Modern cataract surgery always includes a
lens implant. This is an artificial lens (usually made of a
soft acrylic or soft silicon) which restores the proper focus
to the eye after cataract surgery. Until 2005 all lens implants
were monofocal or single-vision lenses. Glasses were still needed
after cataract surgery. Usually the glasses had an anti-reflective
coating to assist vision in low light conditions. Today we have
new advanced technology monofocal lenses and multifocal lenses.
Dr. Kessler’s goal with your cataract surgery
is to give you the best possible vision you can obtain. The
information below is to help you understand your options of
lens implants. All your choices for the lens implant which Dr.
Kessler uses are of very high quality. There are also additional
services which Dr. Kessler can perform to improve your vision
by customizing the cataract surgery to your eye’s specific needs.
He will be happy to discuss these options with you during your
next visit to the office.
New Technology Monofocal
lenses are computer designed and termed aspheric (slightly flatter
in the periphery of the lens compared to the lens center). Aspheric
lenses improve contrast sensitivity. This means that patients
that have these lenses implanted will have improved ability
to see in varying light conditions such as rain, snow, fog,
twilight, and nighttime darkness. The approval was based on
a clinical study that measured night driving simulator performance
in cataract surgery patients. The FDA has approved two lenses
as aspheric (the Tecnis ZA9003 and the Acrysof IQ). Dr. Kessler
is currently using both of the lenses.
New Technology Multifocal
lenses are the state of the art in lens implants. The new multifocal
lenses offer the possibility of seeing well at more than one
distance, without glasses or contacts. There are two multifocal
lenses approved by the FDA. AcrySof ReSTOR uses apodized diffractive
technology — a design that responds to how wide or small the
eye's pupil might be — to provide near and distance vision.
ReZoom is a multifocal refractive IOL that distributes light
over five optical zones to provide near, intermediate, and distance
vision. Dr. Kessler is certified to use both of them.
AcrySof Toric is a new lens
which is designed to reduce or eliminate astigmatism which will
improve uncorrected distance vision. This is the best choice
to correct any astigmatism which you have.
WHICH IMPLANT IS BEST FOR YOU?
Dr. Kessler will help you choose which
type of lens implant is best for you. There are several packages
to choose from.
The Basic Package for lens implants includes
a standard foldable monofocal implant. This is a high quality
lens. This is a good choice for patients that don’t mind, or
even prefer, wearing glasses after their surgery. There is no
additional testing or services performed by Dr. Kessler. This
service is completely covered by Medicare.
The Deluxe Customized Package includes one
of the New Technology monofocal lenses (Tecnis ZA9003 or Acrysof
IQ). Compared to the standard lens implant, this lens will give
you improved vision in low light conditions. Dr. Kessler will
perform 3D-Wave customized wavefront mapping of your eye. Using
this information, he will choose the lens implant which will
give you’re the sharpest vision.
With this package, Dr. Kessler will use his experience and skills
as a refractive surgeon to give you the best possible distance
vision without glasses. He will perform special testing to improve
the accuracy of the lens power calculation. If necessary, Dr.
Kessler will also correct mild pre-operative astigmatism at
the time of the cataract surgery by performing an additional
surgical procedure called a limbal relaxing incision. This is
a good choice for patients that want the best possible distance
and night-driving vision after their surgery. Reading glasses
will still be needed.
The Toric Intraocular Lens includes everything in the
Deluxe Package plus the insertion of the Acrysof Toric Lens.
This is the most accurate was to correct astigmatism.
The Premium Package includes everything in the Deluxe
Package plus the insertion of a multifocal lens implant (ReSTOR
or ReZoom). This lens is meant to minimize or even eliminate
your need for any glasses after cataract surgery.
This is a good choice for patients that want the most independence
from glasses for all activities after their surgery.
