Cataract Surgery Lens IOL Options: Simple Explanation and Notes

When you age, your body gets older and parts begin to wear out. This cannot be disputed for eyes. Over time the eye become inflexible, it will be harder to read fine print, your lens will cloud over and will need to be replaced. This is called cataract surgery.

Older eyes means that the eye’s lens is not as flexible as when you were young. Eye muscles are not as strong and cannot flex the lens as well. This causes you to lose near focus (computer work and reading), requiring reading glasses. Further, the lens also begins to cloud over. Instead of being clear it begins to become opaque. Cataract surgery is required to replace the lens with a clear one. The new synthetic lens, however, is not flexible, so near vision might still need reading glasses. No matter the technology, you cannot go back to having young eyes. Cataract lenses are surgically implanted for life.

There are many different types of cataract replacement lenses, called intraocular lenses (IOL), but there are generally two types: monofocus and multifocus. The monofocus lens, the one that can focus at only a single distance, is covered by OHIP (Ontario, Canada). There are other more advanced multifocus lenses that are not covered, but that does not mean they are better for you. The monofocus lens covered by OHIP is also not an inferior lens in any way, and is also not worse for you. All these lenses, covered or not, are different and suitable for different people and lifestyles. Each lens type all have advantages and disadvantages.

The most important decision is between a monofocus and a multifocus lens. Both have advantages and disadvantages. Choose the one that best fits your lifestyle. There are also specialty lenses that correct for astigmatism.

There are also blended options:

• Mono vision: The dominant eye uses a monofocus lens for distance, the other eye uses a monofocus lens for near, and the brain adapts and figures everything out. You get excellent distance vision without night glare and halos, but you also may be able to read without glasses. You will lose binocular vision.

  Monovision can also be done with glasses and contact lenses. While it sounds confusing, your brain does adapt to it. I can do juggling and unicycling with monovision without difficulty.

• Blended vision: One eye uses a monofocus lens and the other uses a multifocus lens, and the brain adapts and figures everything out. This may allow you to get a wider range of vision, meaning no need for reading glasses. You will lose binocular vision. You may also experience night time halos, rings and glare.

If you are into cameras, the monofocus lens is like a single focal length camera lens. It requires less light, has a sharper image, but is less flexible in what images you can take. You may have to step forward or back to frame your desired shot. The multifocus lens is like a zoom lens. You can change the frame of the lens without moving, but you will need more light, and the picture quality is not as sharp.

Take your time to research and choose what IOL best fits your lifestyle and eyes. Some options may be unavailable to you, and some may be undesirable to you. As there are complications with redoing cataract surgery, it is best to choose right the first time.

Research:

Cataract surgery under OHIP takes place locally at St Mary’s Hospital and the cost is usually only a $200 measurement fee to improve visual outcomes. The brand of monofocal intraocular implant lens (IOL) is chosen by HIP and although the surgeon can choose the power of the lens to best suit the patient, there is always some sort of spectacle prescription left after surgery (either for reading, for distance or both).
source

Intraocular Lens Implant Options for Cataract Surgery | A Comprehensive Guide on How To Choose: Dr. Jennifer Wan, from Ardent Vision Eyecare, Richmond Hill, Ontario

Original vision vs cataract lens options, Dr. Uday Devgan

Patient Guide for Cataract Surgery Lens Implant Options: Dr Uday Devgan explains the differences, advantages and disadvantages of all lens types very clearly

Intraocular Lens Options for Cataracts, Sharp Healthcare Monofocal lens with Mono vision

What Lens Should I Choose For Cataract Surgery? | Ophthalmologist Discusses Your Lens Options!: Dr. Michelle Lee also talks about monovision

Which intraocular lens implant to use for your cataract surgery?: Dr Natasha, Senior Ophthalmologist, Singapore, 3:18 Talks about monovision

IOL (intraocular lens) Option: Monovision Lens

Monovision Cataract Surgery: Personal experience with cataract monovision

Monovision Can Eliminate Your Need for Glasses: Dr. Beth Repp

Monovision and Cataract Surgery, Monovision, negatives 1, Monovision, negatives 2

What is Blended Vision: Dr
Dylan Joseph, SA, on what we call monovision

Monovision in Cataract Surgery: frank discussion about monovision, and an example usecase

Balancing risks and benefits of intraocular lens options for cataract surgery: Dr. Rosa Braga-Mele, UofT, 5:27 various IOL options, 6:52 active lifestyle/perfectionist

Special Situations in Cataract Surgery: Patient Education for near vision or mono-vision: Dr. Uday Devgan

Monovision works! But patient selection is key

beautiful cataract surgery: Dr. Uday Devgan, Basic cataract surgery in Real Time, 7-13-14: Dr. Shannon Wong, Cataract Surgery for Monovision: actual surgery footage

Different cataract lens types for different vision needs. Source from Youtube: Lim Ren En Live

What do you recommend? Monofocal or multifocal?: From Malaysia with Dr. Premadeva, discusses the advantages and disadvantages of monofocal and multifocal cataract lenses

What is monovision?

Dr Goldhar

Monovision vs Blended vision

Cataract Surgery with a Monofocal Lens: pretty generic to all cataract surgeries

The Use of Glasses After Cataract Surgery: Dr Dr Graham Fraenkel, South Africa, Monovision discussed at 2:10. He says 10% of patients reject monovision, 3:14 multifocal lens

Distance and Near Vision EDOF, Trifocal is there a way to spectacle independence Dr. Amar Alwitry, Aus

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