Toric Lens Implants for Astigmatism
Have you dreamed of fixing your cataracts and being free from wearing eyeglasses? If you have cataracts and astigmatism, you can kill two birds with one stone (or one surgery) so to speak. The solution involves toric lens implants for astigmatism, and it is a great option.
Cataracts and Astigmatism
Cataracts and astigmatism often go hand in hand. In fact, one-third of all people with cataracts have at least a mild astigmatism. Even in people who don’t have cataracts, about one-third still have mild astigmatism, with about 10 percent of people having fairly significant astigmatism of more than one diopter.
Older lenses used in cataract surgery could not correct for astigmatism, but new technology in toric intraocular lenses (IOL) has revolutionized cataract surgery. Toric lenses for astigmatism work much like toric soft contact lenses. The IOL contains different powers in the lens to correct the vision asymmetry that is characteristic of astigmatism.
What is the surgery like?
Cataract surgery using a toric lens implant is the same as a conventional cataract surgery. There is a bit more preparation work involved in the pre-surgical period. Our Elmquist Eye Group cataract surgeons will take more detailed eye measurements during your pre-operative assessment to ensure that we are choosing the best toric IOL for your needs. Our surgeons will also choose the best orientation of the lens to correct the asymmetry of your eye. Toric lenses contain special hash markers on the lens so that the surgeon can optimally orient the lens during the surgery. In other words, the surgeon can place the IOL implant, then rotate it for the best optimal alignment.
Cataract surgery is one of the most common and safest surgical procedures you can have. There are very few complications, but sometimes, patients experience itchiness and redness that goes away after a couple of days. Toric IOL implants provide patients with excellent results for correcting astigmatism. Our patients are highly satisfied with their surgical outcomes.
Your choice of surgeon matters. Elmquist Eye Group has been providing excellent eye care for nearly 25 years in southwest Florida. Our highly trained surgeons are experts in the proper implantation of toric lenses, a procedure that is more challenging than conventional IOL implantation.
Even small placement errors or small movements of a toric lens after implantation can blur vision. Our surgeons have tremendous experience at perfectly aligning toric IOLs so they do not rotate after implantation. We perform this quick, painless surgery as an outpatient procedure that takes about an hour while we replace your clouded cataract lens with a new toric lens to correct your astigmatism.
The toric lens implants for astigmatism feel and function so much like your natural lens that you won’t even know the difference. If you have a desire to correct your cataracts and astigmatism at the same time, come see our exceptional doctors at Elmquist Eye Group. We have convenient Fort Myers and Cape Coral locations, and you will be very pleased at the outstanding eye care you receive while in our care.