Introduction
Having to frequently take reading glasses on and off is inconvenient for many people. Because of this, a person might wear reading glasses around their neck, scatter multiple pairs around the house or wear bifocals all the time. With today’s advanced lens procedures, patients now have a choice in the type of lens that is implanted during cataract or clear lens extraction surgery. Unlike conventional “single vision” intraocular lenses (IOLs), accommodating IOLs are lens implants that are designed to help patients see at varying distances using different points of focus. The goal of an accommodating IOL is to provide functional vision at different distances to minimize the use of glasses. Although they might still prefer to wear glasses for prolonged reading, the vast majority of accommodating IOL patients experience freedom from glasses for tasks such as driving, watching TV, using their cell phone and computer, looking at photos, reading magazines, price tags, product labels, receipts, and menus.
How Does an Accommodating IOL Work?
The Accommodative IOL (intraocular lens implant) is designed to mimic the movement of the natural crystalline lens of the eye. When we are younger, the natural lens is very flexible and easily moves back and forth within the eye as we change our visual focus from up close to distance objects. As we age however, most commonly in our early to mid 40s, the eye loses its flexibility and can no longer easily accommodate those changes in our focus. To imitate the action of the young natural lens, the accommodating IOLs are able to move and/or change shape inside the eye to allow focus at multiple distances. While current technology accommodating IOLs are able to provide some range of focus, they cannot replicate the amazing range of vision you had when you were 20 years old.