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Newer Multifocal Intraocular Lenses A Good Choice For Cataract Patients
Advances in technology have made seeing much easier for patients undergoing cataracts surgery. In times of old patients who had a cataract removed could have a unifocal lens implanted into their eye. This intraocular lens helped patients see better, but most patients still needed to wear glasses or contact lenses to see clearly after surgery.
Fortunately, there are many new choices available for cataract patients.
Multifocal Intraocular Lens Options
Multifocal Intraocular Lenses (IOL's) offer distance and near vision correction. Most early IOL lenses were better than having a cataract, but they did not provide the wearer with clear vision without help (typically in the way of thick and heavy glasses).
Thanks to modern technology patients can now take advantages of new multifocal lenses. Let's review each type briefly.
- AcrySof ReStor - This multifocal lens uses a new technology that accommodates the pupil's size and provides near, distance and median vision correction for patients. Most people using this type of lens will not need to wear glasses following surgery. Patients receiving the AcrySof lens following cataract surgery often had vision that was 20/25 or better.
- ReZoom - This lens distributes light evenly throughout the eye improving vision. This allows correction for near, distance and median vision. This technology has been around for some time, though the FDA only approved use of ReZoon in the United States in the last couple of years. Some studies suggest more than 90 percent of patients receiving this type of lens will not need glasses or other corrective lenses following surgery.
- Crystalens - This lens has been around for roughly 3 years now. It helps restore the eye's ability to accommodate to changing surroundings or moving objects. This lens is often used for patients with presbyopia, a condition where vision declines with aging. Using this lens, patient's eyes are able to focus at more distances than they would with a monocular or ordinary lens. This is one of the only "accommodating" lenses that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves for use to help correct near, median and distance vision.
Should you invest in these new lenses? One thing surgeons have learned with time is you can never be one hundred percent certain of a patient's outcome before and after surgery. While most patients will respond very well to these new lenses, most studies confirm that 90-93 percent of patients have better vision and do not need to wear corrective lenses.
That still leaves 7-10 percent of the population that may still need some type of vision correction, typically in the form of glasses or contact lenses, to provide them with 20/20 vision or better following surgery.
Intraocular Lenses For Other Vision Problems
Newer intraocular lenses help more than cataracts patients. They also help correct astigmatism in some patients. One of the more commonly used lenses to help correct astigmatism in patients is the AcrySof Toric intraocular lens. This lens is a good lens for patients wanting clear near, median and distance vision without having to wear corrective lenses.
Whatever your choice, be sure you talk with you eye care doctor about the possibility of these lenses and your potential outcomes. Only you (along with your doctor) can decide what type of surgery and lens may be best for your situation.
Article contributed by Snappy Writting
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