All you need to know about premium intraocular lenses
Top Doctors recently spoke to leading consultant ophthalmologist, Mr Mrinal Rana. Here, in this article below, he outlines the various different types of premium intraocular lenses.
What different premium intraocular lenses are available to patients?
There are several kinds of premium intraocular lenses (IOLs) which may be suitable for you, which can be used to reduce your dependence on glasses after surgery:
- Toric IOLs, which allow the correction of pre-existing astigmatism
- Multifocal IOLs are similar in concept to bifocal glasses, except that the lens is within the eye; the goal of these lenses is to allow the ability to see both distance (e.g. driving) and near (e.g. reading) without glasses. Lenses are available in both bifocal (distance and near) and trifocal (distance, intermediate and near) designs
- Toric multifocal IOLs combine the advantages of both these types of lenses
- Extended depth of focus lens, e.g. the Symfony lens
- Accommodating lenses
What other lens techniques are used in cataract surgery?
An alternative approach for people who want a reduced reliance on glasses is a technique known as blended monovision (also known as micro-monovision). In this technique, multifocal lenses are typically not used, but one eye (usually the dominant eye) undergoes lens replacement surgery.
The aim of this is to achieve good distance vision, while the other eye is set for closer distances. While some patients (typically long-term contact lens wearers) can tolerate a sufficient difference between the two eyes to allow a true reading eye and a distance eye (known as ‘true monovision’), most cannot.
However, aiming for a more subtle difference in prescription between the two eyes (ideally around 1.25 Dioptres) allows greater functionality around the house, and is often sufficient to allow supermarket shopping without glasses, seeing the dashboard clearly, and also some reading, all without the disadvantages of multifocal lenses.
To book an appointment with Mr Mrinal Rana, simply visit his Top Doctors profile today.