Cataract Surgery Lens Options
Dr Besser will help you choose the best intraocular lenses for your vision needs.
Which Lens Is Best For Cataract
Surgery Replacement?
Standard cataract surgery removes your eye's natural lens when it becomes old, cloudy, and brittle. It is replaced with a monofocal lens.
However, you can take advantage of the fact that you're undergoing a lens replacement process, and choose to correct your refractive vision problems as well, such as presbyopia (difficulty seeing close up clearly because of age), by upgrading to a presbyopia-correcting lens.
Things to consider when choosing your IOL implant:
No single cataract lens is best for everyone. There are multiple presbyopia-correcting IOL technologies, and they have significant differences. To choose the right option for your cataract removal surgery, you need to consider these important factors:
Your desired range of vision
When selecting which cataract lens to choose, we first discuss what matters most in your lifestyle and activities. We'll discuss possibilities for eliminating glasses at one or all ranges – far distance, mid-range, and/or close up.
Together, we'll choose the best lens for your vision goals.
Far Distance
Intermediate
Near
Choosing between single vision and presbopia-correcting lens implants
Monofocal
Monofocal (single-focus) lens implants, or IOLs, come standard with cataract surgery.
Several companies make these lenses, all are of equal quality. They will correct for one out of three possible vision ranges (distance, intermediate, or near). Their cost is covered by insurance.
Presbyopia-correcting
Presbyopia-correcting IOLs are high-performance upgrades. They correct your vision at multiple (two or even all three) visual ranges - distance, intermediate, and near, meaning you will not need glasses at those distances.
Insurance companies won’t cover the cost of these specialty cataract lenses.
What if I have astigmatism?
If you have astigmatism and you want it corrected, you’ll require a special toric lens. Some monofocal lenses and all the following presbyopia-correcting premium IOLs are available in a toric version.
Insurance companies don't cover the cost of toric lenses.
Consider Cost
Monofocal (single-focus) lens options come standard with cataract surgery and are covered by insurance. Toric, multifocal and accommodative lenses, on the other hand, are high-performance upgrades. Most insurance companies won’t cover the cost of a specialty cataract lens.
However, it’s worth considering that a pair of prescription glasses can cost anywhere from $300 to $1000. A multifocal implant costs more upfront, but may be more price-effective over time. They are designed to last for the rest of your life.
Do I Have Any Ocular Diseases?
Some lenses may be contraindicated if you have certain eye conditions, such as diabetic retinopathy or macular degeneration.
This is something we’ll discuss thoroughly before your surgery during your cataract consultation, and account for in your plan.
Compare presbyopia-correcting lens options
PanOptix Trifocal IOL
- Technology Type
- Trifocal
- Maker
- Alcon
- Vision ranges achieved without glasses
3/3 - Distance / Intermediate / Near
- Advantages
- Superior, clear vision at all three visual ranges
- Minimal glare and halos
- Available in toric vision to correct astigmatism
- Yes
Synergy Trifocal IOL
- Technology Type
- Trifocal
- Maker
- Johnson & Johnson
- Vision ranges achieved without glasses
3/3 - Distance / Intermediate / Near
- Advantages
- Superior, clear vision at all three visual ranges
- Minimal glare and halos
- Available in toric vision to correct astigmatism
- Yes
Eyhance IOL
- Technology Type
- Monofocal w/ some EDOF (extended depth of field) properties
- Maker
- Johnson & Johnson
- Vision ranges achieved without glasses
2/3 - Distance, Some Intermediate
- Advantages
- Excellent at distance and intermediate ranges
- Minimal glare and halos
- Available in toric vision to correct astigmatism
- Yes
Symfony Extended Vision IOL
- Technology Type
- Extended depth-of-focus (EDOF)
- Maker
- Johnson & Johnson
- Vision ranges achieved without glasses
2/3 - Distance, Intermediate
- Advantages
Excellent at distance and intermediate ranges; minimal glare and halos.
- Available in toric vision to correct astigmatism
- Yes
Crystalens IOL
- Technology Type
- Non-diffractive accommodative
- Maker
- Bausch & Lomb
- Vision ranges achieved without glasses
2/3 - Distance, Intermediate
- Advantages
Non-diffractive technology produces excellent clarity, lowest incidence of halos, glare. Good alternative if other lenses are ruled out because of ocular disease.
- Available in toric vision to correct astigmatism
- Yes
Vivity Extended Vision IOL
- Technology Type
- Non-diffractive extended depth-of-focus (EDOF) with “X-wave”
- Maker
- Alcon
- Vision ranges achieved without glasses
2/3 - Distance, Intermediate
- Advantages
Non-diffractive technology effective in both bright and dim light, lowest incidence of halos, glare (advantage esp. for frequent night drivers, for example).
- Available in toric vision to correct astigmatism
- Yes
To learn more about cataract technology and the best lens option for you, or to schedule a consultation to find out if you’re a candidate for cataract surgery, contact our offices today.