The natural lens in your eye is meant to refract (bend) light that enters your vision, helping you to see. This lens should be clear, but when you have a cataract, your vision can become blurry and cloudy; in some cases, your vision might even be less colorful. An ophthalmic cataract specialist will replace your cloudy lens with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL) to improve your vision. There are a few different types of IOLs offered at Fort Lauderdale Eye Institute:
- Basic Lens: A clear lens with no vision correction
- Monofocal Lens: Provides the best vision at a singular distance.
- Multifocal Lens: Contains corrective zones, like bifocal and trifocal glasses, that allow you to see both near and far.
- Toric Lens: Provides the best results for patients suffering from cataracts and astigmatism.
Basic Lens
Basic lenses are also known as standard or conventional IOLs. These lenses replace your cloudy lens and improve distance vision. Basic lenses do not adjust or accommodate like the premium lenses (monofocal, multifocal, and toric), so a patient who receives this type of IOL will likely still be dependent on glasses for near vision.
Monofocal Lens
Monofocal lenses are the best choice for those dependent on glasses to see at a certain distance. The power of the implant in your dominant eye is set for distance vision, and your non–dominant eye is set for mid-range or near vision. This “off-balance” allows your eyes to adapt to a certain vision, allowing you to be less dependent on glasses.
Multifocal Lens
Multifocal lenses allow for improved vision near and far, providing the most natural vision to patients whose vision has deteriorated due to cataracts. Patients who suffer from presbyopia, or farsightedness, can also benefit from multifocal lenses to improve their vision.
Toric Lens
Toric lenses are highly recommended for patients who suffer from cataracts and astigmatism. This lens not only corrects your astigmatism but also replaces the cloudy lens caused by cataracts. Patients can determine if they want their vision set for distance in both eyes, nearness in both eyes, or monofocal (one eye for distance and one for mid-range or near).
Although artificial intraocular lenses do not guarantee that you will be glasses-free, they do guarantee that your vision will be less cloudy and more vibrant. There are a variety of factors that go into determining the best IOL for you, so it’s important to take into account if your lifestyle depends on a certain range of vision (looking closely at a computer for long periods of time) if you often drive at night, or if you have other ongoing eye issues. Our board-certified ophthalmologists, Dr. Skolnick, Dr. De Castro, and Dr. Ilan Epstein, will first diagnose your cataract to see if it’s mature enough to be removed and then will assist you in choosing the type of lens that would be the best fit for your lifestyle. Call us today at 954-741-5555 to schedule a consultation.
