Cataract Surgery in Los Angeles Your Lens Options

Once you’ve decided to have cataract surgery with Dr. Vu, she will work with you to help choose the intraocular lens, or IOL that will be placed in your eye during the procedure. The good news is that the intraocular lens technology has taken great leaps of progress.

There are 2 basic types of IOLs – each designed to correct vision at a specific visual range. Monofocal lenses only correct vision at one portion of your visual range (typically distance vision), while multifocal lenses are designed to correct a full range of vision – near, far, and everywhere in between.

Traditionally, the replacement IOL was a monofocal IOL. This type of lens restored good functional distance vision, but people still needed to continue wearing reading glasses.

There are several breakthrough lenses that have been FDA-approved for correction of both distance and reading vision – Crystalens, Tecnis Multifocal, and ReSTOR. Each type works differently, and should be fit according to your individual needs. Dr. Vu has extensive experience with all the lenses and will help each patient make an unbiased, informed decision on an implant that will provide a lifetime of clear vision.

Crystalens “Autofocusing” for far, near, and everything in between.

The Crystalens implant (Bausch + Lomb) can give reading vision (within 1-2 feet), arms’ length (2-3 feet), and distance vision without glasses because this implant actually adjusts its position within the eye as the eye looks from far to near subjects, much like an autofocus mechanism on a camera. The Crystalens is powered by the same ciliary body muscles that move and focus the eye’s own natural lens. Its unique, hinged shape allows for this lens movement and gives a seamless transition form far to arms’ length to near vision. Most people with the Crystalens have clear far vision (driving, television) and intermediate vision (computer screen) without any glasses. About 95% of people can also read newsprint without glasses. Some people do need glasses for fine print, especially in dim light.

Tecnis Multifocal (Abott Medical Optics) is a non-moving lens implant, giving simultaneous near, intermediate and distance vision because it has three focusing zones. Most patients report that they see clearly near, intermediate, and far distances without glasses in all light conditions. Immediately after surgery, some patients may notice rings around lights when driving at night. However, as the eye adjusts to the lens over time, the visual impression of rights typically lessens or goes away.

ReSTOR (Alcon) lets patients see from near to far, usually without glasses. The lens uses a similar technology used in microscopes and telescopes to improve image quality. Most ReSTOR lens patients find they can read a book, work on a computer, drive a car – day or night – and play golf and tennis with an increased freedom from glasses. You may experience glare in low light conditions, so increased care should be taken when driving at night. Call Eye Zone Medical Lasik Center and book a free appointment with board certified Los Angeles eye doctor Linda Vu M.D. Dr Vu can discuss your cataract surgery procedure and the best lens options suited to your individual needs. For cataract surgery in Los Angeles, Orange County, Pasadena and the Inland Empire.