Advanced Technology Intraocular Lenses
There are now three advanced technology intraocular lenses (IOLs) available ReSTOR® crystalens®, and Tecnis Multifocal®. All are exciting new FDA-approved vision correction technologies that permit boomers and seniors to experience natural, seamless distance, intermediate, and near vision. The advanced Technology IOL is a space-age plastic lens that is surgically implanted to permanently replace the old, hard natural lens of the eye. These technologies have been proven to have the same safety as traditional lens implants, but also provide what many patients say they really want: greater freedom from glasses-including distance glasses and readers. This surgery often allows many people in their late forties and older (with or without cataracts) to return to the vision quality they had when they were younger.

Correcting Astigmatism
The AcySof® Toric lens is a foldable, single-piece lens that an eye surgeon implants during cataract surgery to replace the clouded lens. The unique design of the AcySof® Toric IOL makes it possible to reduce or eliminate corneal astigmatism and significantly improve uncorrected distance vision. AcySof® Toric lens provides quality distance vision, independent of eyeglasses and contact lenses.

The AcySof® Toric lens is made of the same biocompatible lens material already successfully implanted in more than 25 million eyers since 1991.

Who Can Benefit from Advanced Technology Lenses
Only the experienced surgeons at Gerstein Eye institute can determine if a patient is a good candidate for these procedures. The best candidate is over 50, has pupils that are not too large, little astigmatism, and eyes that are healthy, other than having cataracts. Although the lens is FDA approved in patients with cataracts, some individuals without cataracts may be candidates for the procedure. Patients with glaucoma, inside-the-eye inflammation, diabetic retinopathy, macular disease, or other active eye disease may not be candidates for the lens.

Types of Vision Problems Corrected
These lenses can correct most degrees of nearsighted and farsightedness. Astigmatism may be corrected during or after the implantation by performing an additional procedure.