Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Premium IOL
(Presbyopia-Correcting Intraocular Lenses) & Lens Replacement Surgery

1. What are IOLs?
2. Who can benefit from Premium Intraocular Lens replacement surgery?
3. How do premium lenses differ from traditional ones?
4. What is the difference between Multifocal and Accomodating Premium IOLs?

What are IOLs?

IOL is the acronym for intraocular lens. There are several names for the same type of cataract eye surgery: Premium IOL Surgery, Premium Lens Implants, Intra-ocular Lens Implantation, and so on. Intraocular lenses can be implanted in any cataract patient who wishes to rid themselves of glasses, contact lens or bifocals (please see the following questions for more information).

Who can benefit from Premium Intraocular Lens replacement surgery (Premium IOLs)?

Any cataract patient who, in addition to restoring their distance vision, wants to improve their full range of vision, thus minimizing their dependence on glasses, reading glasses or bifocals (presbyopia).

Generally speaking, the best candidates for an accommodating IOL include people who have both cataracts and hyperopia, which causes near vision problems. Good candidates for this type of lens also include people who had good vision prior to developing presbyopia, which then created the need for reading glasses for near vision.

How do premium lenses differ from traditional ones?

Standard lens implants restore vision at a fixed focal length. Premium IOLs are designed to restore vision at all distances—near, immediate and far.

The Acrysof ReSTOR® lens allows for continuous vision up close, far away and at all distances in between - in most cases with patients experiencing the same vision they had when they were younger, without the inconvenience of corrective lenses. In contrast, standard (single vision, fixed focus) lens implants provide vision at a fixed distance and do not have the ability to provide a full range of near, intermediate and far vision. Most people with single vision implants must wear glasses for near vision and may need to wear glasses for intermediate/arm’s length vision as well.

What is the difference between Multifocal and Accomodating Premium IOLs?

Both are Premium (presbyopia-correcting) Intraocular Lenses.

Multifocal IOLs contain different zones to sharpen vision at multiple distances — similar to progressive lenses in eyeglasses.

In contrast to the Acrysof ReSTOR® multifocal IOL, the Crystalens® is designed to change shape, simulating the natural lens. However, the new vision is less predictable than with the ReSTOR® multifocal lens.

Both multifocal and accommodating types of presbyopia-correcting IOLs have advantages and disadvantages. So you should ask your eye surgeon to clarify which type of presbyopia correcting lens, if any, might work best for your particular vision needs.