An intraocular lens (IOL) is a small artificial lens for the eye. The simplest way to explain an IOL is it’s a surgically implanted contact lens that is placed on the eye. The lens is placed beneath the cornea, and it can be used to support or replace the natural lens.
An IOL provides all of the same benefits of wearing glasses or contact lenses, without any of the maintenance or hassle.
Surgically implanted lens are most commonly used for patients who have undergone cataract surgery. An IOL can also help patients who have been diagnosed with myopia.
Which IOL Is Best for Me?
There are several IOLs to choose from. Each of them provides specific benefits for correcting certain vision problems. While your physical or ophthalmologist may suggest a certain type of lens, the ultimate decision is yours to make. Here’s what you need to know about the various kinds of lens options available to you:
MonoFocal IOL
Also known as a Traditional IOL, a MonoFocal IOL is the most commonly used lens. This type of lens offers vision enhancement for a single distance, either near or far, depending on your specific vision needs.
The MonoFocal lens is typically used to improve distance vision. When paired with the use of reading glasses, the lens can help those with nearsightedness. It’s also important to note that two different MonoFocal IOLs can be implanted in either eye. Softec HD MonoFocal IOLs are available at ADV Vision Centers.
MultiFocal IOL
A multifocal lens provides a higher level of clarity for vision at many distances, including near, far, and everything in between. These lenses work by having different areas of the lens set to different powers. However, choosing multifocal lenses does come with a slight compromise. Most patients have to sacrifice some of their distance vision clarity to achieve clearer vision at all distances. Multifocal IOLs are made for those who have active lifestyles. With this type of lens implant, you can maintain decent near and far vision without having to wear glasses. At ADV Vision Centers, PanOptix Multifocal IOLs offer incredible results.
Toric IOL
The Toric IOL is uniquely created to improve vision in cataract patients who have been diagnosed with astigmatism. Similar to the MonoFocal IOL, the Toric lens is used to correct both near and far vision but not for both. These lenses are designed to be placed in the patient’s eye to precisely correct astigmatism. If you’ve been diagnosed with corneal astigmatism, a Vivity or Panoptix Toric IOL is the best option available.
Aspheric IOL
An Aspheric IOL is a premium lens that is specifically designed to match the natural shape and contour of a patient’s eye. This type of IOL is the best option if a traditional IOL isn’t a possibility due to the curvature of the natural lens. Aspheric IOLs are available in both monofocal and multifocal options.
Contact ADV Vision Centers to Learn More
There are many different factors to consider when determining which type of IOL is best for you. This is why it’s so important to understand all of the options available so that you can make an informed decision. Your vision specialist is the best resource to go to when determining which type of IOL will provide the best results.
Interested in learning more about intraocular lenses? Schedule an appointment by calling our team at (805) 954-9211 or by using our online scheduler tool today.
