Multifocal IOL

Premium Lens Implant Options
Understanding Multifocal IOL

If you are seeking cataract surgery in Pennsylvania or the Philadelphia area, now is a great time to be eliminating your cataracts and learning about your new options. The new lens implant options have only been available for a few years now and have been helping cataract patients see without glasses. Many patients that have had these lens implants will tell you that they have not seen vibrancy like this since they were a teenager. When considering your cataract surgeon be sure to carefully evaluate your surgeon and their choice of modern technology.

Prior to undergoing the cataract procedure you will be given several choices for lens implant options. Our doctor will make a lens suggestion based on your specific visual needs. Each of the premium lens implant options have unique attributes that may or may not be beneficial. The Multifocal IOL lens implants are also commonly called premium lens implants and are typically used in cataract surgery. If you have astigmatism before cataract surgery you might also choose to have this corrected with an IOL. See our page on understanding astigmatism.

AcrySof® ReSTOR® Intraocular Lens (IOL)

ReSTOR Lens is a premium artificial lens that can restore a full range of vision without complete dependence on glasses or contact lenses. The FDA clinical studies identified that 80% of patients receiving the ReSTOR Lens no longer required glasses for any activity. This is a truly revolutionary lens that is a good option for patients that do not like the concept of monovision and would like to have a chance of eliminating glasses. If you have been told you are not an ideal patient for LASIK, the restor intraocular lens might be the next best option. Individuals between the ages of 40 and 60 years of age are typically the best candidates for refractive lens exchange with the Restor lens. If you have both distance and reading issues or you require bifocals this might be a better complete vision solution than the much-respected LASIK eye surgery.

How does the AcrySof® ReSTOR® intraocular lens (IOL) work?

Various activities require different types of focusing. Your eyes are constantly changing focus on objects based on distance and proximity. The ability of the eye to actually change focusing is called accommodation. As people get older the ability to accommodate changes and the ability to read becomes impaired. The end result is that patients require reading glasses and in some cases bifocals. The ReSTOR® IOL was specifically designed to correct this exact issue. The lens actually provides both good near vision and good distance vision. By utilizing the apodized diffractive the lens is capable of providing multifocal vision. Diffraction involves the bending or spreading of light to multiple focal points as it passes through the lens. On the AcrySof® ReSTOR® IOL, the center of the lens surface consists of an apodized diffractive optic. This means that the series of tiny steps in that center area work together to focus light for near vision.
Source: Alcon Technologies Inc.

The benefit for refractive lens exchange patients is a high level of spectacle freedom. Alcon has patented the application of apodization technology to an IOL, making the AcrySof ReSTOR lens the first and only apodized diffractive IOL.

During U.S. clinical trials, the results with ReSTOR were remarkable:

• 80% of patients reported that after lens implant surgery with ReSTOR lenses, they no longer needed glasses or contact lenses to see clearly at all distances.
• 94% said they could drive and read the paper without contacts or glasses.
• Nearly 94% were so satisfied that they would have the procedure again.

The Eyeonics Crystalens™

This new lens has made its impact as one of the top three inserted premium intraocular lenses but is called an accommodative lens not a multifocal lens like the ReSTOR® IOL and Rezoom® lenses. Crystalens™ is a single focus lens, which works with your eyes own muscles to accommodate in order for patients to enjoy vision as they did as youngsters. Crystalens™ has the ability to “accommodate,” or change shape, allowing it to focus on both distant and near objects. The patented hinged design element enables the lens to actually move and accommodate to focus near, far and intermediate objects. If you are considering refractive lens exchange this lens might allow you to eliminate or reduce glasses from your lifestyle. Imagine being able to drive a golf ball and see it in the distance or imagine being able to just read the newspaper or see the alarm clock at night. This lens has the capability to deliver excellent vision at all ranges. If you would like to know more about the Crystalens™ or refractive lens exchange surgery please feel free to fill out one of our contact forms and one of our staff will contact you. Our practice will thoroughly diagnose your vision and then educate you on all available premium lens options prior to making a decision about surgery.

The Crystalens FDA data presented

• 98.4% of the patients could read NYSE, Wall Street Journal, Newspaper
• 100% of the patients could read their Email or computer screens.
• 98.4% were 20/40 or better in the distance (most were 20/20 or 20/30)

The ReZoom™ IOL

ReZoom™ intraocular lens is a refractive multifocal IOL that provides quality vision at near, far and intermediate distances. The lens is typically used in cataract surgery or refractive lens exchange cases and provides vision that traditional monofocal intraocular lenses cannot attain. The ReZoom™ IOL has a unique multifocal design that enables distribution of light over five optical zones. If you are seeking to completely eliminate your need for glasses this might not be the best option but the data suggests many patients are happy after this lens has been inserted. Obviously results will vary from patient to patient depending on vision. Before determining that this is the best lens option for your specific visual situation please make sure to consult directly with one of our doctors or trained ophthalmic staff.

Clinical Data in study results provided by company officials:

• 93.3% of ReZoom patients reported independence from glasses for distance.
• For intermediate, 91.4% of patients reported independence from glasses. Meanwhile, 66.7% of patients reported independence from glasses for near.
• 93.0% of patients never or only occasionally wore glasses, according to the data.