Toric Lens Implant for One Eye

Question: I had a cataract removed from my right eye approximately 8 years ago now my left eye needs cataract surgery. My question is my cataract surgeon offered me the toric lens les implant for astigmatism. But I don't have it in the right eye and I have astigmatism in both eyes. I need glasses to see far with my right eye after I had my cataract removed.  So would the toric lens be a benefit or not?

Answer: It is difficult to answer the question as you do not state the amount of astigmatism that you have remaining in the right eye. If you have an amount and orientation of astigmatism in the right eye that is correctable with Limbal Relaxing Incisions (LRI)-a minor procedure-when you have the toric lens implant in the left eye after your cataract surgery it is quite probable that you would not need to wear glasses to see at distance. Under these circumstances have a toric lens implant n the left eye and the astigmatism correction procedure in the right has some real advantages. If however there is no chance of correcting the residual astigmatism in the right eye, the advantages of having a toric lens might be diminished as you would still need to wear glasses even with the toric lens as the right eye would require correction.

Important Note: The information presented on the About Cataract Surgery Blog or provided in response to a request for information in the Ask Cataract Surgeons section on aboutcataractsurgery.com is not intended to diagnose or treat eye problems, eye conditions or eye diseases including appropriateness of treatment, risks, complications or side effects as related to Cataracts, Cataract Surgery or Lens Implants. In particular a response to an inquiry made on the Ask Cataract Surgeons section of aboutcataractsurgery.com is not meant to take the place of the professional medical care provided by your eye doctor, ophthalmologist and Cataract Surgeon. Contacting us via e-mail or any other means is not a substitute for medical care.

Cataracts with Astigmatism

Question: I have cataracts and astigmatism in both eyes. I have heard there is a procedure that can fix both. I am 65 and have health insurance. How much should I expect to pay after insurance pays?  What is the success rate of this procedure?

Answer: If you have cataracts and astigmatism, and are in need of cataract surgery there are actually two ways to correct the astigmatism as part of the cataract surgery procedure. One way is to use an astigmatism correcting toric lens implant and the other is to have Limbal Relaxing Incisions (LRI). Most insurances, as well as Medicare do not pay for astigmatism correction and ask the cataract surgeon to charge for the incremental cost of the toric lens implant or the LRI procedure. In order to get the best results your cataract surgeon will need to take additional measurements that might include a corneal topography measurement, corneal thickness measurement, aberrometry and ocular coherence tomography-most or all of which should be part of the additional fee charged for the astigmatism correction regardless of which method is chosen. 

Which method is better in your particular case can only be determined by the cataract surgeon after your examination and consultation as it may depend on the degree and orientation of the astigmatism correction you require as well as other factors regarding the health and stability of your cornea. Further, it is not possible to tell you what the out of pocket costs might be as they vary by cataract surgeon, geography and procedure as well as by your insurance co-pay ad deductible allowances as well. The best thing to do is schedule an eye exam and consultation with a cataract surgeon and they should be able to advise you of the scope of options and the fees involved.

Important Note: The information presented on the About Cataract Surgery Blog or provided in response to a request for information in the Ask Cataract Surgeons section on aboutcataractsurgery.com is not intended to diagnose or treat eye problems, eye conditions or eye diseases including appropriateness of treatment, risks, complications or side effects as related to Cataracts, Cataract Surgery or Lens Implants. In particular a response to an inquiry made on the Ask Cataract Surgeons section of aboutcataractsurgery.com is not meant to take the place of the professional medical care provided by your eye doctor, ophthalmologist and Cataract Surgeon. Contacting us via e-mail or any other means is not a substitute for medical care.

Cataract Not Ripe & Clear Vision

Question: I have a cataract that isn’t ripe and wear progressive lenses. About 4-5 months ago I noticed that I have to take my glasses off to see at a distance and I can see clear as a bell. What would be the reason I can see clearly without my glasses?

Answer: What you are describing is often referred to as “second sight’ and accompanies cataract development of certain types in farsighted people. If you have been farsighted and required glasses, as the cataract forms in the “nucleus” of the crystalline lens of the eye, it is often results in a shift toward becoming nearsighted and thus offsets the farsightedness rendering your distance vision clear without correction for some period of time. However, this does indicate that the crystalline lens is changing and indicates the progression of the cataracts. Even though you might be seeing clearly it is likely that colors are becoming faded, you might notice glare and light sensitivity and difficulty in dim or dark illumination which further indicate the progression of cataracts.

Now, the notion that a cataract has to be “ripe” in order to be removed is completely outdated. Today, with modern cataract surgery and lens implants it is possible to remove a cataract and replace it with a permanent clear lens implant as soon as you personally feel like your vision or mobility are compromised. You need to find the best cataract surgeon in your area and schedule a consultation BEFORE your vision is so disturbed as to cause you more serious symptoms.

Important Note: The information presented on the About Cataract Surgery Blog or provided in response to a request for information in the Ask Cataract Surgeons section on aboutcataractsurgery.com is not intended to diagnose or treat eye problems, eye conditions or eye diseases including appropriateness of treatment, risks, complications or side effects as related to Cataracts, Cataract Surgery or Lens Implants. In particular a response to an inquiry made on the Ask Cataract Surgeons section of aboutcataractsurgery.com is not meant to take the place of the professional medical care provided by your eye doctor, ophthalmologist and Cataract Surgeon. Contacting us via e-mail or any other means is not a substitute for medical care.

Light Adjustable Lens (LAL) Implant for Cataract Surgery

Obtaining the best vision after Cataract Surgery depends on the skill of the Cataract Surgeon both before and during the Cataract operation. In the future it may require his or her skill before, during and after a Cataract procedure. Here is why. It is obvious why surgeon skill is critical during the procedure. However, taking the proper Intraocular Lens Implant (IOL) measurements BEFORE the surgery is also a critical part of the successful visual correction of Cataract Surgery. Patients who have had previous eye surgery such as a Corneal Transplant or LASIK Surgery sometimes are not able to have the most reliable measurement taken and thus require a mild eyeglass prescription after surgery. In the future, a new type of Lens Implant called a Light Adjustable Lens (LAL) may prove to be quite useful to these patients. The LAL allows the Cataract Surgeon to use a laser to adjust the final prescription of the lens implant in order to achieve the best possible vision. By applying the skill of the surgeon to the LAL after the Cataract Surgery it will be possible to "fine tune" the Cataract vision correction and help patients achieve their best.

Houston Cataract Surgeons Edward Wade, M.D. and Mark Mayo, M.D. Join Cataract Surgery Education Web Network

Edward Wade, M.D. and Mark Mayo, M.D. of The Eye Center of Texas in Houston have joined the cataract, cataract surgery and lens implant patient education website, AboutCataractSurgery.com. The site offers patients up to date facts and information about symptoms of cataracts, the cataract surgery procedure, lens implants and detailed patient friendly information about the cataract surgery experience, types of lens implants to consider, how to prepare for cataract surgery, cataracts and astigmatism and complications of cataract surgery. It is designed to help patients with cataracts understand their condition and provide them with questions to discuss with their cataract surgeon in order to help them make the best eye care choices. Patients considering cataract surgery in Houston can visit the Cataract Surgeon Directory and will be pleased that Drs. Wade and Mayo have joined this site to help give patients access to the things they need to know.

Cataract Surgery Considerations

With the "greying" of America causing a demographic shift in our population, more and more people will come of the age where learning about Cataract Surgery is important. The number of "baby boomers" who have entered and will enter the 55+ group is creating a need for for people to become aware of the inpact of cataracts of how modern cataract surgery can help them retain and enjoy the lifestyle they have become used to. While cataracts can affect vision as we get older, catatact surgery and advanced technology lens implants can help to preserve and maintain access to the daily activities and freedom that good vision provides. Take time to learn about cataracts and cataract surgery by visiting http://www.aboutcataractsurgery.com/ or if you are considering other types of Laser Eye Surgery such as LASIK to help correct your vision, visit http://www.seewithlasik.com/ to learn about Laser Vision Correction.