Can advanced cataract surgery eliminate my need for glasses?

Depending on the lens you choose and your eye health, you may be able to have clearer vision without reliance on glasses.

What types of advanced IOLs are available?

Multifocal lenses provide vision at multiple distances, often helping with activities like reading and driving. Trifocal lenses are designed to provide near, intermediate, and distance vision, which can be helpful for reading, computer work, and everyday activities. Extended depth-of-focus (EDOF) lenses provide an extended range of vision, especially for distance and intermediate tasks, although reading glasses may still be needed for small print. Each lens has different benefits and possible trade-offs, including nighttime glare or halos. Your surgeon will explain which option best fits your needs

Advanced
Cataract Surgery & Lens Options

Cataract surgery does more than remove a cloudy lens. It also gives you the opportunity to choose the artificial lens that can improve your vision.

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What Is Advanced Cataract Surgery?

Cataract surgery removes the cloudy natural lens inside your eye and replaces it with a clear artificial lens, called an intraocular lens (IOL). Advanced cataract technology lenses can help correct astigmatism, improve your ability to see at different distances, and reduce your need for glasses.

Advanced cataract surgery brings together two important technologies:

Advanced lens implants, including toric, multifocal, trifocal, and extended-depth-of-focus (EDOF) lenses, help correct astigmatism or provide a broader range of vision compared to basic lenses, which only offer clear vision at one distance.
Laser-assisted cataract surgery: At West Texas Eye Associates in Lubbock, we use femtosecond laser technology to make precise incisions and soften the cloudy lens for removal. It can also correct minor astigmatism.

Cataract lens options provide near, intermediate and distance vision solutions.

Choosing Your Lens Replacement

Advanced technology lenses are designed to accomplish different goals. Your surgeon will use detailed eye measurements along with information about your eye health, daily activities, astigmatism, and vision priorities to help determine which options are appropriate for you. Your choice of lens can affect how often you need glasses after cataract surgery, but complete freedom from glasses cannot be guaranteed.

Toric technology can significantly reduce astigmatism-related blur. Multifocal, trifocal, and extended-depth-of-field lenses may reduce the need for glasses during various activities. Discuss your options with your surgeon to get a realistic understanding of what to expect after surgery.

Advanced Technology Lens Options

Toric Lens Technology

Designed to Correct Astigmatism

A toric IOL improves astigmatism and distance vision. It will also reduce glare and halos. The toric lens does not correct for presbyopia or the ability to read without glasses.

Multifocal & Trifocal Technology

Designed to correct vision for multiple ranges

Multifocal and trifocal IOLs are designed to provide vision at multiple focal distances. This lens helps most patients use glasses less often for activities such as driving, computer work, and reading.

Extended-depth-of-focus (EDOF) Technology

Allows for vision at two or all three distances

EDOFs are designed to extend the range of clear vision, typically from distance through intermediate distances such as a computer screen, dashboard, or many household tasks. Reading glasses may still be needed for small print or detailed close work. EDOF lenses are also available with toric astigmatism correction.

Basic Monofocal (lens without technology)

A basic monofocal lens is designed to focus vision at one main distance. Patients who choose the monofocal lens typically have their surgeon set it for distance vision and then use glasses for reading, computer work, or other close-up activities. A monofocal lens can also be targeted differently based on your vision care plan.

A basic monofocal lens does not correct presbyopia, the age-related loss of near focusing ability. If you also have enough astigmatism to affect your vision and it is not corrected during surgery, glasses may still be needed for sharper vision.

For Medicare patients, the monofocal lens is covered as part of covered cataract surgery when Medicare’s requirements are met. Coverage and out-of-pocket costs vary by insurance plan, so our team will review your benefits with you before surgery.

How Much Does Cataract Surgery Cost?

What Results Can I Expect?

Modern cataract surgery has a success rate of over 98%, with most patients enjoying dramatically improved clarity, color, and contrast. With advanced IOLs, you may even enjoy the ability to read, drive, and watch TV without glasses. We’ll help you choose the technology that meets your needs.

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FAQ: Cataract Surgery Advanced Technology Lens Options

Basic cataract surgery typically uses a monofocal lens designed to provide clear vision at one main distance.

Advanced cataract surgery may include premium lens implants that correct astigmatism or improve vision at multiple distances, along with laser-assisted technology when appropriate. These options may help reduce your need for glasses after surgery.

Depending on the lens you choose and your eye health, you may be able to have clearer vision without reliance on glasses.

The best cataract lens depends on your eye health, lifestyle, and how you want to see after surgery. There is no single lens that works best for everyone.

Multifocal lenses provide vision at multiple distances, often helping with activities like reading and driving.

Trifocal lenses are designed to provide near, intermediate, and distance vision, which can be helpful for reading, computer work, and everyday activities.

Extended depth-of-focus (EDOF) lenses provide an extended range of vision, especially for distance and intermediate tasks, although reading glasses may still be needed for small print.

Each lens has different benefits and possible trade-offs, including nighttime glare or halos. Your surgeon will explain which option best fits your needs

No. Premium intraocular lenses can be implanted during traditional or laser-assisted cataract surgery.

The two technologies serve different purposes. The laser assists your surgeon with certain steps of the operation, while the replacement lens determines how light is focused inside your eye after surgery. Your surgeon will explain whether either option, or a combination of both, may benefit your vision.

Advanced intraocular lenses are designed to last a lifetime. Once implanted, they do not degrade or wear out.

Basic (monofocal) cataract surgery is typically covered by insurance, including Medicare, but advanced lenses are considered elective upgrades. That means the lens upgrade portion is an out-of-pocket cost.