Patients who undergo cataract surgery now have some options for ‘upgrades’ for intraocular lenses that have never been available in the past. Only recently has the federal government allowed patients to assume the added cost of the lens while still using medicare or their insurance to pay for the surgery. Some patients are not candidates for these lenses due to the preoperative shape of the eye. Some patients do not mind wearing glasses and are not concerned with whether or not they will need them after surgery. Some folks might not mind wearing glasses to read, but would like to be free of them for most activities like driving, outdoor activites and watching TV. Other patients would prefer to be free of spectacles at all times if possible.

Finding out if you might benefit from one of these lenses can be confusing. Information is available here and at the links below about these lenses. In our offices, we have brochures and informational DVD’s you can watch at your convenience in the office or in your home. Below is a summary of the special lenses available.

MULTIFOCAL LENSES: ADVANCES & NEW CHOICES

The multifocal or bifocal lens is now available to all patients in our practice. Both of our doctors place these types of lenses in their patients desiring them and are among very few doctors in all of central NY offering this technology. In the past, patients did not have these choices.

A traditional (monofocal) lens implant can fix your vision for one distance only. The implant can not change shape like your original lens. Thus, the patient has no ability to focus in or out and the patient will often be dependent on progressive bifocals or trifocals to focus at near, intermediate, or distance objects.

A multifocal intraocular lens has both distance and near focal points. 80% of patients who get these lenses will never need glasses for any activity. Of those 20% of patients who need glasses for certain activities, 85% say that they would still get the bifocal lens because it gives them good vision for most activities at distance or near.

Ask Dr. Costello about these lenses when you are getting evaluated for cataract surgery. If you have further interest, go to the website for either of the two lenses for more information on this technology and how it can impact your lifestyle.

LINKS TO MULTIFOCAL LENSES

ReSTOR
http://www.acrysofrestor.com/apodization-diffraction/restor-lens.asp

REZOOM
http://www.visioninfocus.com/423.asp

TORIC Intraocular lenses

Many patients have astigmatism before the need for cataract surgery and have required glasses or contact lenses to drive or read for much of their adult life. TORIC lenses correct for astigmatism when positioned in the eye. They are placed in the eye during routine cataract surgery the same way as any other intraocular lens that we would use. Once in the eye, the shape of the lens corrects for the patient’s corneal astigmatism just the same as their glasses would. An additional fee is required for the preoperative testing, surgical procedure, and the additional cost for the custom intraocular lens. Patients typically would require glasses only for reading up close.

For More Information:

Get the Facts on:

MULTIFOCAL LENSES: ADVANCES & NEW CHOICES

LINKS TO MULTIFOCAL LENSES

TORIC Intraocular lenses