Should I Get A Premium IOL?

Do you have cataracts? If they are starting to affect your vision, it may be time to consider having cataract surgery.

What you may not know is that you will have your natural lens removed during the procedure and replaced with an artificial or intraocular lens (IOL). There are several kinds of cataract surgery lens options to choose from, including premium IOLs.

Keep reading to learn more about lens options and why premium IOLs are worth it.

What are Premium IOLs?

When you get cataract surgery, most patients can choose between standard and premium IOLs. A premium or advanced technology IOL is a type of lens with more features than single vision.

If you have Medicare, it will usually cover a traditional IOL (called a monofocal lens) but not premium lenses. Since premium IOLs come with more advanced features, they are more expensive.

It is essential to keep the cataract lens price in mind when considering your options, especially with premium IOLs. Although premium IOLs cost more and you will pay for them out-of-pocket, choosing them has significant advantages.

The biggest advantage is reducing your dependence on glasses or contact lenses after cataract surgery. If you can afford premium IOLs, these types of cataract lenses can change your life for the better.

What Are My Available Cataract Surgery Lens Options?

At Shoreline Vision, we offer our cataract patients the following premium IOLs:

Multifocal IOLs

Multifocal lenses provide clear vision at near and far distances. This is because multifocal IOLs have different optical powers within the same lens.

After implanting these advanced technology cataract lenses, the brain takes some time to adjust. After this, the brain can automatically focus between near and far distances.

Toric IOLs

Toric cataract lenses are unique because they are the only IOL designed to correct astigmatism. Astigmatism occurs when the cornea or lens is an irregular shape.

If the cornea or lens is an irregular shape, it results in blurred vision. Toric IOLs also correct other refractive errors like nearsightedness and farsightedness.

Toric IOLs correct the cornea or lens that is irregularly shaped. This results in clear vision at all distances.

Aspheric IOLs

These IOLs are often recommended for people with large pupils. Premium aspheric IOLs are the closest to the natural eye’s lens.

This is true for both optical quality and shape. Aspheric lenses provide sharper vision, particularly in low light.

Should You Get a Premium IOL?

If you want clearer vision and do not want to wear glasses after cataract surgery, you may want to think about choosing a premium IOL. Selecting a premium cataract lens can provide you with sight closest to your natural eyesight.

This is especially true when compared to traditional monofocal intraocular lenses. Premium IOLs allow you to participate in all activities without visual limitations.

What Happens During Cataract Surgery?

At Shoreline Vision, we are one of the first eye surgeons in West Michigan to offer Alcon’s LenSx Laser for laser-assisted cataract refractive surgery. Only lasers are used to remove the natural lens during laser-assisted cataract surgery.

This means there are no blades used. The LenSx laser is the latest and most advanced laser used during this procedure.

Using the LenSx femtosecond laser provides greater surgical precision. This translates to better results for our cataract surgery patients as they recover.

Are you considering your IOL options during cataract surgery? Wondering if a premium IOL could be right for you? Request a cataract evaluation with one of our eye doctors at Shoreline Vision in Muskegon, MI, today.