What are Intraocular Lens Implants?

By Jonathan M. Frantz, MD, FACS –

If you’ve been told that you have cataracts, one of the first things you’ll learn about are Intraocular Lens Implants (IOLs), the artificial lenses that replace the eye’s natural lens that is removed during cataract surgery.

When you have your cataract evaluation at Florida Eye Health, Dr. Jonathan Frantz and his Specialty Lens Counselor will help you select a lens implant that fits your specific lifestyle and eye health needs, whether it’s a premium refractive procedure with the LenSx laser or traditional cataract surgery. Dr. Frantz is the first and only surgeon in southwest Florida offering Bladeless Laser Cataract Surgery with the LenSx laser.

Below is a summary of your lens options:

1. Bladeless Laser Cataract Surgery with a ReSTOR Multifocal Implant and Limbal Relaxing Incisions (LRI): You may choose a ReSTOR CustomLens implant for your after surgery visual outcome which will greatly decrease your dependence on glasses following surgery. With a ReSTOR lens you can read a book, drive a car, and play golf or tennis with increased freedom from glasses.
2. Bladeless Laser Cataract Surgery with a Monofocal Toric IOL: If you have astigmatism, a Toric IOL makes it possible to treat the cataract and correct the corneal astigmatism at the same time. If you have both a cataract and a corneal astigmatism, you will not regain high-quality distance vision after surgery to remove the cataract unless the astigmatism is also corrected. The unique design of this lens provides significantly improved distance vision and may reduce the need for corrective lenses.
3. Bladeless Laser Cataract Surgery with a Standard Monofocal Lens with Limbal Relaxing Incisions (LRI): If you have a lower amount of astigmatism, you can have your corneal astigmatism corrected with limbal relaxing incisions (LRI) at the same time as your cataract surgery.
4. Traditional Cataract Surgery with Standard Monofocal Lens: This is the only option that is covered by Medicare & most insurances. If you choose to have traditional cataract surgery with a standard monofocal lens implant for your after surgery visual outcome, you may decide to have both eyes corrected for distance vision and wear reading glasses for near vision, or have both eyes corrected for near vision and wear prescription glasses or contact lenses for distance vision. Another option is to have monovision where your dominant eye is corrected for distance vision while your non-dominant eye is corrected for near vision. With monovision, you may not need reading or distance glasses.

Jonathan M. Frantz, MD, FACS, is named in Best Doctors in America and The Guide to America’s Top Ophthalmologists. He and his team of doctors at Florida Eye Health offer a broad spectrum of patientfocused comprehensive care from eye exams and eyewear to bladeless laser cataract removal, treatment of eye diseases,, state of the art iLASIK, and eyelid surgery with office locations in Fort Myers, Naples, Cape Coral, Punta Gorda, and Lehigh Acres.

To make an appointment for your cataract evaluation online, visit www.bettervision.net or call Florida Eye Health at 239-418-0999.