Modern eye surgery has changed the way people look at heavy-rimmed glasses and contact lenses.
As technology advances, experts continue to seek lens designs that can effectively replace the natural lens with a synthetic intraocular lens (IOL) for clear vision without glasses.
With numerous existing IOLs in the market offering various ranges of vision, a surgeon must choose an appropriate IOL based on the patient's visual needs.
Traditional IOLs such as monofocal lenses offer vision at only one distance (far, intermediate or near) and may require eyeglasses or contact lenses for all other ranges.
On the other hand, newer IOLs such as multifocal and accommodating lenses promise the possibility of seeing well at more than one distance, without glasses or contacts.
Multifocal lenses (e.
g.
Restor, Tecnis Multifocal) can focus near and distant images while accommodating lenses are currently limited to distance and midrange images.
In addition, accommodating lenses increase the eye's focusing ability by shifting the position (e.
g.
Crystalens, Tetraflex and Akkomodative 1CU) or shape (e.
g.
Nulens, FluidVision Lens, HumanOptics' Superior Accommodating Lens) of the lens.
If one type of lens fails to fit the needs of a particular patient, eye surgeons may choose to "mix and match" different lenses in order to optimize near vision without compromising distant vision.
For example, they may use a multifocal IOL in one eye for near vision (e.
g.
reading papers) and an accommodating IOL in the other eye for stronger midrange vision (e.
g.
web browsing or reading price tags).
This additional range of vision, however, can be expensive.
In addition to the basic fees for cataract surgery, expect to pay anywhere from $1,500 to $2,800 per eye, depending on the surgeon and the IOL used.
 Like hearing aids, these lenses are expensive medical devices that are not paid for by insurance.
Patients with cataracts and an aging lens (presbyopia) may benefit from these newer IOLs.
Experts agree that up to 90% of patients achieve better vision without glasses after having an advanced technology IOL implanted and can sustain good vision even years after lens replacement.
Good vision without glasses has always been an important goal for eye surgeons.
As newer IOLs function in different ways, it is important that the choice of IOL be customized to individual needs.
Only after an in-depth eye examination and assessment of expectations and lifestyle can a surgeon determine suitable candidates.
As technology advances, experts continue to seek lens designs that can effectively replace the natural lens with a synthetic intraocular lens (IOL) for clear vision without glasses.
With numerous existing IOLs in the market offering various ranges of vision, a surgeon must choose an appropriate IOL based on the patient's visual needs.
Traditional IOLs such as monofocal lenses offer vision at only one distance (far, intermediate or near) and may require eyeglasses or contact lenses for all other ranges.
On the other hand, newer IOLs such as multifocal and accommodating lenses promise the possibility of seeing well at more than one distance, without glasses or contacts.
Multifocal lenses (e.
g.
Restor, Tecnis Multifocal) can focus near and distant images while accommodating lenses are currently limited to distance and midrange images.
In addition, accommodating lenses increase the eye's focusing ability by shifting the position (e.
g.
Crystalens, Tetraflex and Akkomodative 1CU) or shape (e.
g.
Nulens, FluidVision Lens, HumanOptics' Superior Accommodating Lens) of the lens.
If one type of lens fails to fit the needs of a particular patient, eye surgeons may choose to "mix and match" different lenses in order to optimize near vision without compromising distant vision.
For example, they may use a multifocal IOL in one eye for near vision (e.
g.
reading papers) and an accommodating IOL in the other eye for stronger midrange vision (e.
g.
web browsing or reading price tags).
This additional range of vision, however, can be expensive.
In addition to the basic fees for cataract surgery, expect to pay anywhere from $1,500 to $2,800 per eye, depending on the surgeon and the IOL used.
 Like hearing aids, these lenses are expensive medical devices that are not paid for by insurance.
Patients with cataracts and an aging lens (presbyopia) may benefit from these newer IOLs.
Experts agree that up to 90% of patients achieve better vision without glasses after having an advanced technology IOL implanted and can sustain good vision even years after lens replacement.
Good vision without glasses has always been an important goal for eye surgeons.
As newer IOLs function in different ways, it is important that the choice of IOL be customized to individual needs.
Only after an in-depth eye examination and assessment of expectations and lifestyle can a surgeon determine suitable candidates.