Cataract surgery removes a cloudy lens and lets you choose how you may see afterward. The intraocular lens (IOL) placed during surgery can affect your vision at near, intermediate, and far distances, your reliance on glasses, and whether concerns like astigmatism are addressed. With monofocal, astigmatism-correcting, multifocal, extended depth of focus, and Light Adjustable Lens options available, the right choice depends on your eye health, lifestyle, and vision priorities.
Austin Eye offers a range of advanced IOLs for people undergoing cataract surgery or premium lens replacement. Its team of experienced ophthalmologists uses modern cataract surgery techniques and individualized treatment plans to help patients choose a lens that fits their unique needs and visual goals.
What Are Intraocular Lenses?
Intraocular lenses are artificial lenses placed inside the eye to replace the natural lens after it is removed during cataract surgery or premium lens replacement. Different IOLs can provide different ranges of vision and may reduce dependence on glasses or address astigmatism. Austin Eye offers basic monofocal, astigmatism-correcting, multifocal, extended depth of field, and Light Adjustable Lens options.
Basic monofocal IOLs provide clear vision with the use of eyeglasses. Most individuals with basic lens implants will need bifocals and/or reading glasses to see optimally far and near. We use basic monofocal IOLs with our basic cataract surgery package.
Astigmatism-correcting lens implants or laser cataract surgery can be used for patients to reduce or eliminate their astigmatism. Astigmatism-correction surgery will enable you to see clearly far away without glasses. Most patients with astigmatism-correction will achieve clear vision far away and be able to drive safely without glasses. Patients who choose the astigmatism-correction package will need reading glasses to see the computer and to read up-close.
Lastly, premium multifocal and extended depth of field IOLs are designed to provide the widest range of vision with minimal, if any, need for glasses or contact lenses to see clearly far or near.
The Light Adjustable Lens (LAL)
The light adjustable lens from RxSight is the first and only intraocular lens whose focus can be adjusted after it has been placed into the eye. When the LAL is adjusted after surgery, the performance of the lens can be adjusted, customized and optimized for each individuals’ visual needs.
The light adjustable lens is made of a special photosensitive material that can be adjusted by your eye doctor in the weeks following lens implantation through a series of non-invasive light treatments that take only a few minutes each. You will have the unique ability to test drive your vision until it meets your personal desires and lifestyle requirements. The Light Adjustable Lens delivers superior vision outcomes that fixed IOLs cannot match.
The LAL may be the preferred lens for individuals who:
Want clear vision far away without glasses or want “blended or monovision” where one eye sees clearly far (but not near) and the other eye sees mid/near (but not far).
Want to avoid a nighttime halo effect
Are willing and able to return for 3 to 5 additional follow-up visits that may extend for 2-3 months after surgery
Want the ability to test drive their new vision then adjust the focus of one or both eyes to optimize the way they see after the light adjustable lens has been initially placed into your eye(s)
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Clear vision at all distances – far/mid/near – with minimal use of glasses AND minimal to no nighttime halo when aiming for “blended vision or monovision.”
Adjustability of the lens and your vision using a non-surgical light treatment after you have received the lens
The ability to test drive your vision and customize your vision after you have received the lens using a non-surgical light treatment
Usually the dominant eye is set to see far and mid-range clearly
Usually the non-dominant eye is set to see slightly less clear far away but clearly at mid-range and up-close (near)
Your far vision will be the clearest area of vision
If you have significant astigmatism before receiving the LAL, your vision may be blurred from the astigmatism at all distances
You should wear Rx Sight approved UV blocking glasses whenever you are outside until the LAL adjustments are complete and “locked-in.”
Your postoperative visits will take place at one day and 3-4 weeks after you receive the LAL
3-4 weeks after receiving the LAL, your eye will have stabilized and healed which allows us to adjust the focus of the LAL using the light delivery device (LDD) in our office
After the first LDD treatment, you will notice improved clarity in the eye with the LAL. We will then recheck you one week later.
The LAL can receive up to three (3) LDD treatments to adjust and fine-tune your vision. After each LDD treatment, you will have the opportunity to test-drive your vision and determine if you like the visual outcome.
Once you are satisfied with the visual outcome after the LDD treatments to the LAL, then we will need to apply two (2) “lock-in” LDD treatments to make the visual correction permanent.
24 hours after the final lock-in treatment, you no longer need to wear the Rx Sight approved UV-blocking glasses outside.
The choice is yours. Your options are to have the LAL in the 2nd eye:
On the same day as the 1st eye
1-2 days or 1 week after the 1st eye
More than one week after the 1st eye
Excellent vision far/mid and near with minimal to no use of glasses and with excellent night vision and minimal to no halos around lights at night.
Wear Rx Sight approved UV blocking glasses outside during daytime hours until the final lock-in treatment
Avoid tanning beds until the final lock-in treatment
The lens that is right for you will depend on your ocular health, your occupational needs and your lifestyle.
It is important that you consider your options thoroughly as you only have lens replacement or cataract surgery one time in your life and the decision you make will affect how you see for the rest of your life.
*Fees cover: surgeon’s fee, operating room/surgical center fee, anesthesia fees, and additional refractive surgical procedures (Eg YAG capsulotomy, LASIK, intraocular lens exchange not including the light adjustable lens) for one year after the original surgical date
Light Adjustable Lens by RxSight video
Your Premium Lens Replacement or Cataract Treatment Options
Most patients having premium lens replacement (PLR) have two lens options – A premium multifocal or extended depth of focus lens implant that will correct and optimize your vision without glasses at all distances or the astigmatism-correction package to see clearly far away (Eg Driving vision without glasses). Patients choosing the astigmatism-correction option will use glasses to see mid-range (computer) and near (reading a document).
Because it is not possible to guarantee 100% independence from glasses with any surgical procedure, we advise our PLR patients that “you may still wear some glasses, some of the time, for some activities.”
Intraocular Lens Insurance Considerations
Fortunately, Medicare and most insurance carriers consider cataract surgery, for a visually significant cataract, a medically covered procedure. They do not, however, consider reducing your dependence on glasses to improve your vision as a “medical necessity,” and therefore will not cover the cost associated with any of the intraocular lenses or procedures that are used to reduce your dependence on glasses.
If you have cataracts deemed medically or visually significant, Austin Eye will file your cataract surgery to your medical insurance. You will be financially responsible for any elective portion of the procedure as well as any copayments, deductibles or coinsurance dictated by your medical insurance. At Austin Eye, we provide affordable financing and monthly payment options to suit your budget and to make seeing clearly affordable.
How Premium Lens Replacement and Premium Cataract Surgery Work
Premium Lens Replacement (PLR) and Premium Cataract Surgery (PCS) with a premium lens implant is the latest and best ophthalmic technology used to achieve your personal best vision at all distances without glasses. Premium Lens Replacement or Cataract Surgery patients are able to see well far and near with minimal use of glasses.
This option includes:
A premium technology intraocular lens to provide the greatest range of clear vision for long-distance tasks such as driving, watching TV or outdoor activities AND near vision tasks such as reading or computer work without glasses, in most instances
Treatment of any astigmatism with the femtosecond laser or a diamond keratome
Enhancement procedures at a reduced cost after surgery to fine-tune your vision for one year after the initial surgical procedure if deemed necessary by your surgeon
Advanced diagnostic testing before surgery to image the retina and optic nerve
Premium Lens Replacement with Astigmatism-correction and Premium Cataract Surgery with Astigmatism-correction
Premium Lens Replacement with Astigmatism-Correction and Premium Cataract Surgery with Astigmatism-correction uses the best technology to achieve your personal best vision to see clearly far away without glasses. Patients are able to watch TV and drive without glasses. Glasses will need to be used for mid-range and near tasks such as computer and reading.
This option includes:
Treatment of any astigmatism with the diamond keratome combined with an aspheric lens implant or an astigmatism-correcting implant to optimize vision for long-distance tasks such as driving, watching TV or outdoor activities. Reading glasses are required.
Enhancement procedures at a reduced cost after surgery to fine-tune your vision for one year after the initial surgical procedure if deemed necessary by your surgeon
Advanced diagnostic testing before surgery to image the retina and optic nerve
How Basic Cataract Surgery Works
Basic Cataract Surgery (BCS) will improve your vision at all distances with the use of glasses. Patients will wear glasses full-time to correct any residual nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism following cataract surgery.
This option includes:
Manual cataract surgery performed at our outpatient surgery center
A monofocal, aspheric lens implant which will improve your vision with the use of glasses at all ranges
PCS with PLR Procedure Details
Premium Lens Replacement (PLR) and Premium Cataract Surgery (PCS) are performed in our own, dedicated and fully-certified ambulatory surgery center. You will be in our office for approximately 2 hours, although the surgical procedure itself only takes between fifteen to twenty minutes.
Our surgeons use the best and latest innovations in cataract surgery, such as state-of-the-art surgical instrumentation, topical eye-drop anesthesia (no shots, IV or anesthesiologist), suture-free incisions, and foldable intraocular lenses.
Treating Your Astigmatism
Astigmatism is present when the cornea, or front window of the eye, is curved into an oval rather than spherical shape. A spherical cornea allows your eye to see images crisp, clear and sharp. A cornea with astigmatism will cause blurred or shadowed images at all distances. Many people have astigmatism. You may have astigmatism and not even know it. It can occur along with nearsightedness and farsightedness and, if present, will blur your vision at all distances.
When the lens or cataract is removed, if you have any remaining astigmatism, you will experience blurred vision that will require you to wear glasses full-time to see clearly at all distances. You may opt to have your astigmatism corrected during your cataract or lens replacement procedure to reduce your dependence on glasses.
Both of our premium lens replacement or premium cataract surgery packages involve the use of a diamond-keratome and/or astigmatism-correcting lens implants to help reduce or eliminate your astigmatism so you see more clearly without glasses.
Premium lens replacement and cataract surgery is an outpatient procedure. Typically patients are able to see improvement in their vision almost immediately. Complete visual recovery varies from patient to patient, but most patients return to their normal daily activities within a day or two.
Our eye care team at Austin Eye strives to provide you with the best possible patient experience, highest level of care and visual outcomes possible. We are always available to answer any questions you may have or to provide you with additional information regarding the risks associated with your surgery. We appreciate your trust and confidence in choosing Austin Eye!
Why Choose Austin Eye for Intraocular Lenses?
Austin Eye combines advanced cataract technology with care from experienced, board-certified ophthalmologists. Shannon M. Wong, MD, and John D. Odette, MD, both completed ophthalmology residencies as chief residents, while Max Medert, MD, completed fellowship training in glaucoma and advanced anterior segment surgery.
The practice offers several intraocular lens styles, allowing treatment to account for your vision goals, astigmatism, and desired level of glasses independence. With two convenient Austin locations and a team experienced in cataract and refractive surgery, Austin Eye can help you understand your options and select an IOL that fits your individual vision needs.
Schedule a Consultation in Austin, TX
To learn more about cataract surgery or find the best intraocular lens for your needs and vision goals, contact Austin Eye in Austin, TX, today. Call us at (512) 250-2020 or schedule a consultation online (opens in new tab).
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