Choosing the appropriate lens implant for your surgery is important. You will look through that lens for the rest of your life. The best lens for you depends on many factors, including the health of your eyes, how important it is to you to decrease your dependence on glasses, cost, and what activities are important to you. Be sure you understand the various choices available, and discuss with your surgeon what lens would be best for you.
The lenses listed below are the ones we typically use. There are others available, such as accomodating lenses. We use the ones below because we have found them to be the most reliable and effective ones. If you have a lens in which your are interested that is not listed below, please discuss it with your surgeon.
| Lens Type | Description | Additional Costs |
|---|---|---|
| aspheric or spherical monofocal | These are the lenses that most patients receive. These lenses do not correct astigmatism. In patients without significant astigmatism they can provide excellent vision without glasses at one focal point. Glasses will often be needed for good vision at other focal points. Patients with significant astigmatism may need glasses for all distances. | normally covered by insurance without additional costs |
| toric monofocal | Toric lenses are single focus-point lenses that correct astigmatism. In patients with astigmatism, the surface of the eye is more curved in one direction than another. This blurs vision at all distances, unless it is corrected with a toric lens. Toric lenses can reduce astigmatism, so that clear vision is possible at one focal point. Toric lenses can reduce the need for glasses in patients with astigmatism. | $1,600 per eye beyond normal surgical charges |
| monovision | Monovision is not a particular lens type, but a technique used for reducing dependence on glasses. With monovision, the patient receives a monofocal lens (spherical, aspheric, or toric) in one eye that is focused at distance. The other eye is focused at near with another monofocal lens. This can reduce or eliminate the need for glasses in some patients. The patients who do the best with this method have worn contact lenses that do this previously. Many patients feel uncomfortable with the idea of this, and should not have monovision. If you are considering monovision, you should consider simulating it in the clinic before your surgery. | no additional charge for aspheric or spherical monofocal lenses, $1,600 per eye for toric monofocal lenses |
| multifocal lens | Multifocal lenses provide an extended range of focus. They work best when both eyes have them implanted. In most patients with multifocal lenses, the need for glasses is either reduced or eliminated. Glasses are usually needed in some situations, such as seeing tiny print up close, or reading in dim light, but some patients are entirely independent of glasses. Downsides of these lenses include cost, and an increased risk of glare at night. | $2,600 per eye beyond normal surgical charges |
| toric multifocal lens | Toric multifocal lenses incorporate astigmatism correction and multifocal optics. For patients with astigmatism, they can correct the blur from astigmatism, and also give an extended range of focus, like the standard multifocal lens. Potential side effects of these lenses are the same as for the standard multifocal lenses. | $2,600 per eye beyond normal surgical charges |
| post-surgery laser vision correction | Rarely, patients who have cataract surgery feel that they did not achieve the optical result they wanted. It is often still possible to adjust the optics after the cataract surgery has been performed. A procedure called LASIK (or sometimes one called PRK) can modify the eye's optics after cataract surgery and reduce dependence on glasses. Patients who had cataract surgery and did not achieve the result they wanted receive a significant discount on these procedures. | $1,500 per eye |
Please understand that there is no guarantee of any particular outcome with any of these lenses. Although we have excellent techniques and technologies to help you achieve better vision, the results of surgery can vary, even when surgery goes perfectly. It is important to discuss with your surgeon your particular situation and goals before your surgery.