscles. The design allows the accommodative lens to move forward as the eye focuses on near objects and move backward as it focuses on distant objects.

• Toric IOLs designed to correct astigmatism are also considered “premium” lenses. Allen W. Zieker, M.D., Director of Cataract Surgery at Ophthalmic Consultants of the Capital Region, was chosen to be the first cataract surgeon in the United States to implant the new Bausch + Lomb enVista® toric MX60T intraocular lens. The enVista toric MX60T IOL provides superb rotation stability for cataract patients needing astigmatism correction. “enVista’s new technology comes with proven clinical results,” explained Dr. Allen W. Zieker. “I’m honored to be the first cataract surgeon in the United States to implant the enVista toric MX60T and excited to offer it to my astigmatic cataract patients.”  Learn More

• The AcrySof^® IQ PanOptix^® Trifocal Intraocular Lens (IOL)  This lens offers an outstanding range of vision—near, intermediate, and far—and gives people the vision they need for every facet of their life. We are proud to be among the first in the United States to offer our patients the benefits of a trifocal lens, which has already seen great success worldwide.Although Alcon’s PanOptix lens is just now entering the U.S. market, PanOptix is already one of the leading presbyopia-correcting IOLs in more than 70 countries and European surgeons have been using trifocal lenses in their patients since 2015 with overwhelming success.

• The recent FDA approval of the TECNIS® Symfony Intraocular Lens (IOL) is great news for people with cataracts and has trouble reading or focusing on close objects (presbyopia/far-sighted). The Symfony lens is the first extended range of vision IOL to correct presbyopia and improve vision in people with cataracts, as well as improving far, intermediate, and near vision, with the decreased need for glasses or contact lens after cataract surgery. Learn More

Where can I get more information on the IOL lenses that Ophthalmic Consultants of the Capital Region generally use?

Below are the links to the main IOL lenses we use at Ophthalmic Consultants of the Capital Region. Your doctor will discuss IOL lenses with you at your appointment.

Standard Monofocal IOLs
http://hoyasurgicaloptics.com/us/patients/
http://www.alcon.com/eye-care-products/

Premium IOLs
Crystalens http://www.crystalens.com/us/
Tecnis Multifocal http://www.tecnismultifocal.com/
Tecnis Symfony http://www.tecnisiol.com/eu/tecnis-symfony-iol.htm

NEXT STEPS

If you think you may have cataracts or have been told you do, it is important to schedule an appointment for a cataract consultation.

Get in touch with us today at our nearest location to you.