Toric Lens Implants to Correct Astigmatism

Question: I was told by my surgeon I should have Toric Lens Implants to correct astigmatism. Is it true that toric must be aligned perfectly, what are the chances of that happening or the lens slipping slightly out of place and what is the consequences. I have astigmatism of 2.25D on my left eye and 1.25D on my right eye.What happens if I have surgically induced astigmatism (SIA) of 0.50 D and it leads to 2.75D for left and 1.75D for right. Could still correct it by glasses at the end. I am very conservative, preferring to keep matters simple so should I go with a 'standard' implant.


Answer: Toric Lens Implants are rapidly becoming the preferred way to correct vision after Cataract Surgery for those patients who have astigmatism. You are correct that the toric lens implant must be properly aligned in order to get the best results. However, the toric lens implants are designed with orientation marks that assist the Cataract Surgeon is the precise placement that is observed through the operating microscope. The orientation challenge does require skill but is well within the reach of top Cataract Surgeons as is evidenced by the very high acceptance and overall patient satisfaction with toric lens implants. Top Cataract Surgeons monitor their results and outcomes and understand any impact of surgically induced astigmatism in "their hands" and make adjustments for this in the pre surgical planning and calculations so there is no need to worry about this. If for some reason you do not achieve the exact correction you expect, yes, you can still have a small correction in glasses after Cataract Surgery for the things you need even sharper vision for.

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