Many people suffering from cataract will have blurry vision, after cataract surgery. Therefore, they will not be free from eyeglasses. In the past IOLs [intraocular lenses] were used for cataract surgery but were not capable of correcting astigmatism. LRI or limbal relaxing incision procedure was used to correct some percentage of astigmatism.
During cataract surgery, the surgeon makes arc-shaped incision near the cornea periphery. This gently reshapes cornea in a spherical shape to eliminate astigmatism. Sometimes, the results are unpredictable.
Fortunately, special kind of IOLs were developed for correcting the issue during cataract surgery. Before you search for eye care near me get familiar with how the specially designed toric IOLs work.
How toric IOLs function?
Toric IOLs are available in different lens powers, so as to correct asymmetric eye power, which is the typical feature of astigmatism. The process of implanting toric IOL during cataract surgery is similar to placing conventional IOL but with some crucial differences.
Before surgery, cataract surgeons take measurement to select an appropriate toric IOL and necessary implant positioning within the eye, so as to fix astigmatism effectively. Visible special markers on toric IOLs peripheral parts allow surgeon to see correct lens positioning. As soon as IOL gets implanted within the eye, surgeon rotates it to offer the astigmatism proper alignment to get the best outcomes.
The use of toric IOLs, during cataract surgery will not increase complication risk but misaligned IOL can cause blurry vision. This will not be easily corrected with contact lenses or even eyeglasses.
Toric IOLs cost
Cost is the main reason many people avoid choosing toric IOLs implant for their cataract surgery. Medical insurance plans cover cataract surgery but cost related to premium lens implant like toric IOLs is patient’s responsibility.
Other factor that toric IOL use is not prevalent as expected is that cataract surgeon finds it challenging to implant toric IOL in comparison to the use of spherical IOL not designed to correct astigmatism.
To eliminate astigmatism efficiently, the positioning of toric IOL inside the eyes needs to be aligned precisely. Moreover, the toric IOL lens has to be positioned securely, so that it does not turn around after implantation. A small error in toric IOL positioning can significantly affect your visual acuity than it could be with conventional IOL.
Choose an experienced cataract surgeon, so that your astigmatism issue can be resolved simultaneously. It even ensures that you will be less dependent on contact lenses or eye glasses, after cataract removal.
