During cataract surgery, your eye’s natural lens will be replaced with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL). The lens you select will provide you with clear vision after surgery.
There is no single perfect IOL that Laser Eye Center of Miami recommends to everyone. Your eyes, lifestyle and personal preferences are unlike anyone else’s, and we understand that.
It can be confusing to sort through your IOL options. If you are unsure of how to go about selecting the right IOL for your needs, the following tips should be useful.
Know Your Options
You have quite a few types of IOLs to choose from.
- A standard monofocal IOL restores clear vision at a single fixed distance; to see clearly at other distances, you must wear glasses. For instance, if your monofocal IOL is set for distance vision, you can golf comfortably but will need glasses for reading and working on a computer. If your monofocal IOL is set for near vision, you will need glasses for driving and enjoying your favorite outdoor activities.
- A multifocal IOL provides excellent near and distance vision, so you are less likely to need glasses for most of your daily activities. Some multifocal IOLs have different magnification in different zones; others move with your eye to change focusing distances.
- A toric IOL is designed to correct for astigmatism.
Another option is to use one lens corrected for distance vision and the other for near vision. This combination approach is known as monovision.
Consider Your Priorities
Once you have researched the available IOL options, think about what is most important to you on a day-to-day basis. Think about your lifestyle and the activities you enjoy.
Are you very active? Or do you prefer more relaxing activities like reading or sewing?
How much time do you spend on a computer?
Is it important that you avoid wearing glasses as much as possible? Would you like to eliminate the need for glasses altogether?
Do you have any budgetary constraints?
The answers to these questions will help guide your IOL selection.
Get a Professional’s Input
Finally, talk to an experienced cataract specialist at Laser Eye Center of Miami. The input of our professionals is incredibly valuable, as we have many years of experience helping patients pick out IOLs. Once we understand your case and the type of vision you hope to achieve after cataract surgery, we are happy to weigh in on your IOL selection. We will never pressure you into any decision; our goal is to educate you and help you make a decision you feel confident about.
To learn more about cataract surgery and IOLs, please request an appointment at Laser Eye Center of Miami today.