Over 18 million people choose to restore their vision and undergo cataract surgery every year.1 Cataract surgery is a straightforward outpatient procedure that removes the clouded natural lens in your eye and replaces it with an artificial lens called an intraocular lens (IOL).
Multifocal IOL vs. Monofocal IOL: What You Need To Know
When selecting a lens, there are two general types of lenses to choose from: multifocal or monofocal lenses. Both will treat your cataract and reestablish your vision, but there are a few key differences.
A multifocal IOL is designed to correct both cataracts and presbyopia. Presbyopia is a common age-related condition. Beginning around the age of 40, the natural lens inside the eye begins to harden and becomes less flexible. This reduces the eye’s ability to switch focus from near to far to in between and back again, resulting in vision loss and, in most cases, the need for reading glasses or bifocals.
A multifocal lens has several different focus regions that are designed to allow you to see clearly up close, far away and in between, and, in most cases, will eliminate your need for glasses. After surgery, you may experience an adjustment period during which you may see rings around lights at night. This is normal, and as the eye adjusts to the lens over time, the visual impression of these rings typically lessens or goes away.
In contrast, a monofocal lens has only one focus region. It allows you to see objects far away, but you will continue to need glasses for reading and other up-close activities.
Over 18 million people choose to restore their vision and undergo cataract surgery every year.1 Cataract surgery is a straightforward outpatient procedure that removes the clouded natural lens in your eye and replaces it with an artificial lens called an intraocular lens (IOL).
Multifocal IOL vs. Monofocal IOL: What You Need To Know
When selecting a lens, there are two general types of lenses to choose from: multifocal or monofocal lenses. Both will treat your cataract and reestablish your vision, but there are a few key differences.
A multifocal IOL is designed to correct both cataracts and presbyopia. Presbyopia is a common age-related condition. Beginning around the age of 40, the natural lens inside the eye begins to harden and becomes less flexible. This reduces the eye’s ability to switch focus from near to far to in between and back again, resulting in vision loss and, in most cases, the need for reading glasses or bifocals.
A multifocal lens has several different focus regions that are designed to allow you to see clearly up close, far away and in between, and, in most cases, will eliminate your need for glasses. After surgery, you may experience an adjustment period during which you may see rings around lights at night. This is normal, and as the eye adjusts to the lens over time, the visual impression of these rings typically lessens or goes away.
In contrast, a monofocal lens has only one focus region. It allows you to see objects far away, but you will continue to need glasses for reading and other up-close activities.
Over 18 million people choose to restore their vision and undergo cataract surgery every year.1 Cataract surgery is a straightforward outpatient procedure that removes the clouded natural lens in your eye and replaces it with an artificial lens called an intraocular lens (IOL).
Multifocal IOL vs. Monofocal IOL: What You Need To Know
When selecting a lens, there are two general types of lenses to choose from: multifocal or monofocal lenses. Both will treat your cataract and reestablish your vision, but there are a few key differences.
A multifocal IOL is designed to correct both cataracts and presbyopia. Presbyopia is a common age-related condition. Beginning around the age of 40, the natural lens inside the eye begins to harden and becomes less flexible. This reduces the eye’s ability to switch focus from near to far to in between and back again, resulting in vision loss and, in most cases, the need for reading glasses or bifocals.
A multifocal lens has several different focus regions that are designed to allow you to see clearly up close, far away and in between, and, in most cases, will eliminate your need for glasses. After surgery, you may experience an adjustment period during which you may see rings around lights at night. This is normal, and as the eye adjusts to the lens over time, the visual impression of these rings typically lessens or goes away.
In contrast, a monofocal lens has only one focus region. It allows you to see objects far away, but you will continue to need glasses for reading and other up-close activities.
manhattan - queens
LASER CATARACT SURGERY
Traditional cataract surgery involves making a microincision through the cornea with a blade and then applying ultrasound technology (phacoemulsification) to break up the cataract for removal.
The femtosecond laser allows for part of the procedure to be replaced with the laser. This technique minimizes the use of a blade to make certain corneal incisions. The laser also aids in softening up the cataract making it easier to remove. In patients with pre-existing astigmatism, during the procedure the femtosecond laser may be able to reshape the cornea to treat mild to moderate astigmatic defects.
Learn about the precision offered by the laser cataract surgery experience.
Millions of cataracts have been removed by traditional cataract surgery….it is a proven highly successful procedure with patients getting excellent visual results. Some patients, however, have concomitant conditions where utilization of the laser during their cataract surgery could offer a new level of safety and improved accuracy. Please feel free to ask any of our surgeons whether you could benefit from utilizing this laser technology for your cataract procedure.