What Are Premium IOLs & Why Should You Consider Them? | Westlake Eye

What Are Premium IOLs and Why Should You Consider Them?

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Cataracts grow in the lenses of your eyes as you get older, clouding your vision and causing vision loss. The only way to deal with them is by replacing your lenses through cataract surgery.

Cataract surgery is a fast and effective procedure that restores your eyesight even if cataracts have taken it. One of the most impressive parts of the procedure is that it allows you to customize your vision.

Keep reading to learn more about why you should consider premium IOLs. They could give you the best eyesight you’ve ever had!

What Does an IOL Do?

During cataract surgery, your surgeon replaces your natural lens with an intraocular lens or IOL. The IOL handles the duties your natural lens can no longer do.

There is a wide variety of IOLs to choose from, all with different vision capabilities. The most basic IOL is a monofocal IOL or standard IOL.

Monofocal IOLs can give you near-perfect vision at one refractive distance. But, with a monofocal IOL, you still need glasses to see at the distance it doesn’t correct.

If your monofocal IOL corrects distance vision, you will need reading glasses for up-close tasks. Premium IOLs, on the other hand, can adjust your eyesight to different focal ranges.

Depending on the IOL you choose, they could give you the best eyesight of your life. Some provide clear distance vision and functional up-close sight.

Others give you excellent vision at all refractive distances. There is a premium IOL for almost any combination of vision capabilities.

Toric Model IOLs

Certain premium and monofocal IOLs can also correct astigmatism with toric model IOLs. Toric model IOLs align with your unique corneal shape.

This alignment allows them to correct the scattering of light in your eye caused by astigmatism. Many IOLs have toric models available. Just ask your eye doctor about correcting your astigmatism during cataract surgery.

Premium IOL Varieties

A vast range of premium IOLs can handle just about any task you ask of your eyes. Your eye doctor will help you select the best one for you and your vision goals!

Multifocal IOLs

Multifocal IOLs function like multifocal lens glasses. They can adjust focus based on where the light entering your eyes comes from.

Most multifocal IOLs have two rings set into the material of the lens. These rings can focus light coming from two focal points, distance and up close.

They can give you clear sight at both distances, but with a gap at intermediate distances between the two. The first and only FDA-approved trifocal IOL, the PanOptix trifocal IOL, has a third point.

It can correct light from intermediate distances as well to give you clear vision at all distances. The third refractive zone dramatically reduces your chances of needing glasses after cataract surgery. It also reduces glare and other common IOL side-effects.

Extended Depth of Focus (EDOF) IOLs

Extended depth of focus or EDOF IOLs are like other traditional IOLs, but with an added feature. They have a focal point set into the lens like a monofocal IOL, but they extend that focal point.

That means they extend your clear vision farther than other IOLs can. The Vivity IOL is a new EDOF IOL that could end your need for glasses entirely.

It uses something called X-WAVE technology to give you precise, uninterrupted vision at all distances. Multifocal IOLs have rings set in them to refract light from specific distances.

These rings focus light so you can see but also split that light, which causes gaps in your vision between distances. The Vivity IOL does not split light. It shifts the light without breaking it, giving you seamless vision.

Premium IOLs have the power to give you clear vision without glasses. If you’d like to get rid of glasses forever after cataract surgery, schedule an appointment at Westlake Eye Specialists in Austin, TX.

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