What are Toric Lens implants?
Toric lens implants are a special type of intraocular lens (IOL). The toric lens is placed inside your eye during cataract surgery or refractive lens exchange operations to improve your vision.
Many people with astigmatism – a common eye condition that can blur your vision – wonder if they can get these advanced lenses. The good news is toric implants are a great option in most cases because they are designed to correct astigmatism alongside cataracts.
Shaped like a rugby ball, toric lenses help to focus light eveningly onto the retina, resulting in sharper vision and reduced dependence on glasses after surgery. In many cases, reliance on glasses will be eliminated completely.
Benefits & problems with toric lenses for cataract surgery
Benefits of toric lens implants:
- Sharper vision without glasses: Toric lenses can significantly improve your distance vision, potentially reducing or even eliminating your dependence on glasses.
- Improved quality of life: Freedom from glasses can to a more convenient, comfortable, and confident way of experiencing the world.
- Long-lasting correction: Toric lenses are designed to be a permanent solution for astigmatism correction.
Problems with toric lenses for cataract surgery:
- Potential for needing glasses still: While toric lenses target distance vision, you might still need glasses for reading or other close-up activities.
- Risk of rotation: In rare cases, the toric lens might rotate within the eye, causing blurred vision. This can usually be corrected with a minor procedure.
- Not for everyone: The suitability for a toric lens solution depends on the severity of your astigmatism and other factors.
Astigmatism that is not corrected with a toric lens
Astigmatism that is corrected with a toric lens
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When a patient has a significant degree of astigmatism, it’s quite clear that a toric lens would be beneficial.
Am I a candidate for toric lens implants? If you have moderate to severe astigmatism, you may be an ideal candidate for toric lens implants for cataract surgery. Professor Muhtaseb will assess your individual situation and determine whether toric lenses are right for you.
There are two main scenarios:
- Uncorrected astigmatism: you don’t currently use glasses or contacts to correct your astigmatism. In this case, your vision after cataract surgery might be blurry or distorted, similar to how it is now.
- Corrected astigmatism: you use glasses or contacts to correct your astigmatism. In this case, you can choose to implant a toric lens during cataract surgery to address your astigmatism. If you choose not to use a toric lens, you might still need glasses or contacts for sharp vision.
