Do you have cataracts that make it harder to see? The only way to see clearly and regain your independence is to have cataract surgery.
Cataract surgery is a highly effective and safe procedure that millions have every year. During the procedure, your surgeon removes your natural lens and replaces it with an artificial intraocular lens or IOL.
But before you can remove your cataracts, you’ll need to choose the right IOL. Although standard monofocal lenses are available, many patients find premium lenses life-changing.
Keep reading to learn about 5 ways to know you should consider a premium IOL during cataract surgery.
1. You’re Tired of Wearing Glasses or Contacts
If you’ve always wanted to achieve greater visual freedom, premium IOLs are an excellent way of reducing your dependence on glasses or contact lenses after cataract surgery. While prescription glasses or contacts help you see clearly, they have their fair share of limitations.
Contact lenses come with the risk of irritation, infection, and dry eyes. If you wear glasses, they get dirty constantly, tend to fall off your face, obscure your peripheral vision while you’re active, and are easy to break.
Depending on the intraocular lenses you choose, you’ll be able to considerably reduce or eliminate your dependence on glasses or contacts after having cataract surgery. Premium lens implants like multifocal lenses and the Light Adjustable lens can allow you to stop depending on visual aids after cataract surgery.
2. The Idea of Correcting Astigmatism is Very Appealing to You
Astigmatism is a refractive error that happens when your cornea has an irregular shape. As a result, light doesn’t focus properly on the retina. Some of the uncomfortable symptoms of astigmatism include:
- Eye strain
- Squinting
- Eye fatigue
- Blurred or distorted vision at all distances
- Headaches
- Poor night vision
A toric premium lens implant offers the perfect solution if you’re frustrated with always seeing out-of-focus. These IOLs are specifically designed to correct astigmatism.
A toric IOL can restore clarity to your eyesight and improve your quality of life. Many premium IOLs are also available in toric models like the Light Adjustable lens.
3. You Want to Lead an Active Lifestyle
Do you consider yourself someone that is quite active? Are you not very physically active but want to be healthier after cataract surgery?
Premium IOLs can make this possible. With a premium lens implant, you’ll be able to see various distances without glasses or contacts. Whether it’s driving, bird watching, surfing, swimming, or playing tennis or golf, premium IOLs can maximize your distance-range vision.
4. You Also Want to Correct Presbyopia
Cataracts and presbyopia both decrease your ability to see things up close. Presbyopia occurs when the natural lens loses its flexibility, making it harder to see things right in front of you.
It’s most common in people forty and older. In the past, it was not possible to correct presbyopia and cataracts simultaneously. Thanks to new technology, you can now have cataracts removed while correcting presbyopia.
Using premium IOLs, your surgeon can address both conditions during cataract surgery. Correcting presbyopia during cataract surgery will allow you to reduce your dependence on reading glasses and improve your quality of life.
5. You Can Afford to Pay for a Premium IOL Out-of-Pocket
Most insurance providers only cover the cost of cataract surgery with a standard monofocal IOL. That’s because they don’t consider the additional features of premium lenses as medical necessities.
Monofocal intraocular lenses are standard IOLs, meaning they can only correct vision at one distance. Patients with a standard IOL will still need glasses after cataract surgery if they want to see at other distances.
But if you can afford the cost of a premium IOL, you can change your life for the better. You’ll have crisper, clearer vision while reducing your dependence on glasses and contact lenses.
Types of Premium IOLs Available at Evergreen Eye Center
There are different types of high-performance premium IOLs available. At Evergreen Eye Center, we offer our cataract patients the following options:
Multifocal IOLs
Multifocal lens implants have different sections set at varying vision settings. That makes them a great option to improve your up-close and distant vision.
Selecting these IOLs can reduce or potentially eliminate your need for glasses or contacts. Some of the many benefits of a multifocal IOL include:
- Reducing how much you spend on visual aids after cataract surgery
- The freedom to live an active lifestyle without the limitations of glasses or contacts.
Toric IOLs
When you have astigmatism, various parts of your eye need different prescriptions to focus light evenly and adequately. Toric intraocular lenses are specially designed to correct astigmatism.
They have varying prescriptions in different parts of the IOL. Toric intraocular lenses have many benefits, including:
- Besides correcting astigmatism, they can also correct other refractive errors like nearsightedness and farsightedness
- Offer protection against damaging blue light.
- Significantly reduce visual aberrations like glare and halos
The Light Adjustable Lens (LAL)
The Light Adjustable Lens is the first and only IOL that allows you to customize your vision after having it implanted during cataract surgery. Using light treatments, after previewing your vision, you’ll lock it into place and have your preferred vision. There are many benefits of choosing the LAL, including:
- The ability to adjust the Light Adjustable Lens until you achieve your best possible vision
- Correcting nearsightedness and farsightedness, considerably reducing or eliminating your need for glasses or contacts
- Thanks to the Light Adjustable Lens’ photosensitive silicone material, you’ll never worry about halos or glare
See Your Very Best with a Premium IOL
Premium IOLs are the best choice if you want clearer, sharper vision without depending on your glasses or contacts. The expert ophthalmologists at Evergreen Eye Center can help you find the perfect premium lens implant for your visual needs and lifestyle.
Want to know more about your premium IOL options? Schedule an appointment at Evergreen Eye Center today!
