Latest Advancements In Cataract Surgery

By Maria Scott, MD

Chesapeake Eye Care & Laser Center

. https://www.chesapeakeeyecare.com/

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Latest Advancements In Cataract Surgery

Until recently, most cataract surgeries used lenses, which typically required patients to wear reading glasses or bifocals for near vision following surgery. Today, advanced technology offers FDA approved multifocal lenses that greatly improve patients’ range of quality vision allowing them to see near, intermediate and distance often without the reliance on glasses.

These multifocal lenses are foldable intraocular lenses (IOLs) and represent breakthrough technology because of their unique, patented optic design, which allows patients to experience the highest level of freedom from glasses ever achieved in IOL clinical trials. These IOLs use a combination of complementary technologies diffraction and refraction, to allow patients to experience a full range of high-quality vision without the need for reading glasses or bifocals. This range of vision is achieved through the optical properties of the IOL.

For decades, ophthalmologists have used monofocal IOLs to correct distance vision. With these lens implants, there is a high likelihood that you will need glasses for most activities after your surgery and you will have the additional replacement cost of glasses through the years. The latest advancements in multifocal IOLs are reducing the need for glasses and are helping people achieve clear vision near, far and everything in-between.

Another important consideration when exploring vision correction options is how much LASIK eye surgery costs. LASIK, a popular procedure for correcting refractive errors like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism, offers patients a chance to achieve clear vision without glasses or contact lenses. However, the cost can vary widely depending on factors such as the surgeon’s expertise, technology used, and the patient’s specific needs, with prices typically ranging from $1,500 to $3,500 per eye.

According to a recent article published in the Archives of Ophthalmology, more than 20 million adults in the U.S. have developed cataracts making it the number one cause of poor vision in the United States. This number is expected to rise to over 30 million people by the year 2020, as noted by the National Eye Institute. Nearly three million cataract surgeries are performed annually, making it the most common surgical procedure in the United States. With so many Americans undergoing treatment for cataracts, this breakthrough technology offers them a profound opportunity to greatly improve their vision. Whereas a cataract patient may have experienced dulled or blurred vision before surgery, the advanced multifocal IOLs enable them to see sharper, brighter images. Reading a newspaper, prescription bottle or computer screen becomes possible as well as seeing objects at a distance.

If you have cataracts or are contemplating cataract surgery, ask your doctor if multifocal IOLs are right for you.