As we age, we end up losing our eyesight, and vision becomes blurry. This condition can be called cataracts, which is the most common cause of vision impairment in the elderly.
It happens because of the changes in our eyes as we get older. Cataracts can also be caused by serious eye injury, genetics, diabetes, or certain medicines.
Cataract surgery is the only option to restore clear vision and remove cataracts. The clouded lens will be replaced with an intraocular lens in the surgery, and this artificial lens will stay permanently in the eyes. Let us learn about the best lenses for cataract surgery 2024.
Best Lenses For Cataract Surgery 2024
Monofocoal lenses are said to be the best lenses for cataract surgery 2024. It has been the traditional choice for carat surgery for many years as it helps have clear vision at a fixed distance, both close or at a distance. Also, Trifocal intraocular lenses (IOL) are the newest lens for cataract surgery in 2024, and this helps create a new focal point in the lens implant to treat age-related blurry vision.
It helps patients have 20/20 eyesight at all distances. There are plenty of lenses suitable for cataract surgeries, but before deciding on lens replacement surgery, there are factors to consider, like visual requirements, daily activities, and one’s tolerance for wearing contact lenses or glasses. The choice of lens depends on your lifestyle, vision goals, and pre-existing eye issues.
The best lens for cataract surgery 2023 was the monofocal lens. It has been the most commonly used lens. However, it focuses on one distance only, whereas other lenses like multifocal lenses and trifocal IOL allow vision at a wide range of distances.
Multifocal lenses are also very popular as it is a great option for those who wish to eliminate their dependency on glasses.
Tecnis by Johnson and Johnson has been known for its innovative shapes and high-quality optics. The IOLs are made of acrylic, silicone, and other plastic compositions and are coated with a special material to protect the eyes from harmful UV rays.
Cataract Surgery Lens Options
There are various cataract surgery lens options available these days, and two main categories of lenses include;
➰ Standard IOL Artificial Lens
Standards IOL is a monofocal lens designed to help improve vision at a single distance. This lens is highly effective and has been used widely. However, a reading glass would be required to correct any residual vision problems.
➰ Premium IOL (toric lenses and more)
Premium lenses provide a vast solution for cataracts. There are various subtypes of premium lenses, such as;
- Toric lenses: This lens for cataract surgery can help improve crispness and clarity of vision by correcting astigmatism.
- Multifocal lenses: They offer vision correction at various distances, which helps lessen the dependency on glasses.
- Light-adjustable lenses: This lens helps with post-surgery adjustments to improve vision.
- Accommodating lenses: Accommodating lenses mimic the natural focusing ability of the eyes, which provides clearer vision at multiple distances.
- Expanded depth of focus IOLs: This lens helps have clever vision across multiple distances by providing extended depth of focus.
Things To Consider When Opting For Cataract Surgery
Contact lenses are prone to irritate your eyes, which can result in delayed cataract surgery. Also, when going for the surgery, ensure you are not wearing any facial creams, lotions, makeup, or aftershave. Instead, clean the face with soap and water.
People with serious medical conditions or poor health do not qualify for cataract surgery. Also, those with detached retina or macular degeneration cannot go for the surgery. You should consider getting cataract surgery when vision loss affects your everyday activities like driving, reading, watching TV, and more.
It is not healthy to delay the cataract surgery as it has no advantage. There is no point in delaying the surgery when it might increase the risk of complications.
Once the cataract surgery is over, ensure soap or shampoo does not get into the eyes, and do not perform any exercises or housework that will strain the eyes. Also, do not drive unless the doctor tells you to. You should not use any eye makeup or other products on the eyes for at least 4 weeks.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, Monofocal lenses are the most commonly used choice for cataract surgery. However, there are plenty of innovative lenses available today that not only help get clearer vision at one fixed distance but also at a wide range of distances.
The various lenses for cataracts include monofocal, toric lenses, accommodating IOLs, monovision, progressive lenses, light adjustable lenses, extended depth of focus, visual perception, and Rayner lenses.
Also, a newly launched lens called Symfony lens is quite popular as it is more efficient and has been approved by the FDA. however, before choosing the lenses for cataract surgery, you should consider factors like lifestyle, pre-existing eye problems, and vision goals.
References
- National Eye Institute (n.d) Cataracts Available Online at: https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/cataracts
- American Academy of Ophthalmology (2024) What Are Cataracts? Available Online at: https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/what-are-cataracts
