Cataract Surgery Lens Options

If you are considering cataract surgery, choosing the right Intraocular Lens (IOL) is one of the most important decisions you will make before surgery. Ken Kreidl, MD, an ophthalmologist in Boulder, offers multiple advanced lens options designed to help patients achieve their preferred balance of distance, computer, and reading vision. Your eye health, astigmatism, prior LASIK, dry eye conditions, and lifestyle goals all help determine which lens will deliver the best outcome.

Cataract Surgery: Understand Your Lens Options

Understanding the lens options available during cataract surgery is an important consideration during your preoperative visit. Your overall eye health (dry eyes, corneal irregularity, previous LASIK or macular degeneration) and prescription, as well as the amount of corneal astigmatism that you have, play a big part in determining which lenses will give you the best results.

The decision that you need to make is what type of vision you would like to have after surgery:

• Good Distance Vision – but wear reading glasses
• Good Reading Vision – but wear distance glasses
• Good Distance, Computer, and Reading Vision – glasses may still improve vision

What are the Main Intraocular Lenses at BMC?

Single Vision (Eyhance)

Can be used for distance vision OR reading vision.

• If you choose distance vision, you would need to wear glasses for reading.
• If you choose reading vision, you would need to wear glasses for distance vision.
• This lens does not correct astigmatism; therefore, if you have corneal astigmatism, you will likely see better results by wearing bifocal or progressive glasses.
• This is the only lens type covered by Medicare and insurance, so there is no additional out-of-pocket expense.

Toric (Eyhance Toric)

Similar to a single-vision lens, but it reduces astigmatism.

• Allows patients with astigmatism to see well in the distance OR near
• Glasses are still needed for the other focal range
• Insurance, Medicare, or secondary insurance does not cover this lens, so there is an out-of-pocket expense

Extended Depth-of-Focus (Vivity)

Provides good distance to computer vision and reduces astigmatism.

• Most patients will use reading glasses for near tasks
• Patients with mild corneal or retinal disease can often still do well with these lenses
• There is an out-of-pocket expense

Trifocal (PanOptix)

Provides good distance, computer, and reading vision, and decreases astigmatism.

• Patients may see halos or starbursts in certain light conditions
• Patients with corneal or retinal disease may not do as well with these lenses
• There is an out-of-pocket expense

Hybrid Extended Depth-of-Focus / Multifocal (Odyssey)

A combination of extended depth-of-focus and trifocal technology.

• Good distance, computer, and reading vision
• Decreases astigmatism
• Designed to improve contrast and reduce halos and starbursts compared to older multifocal lenses
• Some halos or starbursts may still occur in certain lighting conditions
• There is an out-of-pocket expense

Hopefully, this will help to simplify the options, and I’m happy to discuss these choices further at your next visit.

Let’s Talk

If you are ready to talk about what kind of lens might be right for you, make an appointment with our Ophthalmology Team today.