Which Type of IOL Is Right for Me?

Cataracts aren’t an inevitable part of getting older, but a lifetime of protein buildup on your eye’s lens commonly leads to clouding and loss of sight. Fortunately, cataract surgery is a simple, straightforward procedure that can restore your sight.

At Omphroy Eye Care, board-certified ophthalmologist Dr. Luis Omphroy and the team perform cataract surgery for our patients in Aiea, Hawaii, who develop this very common condition. 

One decision you need to make before the procedure is the type of intraocular lens (IOL) Dr. Omphroy will use for the replacement. Here, he explains the options.

What is a cataract and how does it form?

Near the front of your eyeball sits a clear lens that bends incoming light to focus it on the light-sensitive retina in the back of your eye. The retina then translates the light into electrical signals and sends the information to your brain by way of the optic nerve.

A cataract occurs when the lens becomes cloudy, making everything seem like you’re looking at it through a fogged-up window. This loss of visual acuity can drain the world of color, make it difficult to read, drive a car (especially at night), or recognize facial expressions.

Most cataracts develop due to aging or injury; both change the lens tissue. Some genetic disorders increase your risk for developing cataracts, as can other eye conditions, previous eye surgery, long-term use of steroid medications, and underlying medical conditions like diabetes.

As you get older, the lens endures a trifecta of problems: It becomes less flexible, less transparent, and thicker. All of these cause proteins within the lens to break down and clump together, creating the characteristic clouding.

Over time, the clouding becomes denser, scattering and blocking the light as it passes through the lens instead of refining the focus. The end result is your vision becomes blurred.

Cataracts generally develop in both eyes simultaneously, but not always at the same rate, so your vision may be different in each eye.

Which type of IOL is right for me?

During cataract surgery, Dr. Omphroy replaces your natural lens with a new, clear IOL. Before he can do that, though, you need to decide which type of lens you want and need.

Monofocal lenses

These are the most commonly used replacement lenses, and they’re designed to provide the best possible vision at a single distance. Most people who choose this lens type have the focus set for distance vision, using reading glasses for near-vision tasks. 

But you can opt to have the focus set to close-up vision, using glasses for distance tasks such as driving a car. It all depends on what’s more comfortable for you.

Multifocal IOLs

These lenses have more than one corrective zone built into them, in much the same way as bifocal or trifocal eyeglasses do, allowing you to see both near and far objects.

Extended depth-of-focus (EDOF)

These IOLs have a single corrective zone, but, unlike monofocal IOLs, the zone is stretched to allow both distance and intermediate vision. You still need reading glasses for close-up work.

Accommodative lenses

These IOLs can also correct vision at all distances. They use the natural movements of your eye’s muscles to change focus.

Toric lenses

These lenses have extra built-in correction for astigmatism, an abnormal curvature of the cornea. They’re available in monofocal and some presbyopia-correcting IOLs.

Light-adjustable lens (LAL)

This is a newer type of monofocal IOL, and the only one that can be customized after surgery. We’re able to adjust the lens for any remaining refractive error, including astigmatism, after your eye heals. That means you won’t need glasses for distance vision. Dr. Omphroy makes adjustments through a series of in-office light treatment procedures.

There’s another thing you should be aware of while choosing your lenses: insurance. Most insurance companies only cover the cost of monofocal lenses, considering the other types to be more cosmetic and not a requirement for good sight. 

That means you could be left with a steep bill. Before you commit to anything, talk to your insurance company and find out what they will and won’t cover, so you can make an informed choice.

If you’re dealing with sight that’s blurry and drained of color, you probably have cataracts developing, so come to see us at Omphroy Eye Care in Aiea, Hawaii, to get an accurate diagnosis. To set up a consultation with Dr. Omphroy, give our office a call today.