At Discover Vision, our doctors have helped many people just like you to achieve the benefits of Intraocular Lens Surgery, or IOL surgery in Kansas City. Whether you have a cataract and are interested in advanced lens options, or if you simply want to improve your vision with IOL technology through a Refractive Lens Exchange, Discover Vision can help. Advancements in technology paired with medical expertise and precise laser techniques make intraocular lens surgery an extremely precise procedure. Our goal is to provide you with the best possible vision you can achieve with a treatment plan designed for you and your lifestyle. To learn more about IOL upgrades at Discover Vision Centers, schedule a consultation with our team.
Intraocular lenses are artificial lenses made up of a plastic material, silicone or acrylic, and utilized as a replacement of our eye’s natural lens. They are implanted in the eye during a surgical procedure through a small corneal incision following the removal of the natural lens.
As our eyes age, our natural lens inside the eye will lose the ability to see small things up close without the aid of bifocals or reading glasses. This eye condition is called presbyopia and will occur in most people as they reach their early to mid 40’s. Cataracts cause a loss of clarity or a clouding of the lens and will also degrade our vision over time. An intraocular lens can be the solution to each of these problems.
The replacement for the natural lens in the eye is called an intraocular lens implant or IOL. IOLs are made of plastic materials, are about the same diameter as a dime, and should in almost all cases last a lifetime.
Single vision or monofocal IOL’s are the original style of lens implant. As the name implies they have a single focus point for the patient’s vision. Most patients want their unaided vision best for distance so the implant would be powered for this, but, the patient will require glasses to read. Some patients may want their near vision best so a power to focus for near would be selected but this patient would require glasses to drive or see distance. So, with a single focus implant a patient can have one focus point or the other but not both in the same eye.
Multifocal IOL’s are a premium type of implant for those patients that wish to reduce or eliminate the need for glasses and contact lenses at all distances. The current multifocal lenses available give binocular vision that have focal points to allow distance (4-6 feet and beyond), intermediate (arm’s length e.g. computer screen, vehicle dashboard), and near vision (reading a book, cell phone etc).
Premium IOL’s are a group of lenses that are made specifically to reduce the need for one’s dependence on glasses or contact lenses by correcting near and farsightedness, astigmatism and presbyopia.
Toric IOL’s are used to treat patients that have astigmatism. A patient may select a toric lens to correct both eyes for distance and then put glasses on to read or to address presbyopia one eye can be corrected for distance and the other for near which is termed ‘ monovision ‘. This is frequently done by contact lens wearers or those undergoing laser vision correction after age 40.
Multifocal IOL’s are used to treat patients that want to minimize glasses for all distances and activities. This type of lens can also treat astigmatism if it is present. With multifocal implants both eyes are set for distance and the implant allows for focusing at near and intermediate targets.
Light Adjustable Lens implants are a category of implant unto their own. Dr. Doane has been involved with the development of this lens type since 2008 as an FDA principal investigator and he has been implanting them commercially since 2018. The Light Adjustable Lens is an ideal option for patients who want to minimize glasses or contact lens wear. They are ideal for all patients but are incredibly suited for those patients who have had prior refractive surgery, have done monovision in the past or those who put a premium on quality of vision. The reason for this is that the lens implant can be adjusted while it is in the eye. This creates a custom tailored implant for each individual eye based upon the patient’s individual vision needs, lifestyle and activities.
Cataract lens implant surgery is performed on an out-patient basis. It is the most frequently performed surgery in the world with over 4 million procedures performed in the US annually alone. In some cases both eyes are treated the same day and in others it may be separated by days or week(s).
At Discover Vision Centers surgery is performed in our outpatient surgery centers. You should expect to be at our surgery center for 2 hours. The pupil is dilated and various levels of sedation can be used depending upon your needs. It is uncommon to have pain during surgery. Some patients may describe pressure. During the surgery a small 2-3 mm incision is made in the cornea. Your natural lens is removed and the lens implant is placed. An ultrasound handpiece is used to break up the lens into minute pieces which are then gently removed or vacuumed out. The lens implant is then placed behind the iris in the anatomical spot where your natural lens had rested. The corneal wound is self-sealing and the eye should feel normal within hours of surgery. A shield or protective glasses are worn in the first several hours after surgery.
Most patients have markedly improved vision immediately after surgery. It would be expected to have some tearing and foreign body sensation in the first few hours after surgery but by the first postoperative day you should feel comfortable. Most patients should be able to resume light activities the next day and feel comfortable driving the day after their surgery.
Laser vision procedures such as SMILE or LASIK work very well at correcting nearsightedness and astigmatism. As our eyes age and we encounter presbyopia (the loss of focusing ability for near tasks), reading glasses are then required. Some patients that are presbyopic will elect to have one eye targeted for the best distance and the other eye will be a little nearsighted to help with near vision and reduce the need for reading glasses. This is referred to as monovision.
Multifocal IOL’s can work well for presbyopic patients that either do not tolerate monovision or prefer equal or binocular vision. Our natural lens is the root cause of presbyopia and these IOL’s can correct the vision at distance, intermediate and near.
Discover Vision doctors are board-certified ophthalmologists with extensive training. We are here to help you navigate your options and provide you with a clear treatment plan designed for you and your unique lifestyle.
John F. Doane, M.D.
Dr. Doane is a leading lens implant surgeon in the United States. He actively conducts clinical trials for advanced lens technology. Dr. Doane has performed surgery on patients from 42 states and 25 countries.
Any patient with a cataract is a candidate for a lens implant. Without a lens implant an extremely thick pair of glasses would be required to function. Some patients without cataracts are also candidates for lens implant surgery. This surgery is called refractive lens replacement. Patients are typically over age 40 and want to improve their distance and near vision (presbyopia).
At Discover Vision, Full Focus Refractive is a procedure for someone who does not have cataracts but is interested in lens replacement. The cost of refractive IOLs for someone who does not have cataracts is an out of pocket expense. For a patient who does have cataracts, there is an additional cost for premium IOLs, or what we call Full Focus Cataract. For patients who have cataracts and astigmatism the price for Toric IOLs is also considered an upgrade that is paid in addition to the cost of cataract surgery. Several financing options are available through CareCredit, subject to credit approval.
Cataract and lens implant surgery generally is not painful either during the procedure or after. Some patients can report some pressure during surgery. Postoperatively, tearing, foreign body sensation and light sensitivity can be experienced in the first several hours after surgery but this is typically completely resolved the following day.
