Cataract Surgery

Cataracts

Cataracts are a common vision disorder that occur as a normal part of the aging process. As we age, proteins in the eye slowly begin to cluster together, causing the eye's natural lens to become clouded and discolored. When this occurs, light rays passing through the eye become scattered and unfocused, resulting in a blurry image.

SIGNS OF CATARACTS

• Difficulty driving, especially at night
• Difficulty seeing at night
• Difficulty viewing a computer screen
• Colors appear dim and faded
• Frequent change in eyeglass prescription

What Are the Solutions?

Cataract surgery is the only treatment that allows you to regain lost vision due to cataracts.

Over 18 million people choose to restore their vision and undergo cataract surgery every year. 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.

n 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.

Additionally, there are toric lenses which correct astigmatism. Astigmatism ooccurs when the cornea is shaped like a football (more curved in one direction than the other) and often occurs with nearsightedness and farsightedness. This causes light to focus on more than one point on the retina, resulting in blurry and distorted vision. Dr. Katz can correct your astigmatism at the time of the cataract extraction, using either a special toric IOL or using a technique called astigmatic keratotomy which utilizes microincisions on the cornea.

Monofocal IOL vs. Multifocal IOL

Monofocal IOLs provide good distance vision, but you will continue to need reading glasses to see up close.

Multifocal IOLs are designed to provide you with improved near, intermediate and distance vision and reduce or eliminate your need for reading glasses.

The Superior Results of the TECNIS® Multifocal Lens

The TECNIS® Multifocal Intraocular Lens (IOL) offers patients with age-related vision loss an excellent chance to regain younger vision and become free of glasses.

Designed to provide you with clearer, crisper vision at near, far and everywhere in between, the TECNIS® Multifocal IOL is an implantable lens that improves vision after cataract surgery and corrects presbyopia (the need for reading glasses). If you enjoy activities such as reading, boating, quilting, playing golf, sightseeing or surfing the Internet, the TECNIS® Multifocal IOL may be the right lens for you.

The TECNIS® Multifocal IOL is proven to provide excellent vision at all distances and all lighting conditions® day and night. In a clinical study, nearly 9 out of 10 patients implanted with the TECNIS® Multifocal IOL did not require reading glasses after their cataract surgery. Additionally, an overwhelming majority of people who have received the TECNIS® Multifocal IOL are very satisfied with their vision following the procedure, and 91.7% said they would elect to do it again.

With the TECNIS® Multifocal IOL, you may comfortably enjoy everyday activities such as reading a menu in a dimly lit restaurant, taking a walk at dusk or even driving at night. Be sure to ask Dr. Katz about whether you are a candidate for the TECNIS® Multifocal IOL.