Advanced Technology Intraocular Lenses for Cataract Treatment

Almost all modern cataract surgery includes intraocular lens implantation as part of the surgery. Implanting a lens results in a markedly reduced need for glasses postoperatively. An eye with no implant will need “coke bottle” glasses after surgery to make up for the power of the lens that was removed.

Before surgery, measurements of the eye are taken and intraocular lens power is calculated to attempt to correct the eye to the desired focal distance with the implant.

After surgery, perfect uncorrected vision is not always achieved, because the lens can push a small distance forward or aft in the eye during healing, does not normally correct for astigmatism, and for several other reasons. Usually, however, the lens is very close to the calculated desired focal length. It is not uncommon for a person to be legal to drive uncorrected with an intraocular lens implant if it was calculated for distance vision.

Until very recently, however, intraocular lenses were only available as single vision lenses. This means that if these lenses were selected for distance, they would not allow close focus without a reading glass, and if adjusted for near would need a nearsightedness-correcting lens over them to see at distance.

New optical and apodization technology have made available several new lens options that create a Bifocal or Multifocal effect when implanted instead of the traditional IOLs. The Crystalens even focuses in and out as you move your eye. The goal is to need no glasses at all after cataract surgery for near or far. This does not work well for everyone and entails additional expense.