Lens Selection
Take back your vision with lens options for cataract surgery from Visionary Eye Doctors. The Advanced Cataract Center has industry experts who will work with you to determine the best lens solution.
Take the Next Step. Request a Surgical Consultation.
What Are Cataracts
Cataracts are a common eye condition where the eye’s natural lens becomes clouded, leading to a decrease in visual acuity. This cloudiness can make it difficult to see distant objects clearly, as the clouded lens scatters light instead of focusing it precisely on the retina. Cataracts can also contribute to a refractive error, affecting how well the eye can focus on images. This condition is particularly prevalent in the United States, where it is a leading cause of vision impairment among the elderly. Treatment typically involves the surgical removal of the clouded lens and its replacement with artificial lenses, restoring clarity of vision and significantly improving the quality of life for those affected.
Lens Options for Cataract Surgery
Lens Implantation
The implantation procedure is the same for any type of artificial lens. The main point of differentiation between the lenses is in the type of vision they provide.
Imagine:
- Being able to see your world as well as you did when you were younger, without the help of glasses or contact lenses.
- Being seen the way you want people to see you. Youthful. Energetic. Vibrant.
- Clearer vision for near, far, and all distances in between. Seamlessly. Effortlessly. Naturally.
Premium Lenses
Premium lifestyle lenses offer you a custom-designed vision option
The Visionary Eye Doctors approach to vision correction, from the college student to the greatest generation, is simple. The best technology offers the best information, but it is only useful when it is used to meet each person’s individual visual goals. Taking the time with each patient to decide what is best requires more than just the newest gadgets. It requires honesty, transparency, and genuine care for the people that walk through our door.
For most of the history of cataract surgery over the last 50 years, there has been only one option for an intra-ocular lens (IOL). The plan for everyone, until recently, was just to get rid of the cloudy lens (AKA cataract) and it was expected glasses were required following the surgery. Clear vision with glasses was the goal. People today were lucky enough to be born at the right time in history to have even better options than that.
Premium IOLs
These IOLs are used to provide patients with near vision to go along with their distance vision. In general, this option is best for those primarily concerned with fine near work (e.g., fine print, cross stitching, circuitry work) and who don’t have stringent requirements for night vision. For example, a jeweler whose livelihood is in the details of the very tiny and very near has different visual requirements than a pilot who flies primarily at night. Fortunately, there are IOLs created for all types of visual demands. We offer the best of them, and our surgeon will spend time with each patient to help decide the best choice.
Many brands of multifocal lenses have emerged in the market. At Visionary Eye Doctors, your surgeon will help you select the right lens that will best match your needs and lifestyle.
Why Choose Premium Lenses?
Excellent intermediate and distance vision, with improved near and astigmatism correction.
Wear your glasses less often.
Good vision for low-light activities such as walking at dusk or going to the movies.
Light Adjustable Lens
Visionary Eye Doctors is the first practice to offer the Light Adjustable Lens in the D.C. area!
What is the Light Adjustable Lens?
The Light Adjustable Lens (LAL) is a type of intraocular lens or IOL, that is used to replace your natural lens during cataract surgery. The Light Adjustable Lens is the only IOL available that is customizable after cataract surgery.
These lenses are made of a photosensitive material that can be changed after cataract surgery to optimize your vision. The vision achieved with the Light Adjustable Lens can be excellent, with many people experiencing improved sharpness of vision and a reduced need for glasses or contact lenses.
This means you can experience greater visual freedom than ever before!
How Does the Light Adjustable Lens Work?
After cataract surgery with the Light Adjustable Lens, your cataract surgeon will send you home to heal from the procedure. Once your eyes have healed, you will return to visit your cataract surgeon for a series of treatments with the Light Delivery Device to customize your vision.
The Light Delivery Device uses ultraviolet light, which causes a photosensitive material in the lens to change shape. This process changes the power of the lens, allowing your cataract surgeon to fine-tune your vision after cataract surgery.
Most people need multiple treatments with the light delivery device to reach their desired visual outcome. The light treatments typically take about thirty minutes, and you should notice the results within days!
Which Intraocular Lens is Within Your Budget?
Not every insurance company covers all types of intraocular lenses (IOLs), with some costing upwards of a thousand dollars when paid out of pocket. However, Medicare and most insurance plans typically cover the basic monofocal lens, which is the most widespread and has been in use for years.
Premium lenses such as multifocal, extended depth of focus (EDOF lenses), toric, light-adjustable, and accommodative IOLs offer the possibility of reducing dependence on glasses or contacts. These advanced lenses are pricier than monofocal lenses and often require out-of-pocket payment.
How Do I Know if the Light Adjustable Lens is Right For Me?
There are a few factors to consider when determining if the Light Adjustable Lens is suitable for you. One important factor is your visual goals.
The Light Adjustable Lens is designed to provide a broader range of vision than traditional lenses. It can eliminate cataract symptoms and correct vision issues such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.
However, the Light Adjustable Lens is not suitable for everyone. Your eye doctor will be able to advise you on the best lens for you, depending on your budget, vision goals, and lifestyle.
Are you interested in learning more about the Light Adjustable Lens? Schedule an appointment at Visionary Eye Doctors in Rockville, MD, today!
Other Lens Options
Standard/Monofocal Lens Implants
Monofocal lens implants have been used for many years and are very effective at improving vision after cataract surgery. The monofocal lenses used by Visionary Eye Doctors are the most advanced in their category. However, they only can provide vision at one distance. If you wear corrective lenses (glasses or contacts) before your cataract surgery, you will most likely have to wear them full-time, especially for reading and intermediate vision after the surgery as well.
Toric Lens Implants
For cataract patients who also have astigmatism, Toric Intraocular Lenses (IOL) offer a chance to enjoy quality distance vision with minimal need for glasses or contact lenses. Astigmatism is a common condition that occurs when the shape of the cornea, or the clear surface of the eye, isn’t perfectly round. This causes the light that enters the eye to focus at two points inside the eye. This is easily corrected with glasses or contact lenses. However, when these eyes have cataract surgery, astigmatism will persist after surgery unless it is addressed at the time of surgery with either an additional surgical procedure or a special lens called a Toric IOL.
A Toric IOL has the astigmatism correction built into the lens. After carefully examining your eyes and discussing the options with you, your surgeon will recommend the option he believes is best for you. Typically, insurance does not cover the cost of these procedures or lenses, so typically, there will be an additional out-of-pocket cost to the patient.
During your consultation, we will do advanced diagnostic tests to determine which cataract surgery option would best suit your needs. There are varying reasons that determine the type of procedure we offer a patient. Since everyone’s eyes and visual needs are different, your surgeon will evaluate your eyes and inform you what your best option is. When a patient is interested in advanced laser cataract surgery, we perform more extensive testing to make sure the patient is a good candidate.
One of the tests that we perform takes a high-definition picture of the back part of the patient’s eye, known as the retina. The doctor will evaluate the health of the patient’s eye to see if a premium lens will be of benefit to the patient. We also perform a test known as corneal topography, which takes a topographical map of the cornea (front window of the eye) and maps out and quantifies your astigmatism. These tests allow the surgeon to see exactly which procedure will best benefit your eyes.
The surgeon will also perform an additional advanced diagnostic test during surgery known as ORA Optiplus Refractive Analysis to pick the exact power of the lens implant that will be placed in your eye.
Thinking About Cataract Surgery?
Our goal is to improve your full range of vision and regain your quality of life, reducing the need for glasses or contact lenses for daily activities. Call us today at (301) 591-1763 or click here to schedule a cataract consultation.
Request a Surgical Consultation
The first step in determining your candidacy for any procedure is to schedule a consultation and experience our comprehensive eye exam. This is the most complete eye exam available today and includes a consultation with one of our experienced surgeons. Utilizing advanced diagnostic technology, our surgeons will not only evaluate your candidacy for a procedure but will look at the overall health of your eyes and establish a long-term plan for your best vision.
Please contact us directly at (301) 591-1763 to schedule your consultation
