 Understanding CataractsA Natural Effect Of Aging The eye's natural crystalline lens helps us focus on people and things at varying distances. Unfortunately, as we grow older this lens often stiffens and hardens, and without its youthful suppleness, it loses its ability to focus, creating vision problems. This condition - for most, a natural consequence of aging - is called presbyopia. Some people begin experiencing the early effects of presbyopia (such as gradual loss of near vision) in their mid-40s. As we age, these changes occurring to the natural crystalline lens can lead to the development of cataracts. By age 65, a large percentage of us will develop a cataract, most often typified by cloudy/fuzzy  vision. With a cataract you may have difficulty seeing in extremely bright light or low lighted conditions.Improving Your Vision Developing a cataract doesn't mean a permanent loss of vision quality, or having to give up the things you love, because cataract surgery is a safe, effective way to improve your vision. Cataract surgery is the most commonly performed surgery in the United States, with well over 2 million Americans having the procedure every year. Performed almost exclusively on an outpatient basis, cataract surgery is microsurgery, whereby the natural lens is removed and replaced with what is called an intraocular lens (IOL). The procedure is highly successful and most people regain very good distance vision, somewhere between 20/20 and 20/40. An Important Choice During cataract surgery, your physician will replace your natural lens with an "intraocular lens" (IOL). Today there are multiple types of IOLs, each delivering a different performance profile based on how the lens is designed. Here are the basics about the three main types of IOLs: Standard Monofocal IOLs A standard monofocal IOL is a fixed lens (it doesn't move) that is designed to deliver improved vision at just one distance (usually far). The potential drawback is that after surgery, you will probably need to wear glasses for near and intermediate vision, even if you didn't wear glasses before surgery. Multifocal IOLs A multifocal lens uses multiple visual zones that are built into the lens itself to provide vision at various distances. It's almost like the rings of a target, with some rings being dedicated to distance vision, while others are used for near vision, similar to having a bifocal or trifocal lens inside the eye. A multifocal IOL projects multiple images, requiring your brain to adjust to the differences. Some patients have difficulty adjusting to seeing this way. Additionally, intermediate vision (subject at arms length) can be compromised because the technology is designed mainly for near and distance vision, at the exclusion of intermediate vision. With multifocal IOLs, patients can have potential issues of glare and halos especially when driving at night.  Accommodating IOLs As the name implies, an accommodating lens "flexes" or "accommodates" using the eyes natural muscles to focus on subjects at various distances, delivering a continuous range of vision - near, intermediate and far. crystalens is the one and only FDA-approved accommodating lens available in the United States. crystalens can reduce or eliminate your dependence on glasses. More than twice the number of patients implanted with crystalens could see at all distances compared to a standard IOL. What is crystalens® ?  crystalens® is an accommodating intraocular lens that, unlike a standard IOL, can treat both a person's cataracts and presbyopia- loss of near and intermediate vision. You probably noticed in your forties that you started to lose some of your up-close vision and had to start wearing reading glasses. crystalens not only treats your cataracts (a clouding or hardening of your lens), but can also reduce or eliminate your dependence on glasses. It does so by recreating accommodation similar to your eye's natural lens. The unique crystalens can reduce or eliminate glasses for most activities including: reading a book, working on the computer, and driving a car. Crystalens was modeled after the human eye. Like the natural lens, it uses the eye muscle to flex and accommodate in order to focus on objects in the environment at all distances. crystalens dynamically adjusts to your visual needs. crystalens is designed to allow the optic, or the central circular part of the lens that you see through, to move back and forth as you constantly change focus on images around you. crystalens flexes as you focus your vision. crystalens® is:
The effectiveness of crystalens® was proven in clinical trials:
Finally, the opportunity for freedom from reading glasses and bifocals.
Until recently, life without reading glasses or bifocals was not an option for most cataract
patients. You now have an option. The AcrySof® ReSTOR® IOL
is a unique technological innovation that can provide you with quality vision throughout the entire visual spectrum - near through distance - with increased independence from reading glasses or bifocals!How does the AcrySof® ReSTOR® IOL work? As we perform daily activities such as reading, watching television or working at the computer, our eyes are constantly focusing on objects at varying distances - up close, far away and everything in-between. The ability of the eye's lens to change shape to focus quickly throughout this range of vision is called accommodation. Unfortunately, this ability diminishes as we grow older, causing us to become dependent on bifocals or reading glasses. However, the AcrySof® ReSTOR® IOL was designed to provide quality near to distance vision by combining the strengths of apodized diffractive and refractive technologies. Similar technology has been used for years in microscopes and telescopes to improve image quality, and has now been patented for use in intraocular lenses by Alcon. Apodized Diffractive Apodization is the gradual tapering of the diffractive steps from the center to the outside edge of a lens to create a smooth transition of light between the distance, intermediate and near focal points. Diffraction involves the bending or spreading of light to multiple focal points as it passes through the lens. On the AcrySof® ReSTOR® IOL, the center of the lens surface consists of an apodized diffractive optic. This means that the series of tiny steps in that center area work together to focus light for near through distance vision  Refractive Refraction involves the redirection of light passing through the lens, to focus on the retina. The refractive region of the AcrySof® ReSTOR® IOL bends light as it passes through the lens to a focal point on the retina. This outer ring of the AcrySof® ReSTOR® IOL surrounds the apodized diffractive region and is dedicated to focusing light for distance vision. AcrySof® IOLs With 25 million implants worldwide, AcrySof® lenses are the most frequently implanted in the world, as physicians appreciate the long-term clinical results and unmatched stability of the lens. Recent advances to this line of lenses also address other visual disturbances while correcting for cataracts: For patients with cataracts and presbyopia there is the AcrySof® ReSTOR® lens, which corrects for both conditions at the same time, eliminating the need for spectacles after surgery in most patients.  For patients with cataracts and astigmatism there is the AcrySof® Toric lens, which corrects for both conditions simultaneously. |
How do I know which lens implant is right for me? No single lens works best for everyone, and only your ophthalmologist can determine the most appropriate option for you. Overall, patients who chose the multifocal over the monofocal interocular lens have expressed greater satisfaction with the increased quality of living. Passengers could become drivers again, and golfers could keep their eye on the ball while enjoying the surrounding scenery. Contact us to find out which solution is best suited for your eyes. Visit our "Are You A Candidate" page and complete our simple form. |
