Introduction
Patients who have significant amounts of astigmatism may want to consider and discuss with Rex Hamilton, MD your candidacy for a specialty implant called a toric intraocular lens.
Astigmatism, which occurs due to a cornea that has a football rather than a basketball shape, can create blur and double images when viewing objects at any distance. Standard (monofocal), multifocal and accommodating IOLs can improve nearsightedness and farsightedness but not astigmatism.
Toric IOLs are uniquely designed to reduce astigmatism and may be an option for patients who are having lens exchange surgery with or without cataracts. To obtain the best vision without glasses following lens surgery, the Toric IOL is the best option for patients with significant astigmatism. Ask Rex Hamilton, MD about astigmatism and if you would benefit from the Toric IOL technology.
Are There Side Effects?
There are risks and potential side effects to any surgical procedure, including a surgery as common as cataract surgery. Because this type of implant must be specifically aligned in the eye to yield good visual results, accurate preoperative measurement and the skill of an experience eye surgeon are key to success. Even in the hands of a skilled surgeon, there is a very small chance that the implant could slightly rotate inside the eye which could lead to blurry vision. Correction would require a minor surgical revision. Any intraocular lens implant can develop a post-surgery haze called a”posterior capsular opacity” which can be easily treated using a 5 minute laser procedure called a YAG Capsulotomy.
Toric IOLs can be used to provide distance and near vision without glasses when used in a monovision configuration (link to monovision). Because every eye and every individual is unique, it is recommended to discuss the toric lens with your eye surgeon to determine if it may be right for you.