Replacement Lenses for Cataract Surgery

During cataract surgery the clouded natural lens of the eye is replaced with an artificial intraocular lens. This lens cannot become cloudy and therefore provides permanent vision improvement. Cataracts cannot return after cataract surgery, so barring other vision conditions you can enjoy a lifetime of clear vision.

Dr. Jack Dodick offers two types of lenses to his New York cataract patients: traditional monofocal lenses and toric monofocal lenses.

Traditional Monofocal Lenses

Traditional monofocal lenses are designed to give you clear vision at the ideal distance for most activities where you do not want to wear glasses. Once the cataracts are gone, you will see clear, vibrant colors, and you will have good uncorrected vision that is convenient for you. Most patients select clear vision that allows them to drive a car or enjoy outdoor activities without glasses, while using reading glasses to enjoy clear, crisp vision at close distances.

Toric Monofocal Lenses

Toric monofocal lenses allow us to correct astigmatism at the same time we are removing your cataracts. This allows you to have clearer vision with your new lenses than you did with your natural lenses.

Astigmatism is a vision disorder in which your cornea (the clear outer portion of your eye) is not spherical, but more oblong, like part of a football rather than a soccer ball. This can lead to blurry vision at all distances. A toric intraocular lens is designed to correct the poor focusing of your cornea to improve your vision at all distances and give you very clear vision for either distance or close vision. In addition, because your toric IOL corrects your astigmatism, it allows you to purchase off-the-rack reading glasses or get better spectacle corrected vision at any distance.

Toric lenses are considered premium IOLs, which means that their full cost may not be covered by Medicare or private insurance.

Why Can't I See at Multiple Distances after Cataract Surgery?

The ability to see at different distances, known as accommodation, is a property of the eye's natural lens, which flexes to change focus on the objects you want to see. Replacement lenses get rid of obscuring cataracts, but the tradeoff is that they do not change focus the same way that your natural lenses do. During your consultation, we will talk to you about your most important vision tasks and help you decide what focal distance will be best for your replacement lenses.

To learn more about cataract surgery and how it can benefit you, please contact New York's most famous cataract surgeon, Dr. Jack Dodick.