CATARACT & PREMIUM IOL's

A cataract is a clouding of the naturally clear lens inside the eye causing a gradual decrease in vision over time. Nearly half of the population over 65 will have some degree of progressive cataract formation in their lifetime. When vision is affected such that it impedes daily activities, vision can only be restored by surgical removal of the cataract. The goal of cataract surgery is to restore optimum vision with less dependence on eyeglasses. During cataract surgery a plastic, acrylic, or silicone intraocular lens (IOL) is implanted in the eye to replace the eye's natural lens that was removed. Based on a patient’s individual needs and lifestyle requirements different options are available in IOL selection. In recent years beneficial advances in IOL technology now offer patients, premium aspheric designs, precise astigmatism correction, simultaneous far and near vision, and protective UV blocking capabilities. These new IOL's are designed to solve more vision problem and protection than ever, and rather than the surgeon making all the decisions, an informed patient is now able to help decide upon the best solution. It is important to understand that some of the premium IOL options are not fully covered under typical insurance plans and the financial details will be outlined in full by the surgeon and staff.

Aspheric Design IOL's

Traditional IOL's have a uniform spherical curvature like the curve on a round ball. Today, the new aspheric design IOL's are the lens of choice providing varied curves such that the center of the lens has a different curve than the periphery. This advantage provides optimum contrast sensitivity and a reduction of distortion caused by annoying aberrations. These IOL's enhance the ability to see in varying light conditions such as rain, snow, fog, twilight and nighttime darkness. In most cases the design of an aspheric lens is assisted by wavefront analysis of the front of the eye called the cornea. Wavefront analysis is the same technology utilized by the surgeon for patient that undergoes a laser vision correction LASIK procedure.

Blue Blocking / Aspheric IOL's

One of the latest advancements in IOL design is the new combination blue-blocking / aspheric IOL. It has all of the vision advantages of the aspheric design IOL but also has benefits for patients that have, or who are at risk for, macular degeneration. This IOL blocks a specific wavelength or zone of light that are considered more harmful to these patients. They filter both ultraviolet (UV) and high-energy blue-light both of which are present in natural and artificially produced light. This IOL helps filter out these damaging wavelengths of light just as the natural crystalline lens did before its removal in cataract surgery. Blue-blocking IOL's have a slight transparent yellow color however they do not alter the color of the environment or the quality of vision.