Should I Get Premium IOL for Cataracts?

A clouding of the natural lens of the eye is called a cataract. The eye's lens deep in the eye helps us focus our vision on near and far objects. Our natural lenses are usually clear and give sharp vision when we are young. But as we grow older, the lens may grow cloudy and foggy, causing blurry vision.

Cataract surgery involves removing the cloudy natural lens and replacing it with an artificial one. The artificial lens is called an interocular lens or IOL. There are several options for IOLs that you can consider.

What Are Premium IOLs?

When you have cataract surgery, you can choose between standard and premium IOLs. Premium IOLs come with more features than single vision lenses, so they tend to be more expensive. There are several types of premium IOLs that your eye doctor can recommend. It will depend on your needs and lifestyle choices too.

Toric IOLs

Toric IOLs are a unique lens type because they are designed to correct astigmatism. Of all the IOLs available, it is the only one capable of doing this.

Astigmatism occurs due to the irregular shape of the cornea or lens. The distorted shape of the cornea or lens causes blurred vision.

Toric lenses correct the cornea or lens that has an irregular shape. Toric lenses also correct other refractive errors like myopia and hyperopia. All this will result in a clear, sharp vision at all distances.

Accommodating IOLs

Accommodating IOLs utilize the muscles in your eye to adjust their focusing power. They allow you to have a clear, sharp vision at closer distances. These lenses are very effective the first time they are put to use. But over time, they can become less effective. They are also related to other challenges like clouding or tilting. Consequently, you could need additional procedures to correct these issues.

Multifocal IOLs

Multifocal IOLs have within each lens multiple focusing powers. This is similar to bifocal glasses, but multifocal IOLs have no line in-between. They are designed to help you focus on a range of three distances: far distance, middle-range distance, and close distance. You can easily use a computer screen and read without the need for glasses.

While multifocal IOLs are great for the daytime, they have some challenges at night. At night, they can make you see halos around lights. They also cause glare that interferes with night vision.

Extended Depth of Focus IOLs

Extended depth of focus IOLs are almost the same as multifocal IOLs but with less focusing power. They also have significantly fewer side effects than multifocal IOLs.

Compared to multifocal IOLs, extended depth of focus IOLs have less glare and no halos. However, their focusing power is not as strong as the multifocal IOLs. They give you excellent distance and middle-range vision, but you will need glasses if you want to read a book.

For more on getting premium IOL for cataracts, visit Shepard Eye Center at our offices in California. For Santa Maria location call (805) 667-0100, Lompoc location call (805) 793-1800, Solvang location call (805) 410-9998, or Orcutt location call (805) 937-9532.