A healthy lens should be clear, but as a cataract develops, your lens’s proteins begin to break down. Their consistency shifts and the lens can no longer keep that sharpness.
Cataracts are among the most prevalent eye disorders worldwide, and most people will likely have cataract development at some point in their lifetime.
Thankfully, advances have been made in cataract surgery. As a result, many affected individuals can get rid of their cataracts and minimize or entirely do away with the need for glasses. It is quite safe, and patients have a wide range of options and an expanding selection of synthetic replacement lenses that help treat other eye issues.
Let us look at the modern advancements in cataract surgery.
New Intraocular Lenses (IOLs)
In the past, cataract surgery meant taking out the hazy or cloudy eye lens and replacing it with an artificial lens called a monofocal IOL, which provided fixed focus for a single distance and usually improved distance vision. However, patients continued to need glasses for intermediate and close vision, while astigmatic patients required glasses for all types of distances.
New artificial lenses have completely changed cataract surgery by resolving these issues.
Monofocal IOLs
Monofocal lenses are single-focus lenses, the most commonly implanted kind during cataract surgery. The term “mono-focal” refers to the fact that it has a single focusing distance. It has three focus settings: up close, in the middle, and far away, based on your requirements.
Most people choose a clear-distance focus, perfect for driving, walking, running, and seeing far objects. In this case, reading and close work usually require glasses.
Additionally, you have the option of “monovision,” which involves setting one eye’s lens to see “far” and the other to view “near.” However, your binocular vision may not be perfect with monovision because you’re just using one eye for objects far away and one for stuff near up.
Toric intraocular lenses
When an eye’s focus is uneven in different directions, for example, stronger vertically and weaker horizontally, the condition known as astigmatism results. Toric intraocular lenses (IOLs) correct astigmatism or uneven corneal shape that causes blurry vision at all distances. These lenses can fix the issue since their strengths vary in different directions and balance each other out. The new lens designs reduce or eliminate the need for corrective lenses and offer sharper vision.
Extended depth of focus
Extended depth of focus (EDOF): These lenses expand their single correction zone to provide an elongated focal point. This makes intermediate and distant vision possible. Although there may be fewer visual disturbances with EDOF lenses than multifocal lenses, glasses may still be necessary for “near” vision.
Multifocal IOLs
Multifocal IOLs enable patients to see at various distances. These lenses allow simultaneous focus on close and far objects for the best eyesight. These individuals frequently no longer require glasses for driving, utilizing computers, or close reading. Toric multifocal artificial lenses are now available as well, and they combine these two advantages.
Final Thoughts
Significant breakthroughs in cataract surgery have left patients with better vision, increased safety, and less reliance on glasses. Patients should still speak with their surgeon and understand the risks and limits related to these sophisticated cataract surgery methods.
