Choosing the ideal Intraocular Lens when planning cataract surgery.
There are various considerations while choosing the intra ocular lens(IOL/ Lenses) to be implanted in your eye during cataract surgery.
The choice depends on the following factors
- Patients need for minimising the dependence on glasses after surgery
- Patients comfort/ keenness for wearing glasses after surgery
- Patients intense dislike for glasses
- Patients who need to drive at night
- Patients work/ hobbies/ lifestyle/ ambient lighting
- Patient’s spectacle prescription
- Patient’s personality type
- Ability to pay for premium IOLs
- Indian vs Imported lenses: We have today some very good options of indian lenses in all categories, these are more reasonably priced and they help patients achieve good post-operative vision.
1. EDOF (Extended depth of focus) IOLs
These lenses despite not being multifocal IOLs provide good distance, intermediate vision and fairly improved near vision.
They do not have rings and therefore do not produce any visual symptoms such as glare and haloes around light therefore can safely be used for night drivers.
They could be considered the better choice for some retinal condition.
2. Multifocal TORIC/ trifocal TORIC
If you have a cylindrical number and still wish for a multifocal IOL, the best choice then would be Multifocal TORIC/ trifocal TORIC.
3. Trifocal IOLs
-
Provide clear for distance,near as well as for intermediate vision(60-80 cm).
-
Superior to multifocal IOLs as they provide useful intermediate vision.
-
Today we require Intermediate vision for various activities- cooking , eating, signing cheques, counting money, opening door locks and using iPad/Laptops.
-
You may still require glasses for few activities both for distance and/or near.
-
Glare and Haloes around light may be seen upto 6 months following surgery.
-
Night driving may not be comfortable using these lenses.
-
There may be a small drop in overall brightness (contrast) more noticeable in the evening.
4. Multifocal IOLs
-
These lenses provide clear vision both for distance as well as for near work
-
Multifocal IOL (Bifocal IOL) correct vision for distance and at a fixed point for near.
-
You may still require glasses for few activities both for distance and/or near.
-
Glare and Haloes around light may be seen upto 6 months following surgery.
-
Night driving may not be comfortable using these lenses.
-
There may be a small drop in overall brightness (contrast) more noticeable in the evening.
-
If you have a cylindrical number in your spectacle prescription, it is likely to cause distorted vision if not corrected.
-
If you wish to correct the cylindrical number during cataract surgery you should consider a TORIC IOL.
-
-A TORIC IOL which corrects for distance vision only is called monofocal TORIC.
-
-A TORIC IOL that corrects for both distance and near vision is called multifocal TORIC IOL.
-
Let’s understand the different types of IOLs (Lenses)
-
Some lenses correct distance vision only (Monofocal IOLs)
-
These are the most commonly implanted lenses
-
Patients implanted with these IOLs, will almost always require reading glasses
-
The best vision at all distances is achieved by a pair of progressive/ bifocal glasses Post surgery
-
There are no visual symptoms like glare, halos or reduced contrast with these lenses