Cataract Surgery Co-Management in Dallas & Area

Monofocal IOLs are the most common IOL used for cataract surgery. They are designed to correct your vision by replacing your natural lens. However, unlike other types of IOLs, they will not correct astigmatism or your near vision. If you needed glasses for astigmatism, near vision, or computer use before surgery, you will most likely still need them after surgery.

Medicare and most other insurance plans cover monofocal lenses.

Astigmatism is a vision problem caused by an uneven cornea. The irregular shape of the cornea causes blurry or unclear vision at all distances.

Astigmatism-correcting IOLs (also known as toric IOLs) offer different corrective powers in different areas of the lens. When the lens is properly aligned inside the eye, it essentially counteracts the irregular shape of the cornea, providing clearer vision at some distances.

Toric IOLs can reduce your astigmatism. You may not need to wear glasses all the time after surgery; however, you will most likely need glasses to read or work on the computer. If you have particularly high astigmatism, you may still need glasses, contact lenses, or additional procedures to correct your vision.

Multifocal Brands: ReSTOR®, ReSTOR® Toric

It’s not uncommon for adults to need prescriptions for near vision and distance vision. Multifocal IOLs offer different corrective powers in different areas of the lens, so you can enjoy clear vision at all distances.

Most patients do not need glasses for most tasks after surgery; however, it could take up to 6 months to fully adapt to your new lenses. Although some patients report glare or halos around lights at night time, this effect usually settles with time.

Patients with astigmatism may require additional surgery to fully correct their vision. Alternatively, astigmatic patients can invest in ReSTOR® Toric, which corrects some degree of astigmatism.

Accommodative Brands: Crystalens, Trulign

The eye’s natural lens is usually flexible. As you age, the lens stiffens, which makes it more difficult to focus on objects close-up. Monofocal IOLs offer clear intermediate and distance vision, but typically lack the flexibility to focus on near objects.

Accommodative IOLs are specially designed to flex, similarly to a natural crystalline lens. This flexibility may allow you to focus on near, intermediate, and distant objects. You may still need glasses for prolonged reading or very fine detailed work to prevent eye strain.

Patients who choose accommodative IOLs need to commit time and energy to regular eye exercises. It may take up to a year to get the best possible results.

Trulign accommodative lenses can also reduce astigmatism, although you may need additional surgery to fully correct astigmatism.

Modified Mini-Monovision Brands: NanoFLEX, enVista

Modified mini-monovision IOLs involve using different lenses in each eye. Your dominant eye will receive a lens that offers clear distance vision. Then, your non-dominant eye will receive a lens that offers clearer close vision. This reduces the need for glasses or contact lenses at all distances.

This procedure will require the patient to live without near vision for a brief period of time, which will impact your ability to do some basic tasks like look at your phone, read restaurant menus, and check food prices at the grocery store. If you routinely exercise your eyes, you can expect to get the full results of your IOLs within 6 months to a year of your surgery.

If you have astigmatism, you will most likely need additional surgery to fully correct your vision.

Extended Depth of Focus Brands: TECNIS Symfony®, TECNIS Symfony® Toric

Extended depth of focus IOLs are designed to offer you a wider range of sharp vision. These lenses work similarly to multifocal lenses. The difference is that, while multifocal lenses offer different points of focus in different areas of the lens, extended depth of focus lenses offer a more continuous focal range.

You may require glasses for very fine detail work or long periods of reading to reduce eye strain. If you have astigmatism, you will need additional surgery to correct the shape of your corneas. Alternatively, you can invest in TECNIS Symfony® Toric, which helps reduce astigmatism.

It is possible that you may experience glare or halos around lights after your surgery. However, the IOL design should keep glare to a minimum.