Your Lens Options

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Eye on Lens Technology

Artificial intraocular lenses (IOLs) are implanted in the eyes to replace the natural lenses of patients with cataracts, presbyopia or refractive errors. Advances in lens technology mean improvement in the quality and variety of lenses you may choose from, and are customized to your lifestyle. Our lens options range from standard lenses (covered by OHIP) to premium Lifestyle lenses. Your NTEC doctor can help you decide which lens is the best choice for your needs.

Lens Candidacy

The selection of IOLs for each individual is different and is dependent on specialized tests to give your doctor more information about the shape and curvature of your eyes. These specialized tests require an additional fee.

OHIP only covers the basic measurement of the length of your eye to help your surgeon select the optimal lens power (like glasses prescription) for your eyes. This measurement uses an older technology, and is only suitable if you don’t mind wearing glasses full-time, and elect to go with the OHIP covered IOL (described below).

3 Zones of Vision:

To understand how each type of IOL works, you need to first understand there are 3 zones of vision:

Far Distance

This includes looking at things approximately 3 feet and further away from you, e.g. television, street signs.

Intermediate

This includes looking at things approximately 2 to 3 feet away from you, e.g. dashboard of your car, computer monitor, coffee table or kitchen counter.

Near

This includes looking at things approximately 1.5 to 2 feet away from you, e.g. cellphone, tablet, book.

Monofocals provide vision at 1 zone of vision only, typically for far distance, and you will need glasses for intermediate and near vision. Below are types of monofocals lenses:

A basic spherical monofocal lens provides distance vision and is covered by OHIP. You will likely require glasses to see as sharp as possible for all 3 zones of vision as there is no correction for spherical aberrations. There are no additional out-of-pocket expenses for patients who choose this lens, as A Scan Biometry is the standard OHIP insured measurement performed when proceeding with cataract surgery.
An aspheric monofocal lens is designed to provide improved image quality by reducing spherical aberrations. It will provide crisper, clearer images with improved contrast under low light conditions compared to a spherical lens.
- Clareon^® IOL is an aspheric monofocal that is made from an enhanced material providing optimal image clarity. It also has a yellow filter that helps protect the eyes from UV rays and blue light. Unlike other lenses, Clareon is implanted using the first-and-only automated disposable pre-loaded system, which makes lens implantation during surgery easier, and safer.

Experience Clear, Sharp Vision with Refractive Monofocal Lenses!
The TECNIS Eyhance™ IOL is an innovative monofocal lens that offers distinct advantages over standard monofocals with its modern refractive surface design. Binocularly, Eyhance™ is designed to provide improved range of vision that includes intermediate and distance zones of vision. This means it gives you clear distance vision and helps with tasks like gardening, cooking by your kitchen countertop and seeing the dashboard of your car. You may still need reading glasses for up-close work such as reading the newspaper or using your phone.

TECNIS Eyhance™ offers Distance PLUS without compromise by widening the range of vision to give you functional intermediate vision while maintaining exceptional distance vision.

For more Information on Eyhance™

Key Benefits:

Minimal Visual Disturbances: Exceptional low-light performance, providing a more comfortable night-time vision experience that is equivalent to monofocal lenses.
High Spectacle Independence: Many patients experience a high level of spectacle independence, extending across distance and intermediate vision zones. Especially with its modern surface design of progressive power from the periphery to the centre of the lens, the Eyhance™ achieves seamless binocular comfort in monovision.

Personalized Assessment

Our experienced staff and surgeons will conduct thorough testing and examinations to determine the best IOL option for you. Factors such as your lifestyle, visual needs, and any existing health conditions will be considered to ensure you receive the most suitable lens for your unique situation. Learn more about the TECNIS family of IOLs and schedule a consultation to find out if TECNIS Eyhance™ IOL is right for you.

Enjoy Clear Vision at Multiple Distances with EDOF Lenses! EDOF lenses are designed to provide clear distance vision and good intermediate vision, with some functional near vision. While you might still need glasses for specific tasks, especially for close-up work, these lenses can significantly reduce your dependence on eyewear.

Key Benefits:

Multiple Focal Points: Designed to help you see clearly through multiple zones of vision without glasses
Active Lifestyle: Ideal for sports and daily activities without eyewear

Considerations:

Reading Glasses: You may still need reading glasses for fine print
Glare and Halos: Some patients might experience these under low light conditions, but they typically diminish over time

Our EDOF IOL Options

TECNIS PureSee™ IOL by Johnson & Johnson: The TECNIS PureSee IOL represents a major advancement in cataract surgery technology. This lens uses continuous power technology to extend clarity from distance, intermediate to functional near, providing a high level of spectacle independence. The pure lens design allows for enhanced contrast sensitivity thereby making night time performance comparable to monofocal lenses. (Johnson and Johnson Vision)

TECNIS Symfony™ IOL by Johnson & Johnson: The TECNIS Symfony IOL uses a combination of three Johnson & Johnson Vision proprietary technologies to limit light scatter and deliver sharper vision. It provides a wide range of vision and is designed to minimize the need for glasses after surgery. (Johnson and Johnson Vision)

Clareon® Vivity® IOL by Alcon: The Clareon® Vivity IOL utilizes non-diffractive X-Wave™ technology to offer a continuous extended range of vision while reducing the risk of halos, glare, and starbursts. It expands the ability to actively function day to day without glasses.

Personalized Care

Our experienced staff and surgeons will perform thorough testing and examinations to determine the best IOL option for you. Factors such as your lifestyle, visual needs, and any existing health conditions will be considered to ensure you receive the most suitable lens for your unique situation.

Experience Unmatched Freedom from Glasses with Trifocal Lenses! Trifocal or Multifocal lenses provide a wide range of vision, significantly enhancing your sight across all three zones of vision. (Review of Optometry) .

Key Benefits:

Multiple Focal Points: Designed to help you see clearly through all three zones of vision without glasses
Spectacle-free Lifestyle: Provides more freedom to live your life without depending on glasses all the time

Considerations:

Light Reading Glasses: You may still need reading glasses for prolonged near tasks or very small print
Glare and Halos: Patients may experience glare and haloes at night, but they typically diminish over time

Our Trifocal IOL Options

Clareon® PanOptix® IOL by Alcon: The Clareon® PanOptix® IOL uses ENLIGHTEN^® technology to give you a full range of sharp and crisp vision. It features a yellow filter to block harmful UV rays and blue light, helping to protect your eyes. We’ve seen great success with the PanOptix® IOL, providing our patients with spectacle independence and a high level of satisfaction.

TECNIS Synergy™ IOL by Johnson & Johnson : The TECNIS Synergy™ IOL is an advanced multifocal lens, offering continuous high-contrast vision at all distances. It provides enhanced near vision compared to other trifocals and uses violet-light filtering technology to reduce halos and glare at night, improving overall night vision quality (American Academy of Ophthalmology) (Johnson and Johnson Vision).

Personalized Assessment

Our experienced team will perform detailed tests and exams to determine the best IOL for you. We take into account your lifestyle, visual needs, and any existing health conditions to ensure you get the most suitable lens. Learn more about the TECNIS Synergy™ IOL and the Clareon® PanOptix® IOL, and schedule a consultation to find out which trifocal lens is right for you.

Which IOL fits your Daily Needs and Lifestyle?

We want you to be well-informed when you make this important choice. NTEC surgeons are highly experienced with these premium lifestyle IOLs and exclusively offer options that deliver the best possible outcomes for our patients.

Monofocal (Clareon®)
Refractive Monofocal (Eyhance™)
Toric (Astigmatism Correction)
Extended Range (PureSee™, Vivity™)
Trifocal or Full Range of Vision (PanOptix®, Synergy™)

Monofocal lenses are often referred to as a distance lens because they correct only a single zone of vision, typically in the far distance.

This generally means watching TV, seeing road signs, going for walks, and outdoor activities will be clear but near tasks such as reading the newspaper or looking at the phone will be blurry unless glasses are worn.

Clareon^® IOL is an aspheric monofocal that is made from an enhanced material providing optimal image clarity. It also has a yellow filter that helps protect the eyes from UV rays and blue light. Unlike other lenses, Clareon is implanted using the first-and-only automated disposable pre-loaded system, which makes lens implantation during surgery easier, and safer.

Lens Brands

Acrysof™ IQ Monofocal, Clareon^® Monofocal, TECNIS Monofocal

The Eyhance™ IOL is an innovative monofocal lens that offers distinct advantages over standard monofocals.

Monovision with cataract surgery involves the use of two different powered lenses to provide functional clarity in the far distance zone and intermediate to near zones. It often results in compromised vision as the clarity may not be sharp across all three zones of vision and often requires task specific glasses, such as night driving or reading up close.

With its modern surface design of progressive power from the periphery to the centre of the lens, the Eyhance™ achieves seamless binocular comfort through blended vision. As a result, patients experience a high level of spectacle independence, extending across distance and intermediate vision zones.

This means the Eyhance™ lens gives you clear distance vision and helps with tasks like gardening, cooking, doing up or down the stairs, and seeing the dashboard of your car. You may still need reading glasses for up-close work such as reading the newspaper or using your phone.

View Video

Lens Brands

TECNIS Eyhance™

Astigmatism is when the front surface of the eye called the cornea is shaped differently. Optically it can be considered being in a football shape, resulting in rays of light entering the eye being unable to focus. Instead, light rays spread out as it reaches the back of the retina and results in blurry vision.

Astigmatism can be corrected by Toric IOLs or with glasses. To achieve optimal results with toric IOLs, surgeons need to accurately identify your astigmatic axis and position the lens precisely along that meridian. They often use specialized tools to determine this axis. Toric IOLs feature markers on their periphery, enabling your surgeon to visualize the ideal correction and adjust the lens accordingly.

Many IOLs include a toric component including premium lifestyle lenses that provides clear vision across multiple zones of vision.

Lens Brands

TECNIS Toric, Clareon® Toric

Enjoy Clear Vision at Multiple Distances with Extended Range Lenses! Extended Range or EDOF lenses are designed to provide clear distance vision and good intermediate vision, with some functional near vision. While you might still need glasses for specific tasks, especially for close-up work, these lenses can significantly reduce your dependence on eyewear.

Benefits:

Multiple Focal Points: Designed to help you see clearly through multiple zones of vision without glasses.
Active Lifestyle: Ideal for sports and daily activities without eyewear
- Travel with ease as you explore the new roads with GPS assistance
- Cook up a new recipe from your tablet in the kitchen
- Continue to track your vitals as you go cycling, jogging, or swimming
- Reply to text messages or check emails on the fly

Considerations:

Reading Glasses: You may still need reading glasses for fine print

Lens Brands

Tecnis PureSee™ (Toric), Tecnis Symfony™ (Toric), Clareon® Vivity™ (Toric), Clareon® Vivity™ Extended Vision UV Absorbing IOL

Learn More About TECNIS PureSee™

Achieve Clear Vision at All Distances! Trifocal or Multifocal lenses provides a wide range of vision, significantly enhancing your sight across all three zones of vision.

Benefits:

Spectacle-free Lifestyle: Provides more freedom to live your life without depending on glasses all the time
- Multitask: Clarity when reading documents and using the computer
- Convenience: Enjoy improved vision for daily activities like shaving, applying makeup, and writing

Considerations:

Glare and Halos: Patients may experience glare and haloes at night, but they typically diminish over time

Lens Brands

PanOptix® (Toric), Synergy™ (Toric)

Insurance Coverage

Refractive correction services that are offered during cataract surgery can include special-feature intraocular lenses like multifocal and accommodating IOLs, femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery, and other specialized diagnostics. These services are an additional cost to patients because they are not deemed medically necessary. Newer innovations for cataract surgery aim to enhance refractive outcomes for patients who are hoping to be independent of glasses or contacts lenses but at a financial cost.

Feature	OHIP-Covered Monofocal Lenses	Non-OHIP insured/Premium Lenses
Type of Vision Correction	Improves one range of vision (typically distance).	Can correct multiple ranges of vision (distance, intermediate, and/or near)
Dependence on Glasses	High likelihood of needing glasses for distance and near.	Reduced dependence on glasses for most activities, including reading and driving.
Astigmatism Correction	Not corrected.	Toric lenses can correct astigmatism.
Night Vision	May experience more glare and haloes due to contrast loss at night.	Advanced aspheric lenses can reduce glare and haloes, improving night vision.
Cost	Covered by OHIP (no additional out-of-pocket cost for the lens)	Additional cost not covered by OHIP, varies depending on the lens type (financing options available).
Visual Outcome Customization	Standardized visual outcome based on a one-size-fits-all approach.	Customizable to your visual needs, providing a more personalized visual experience.
Surgery Technique	Standard cataract surgery.	Can be paired with advanced laser-assisted cataract surgery for more precision and potentially quicker recovery.
Patient satisfaction	Basic satisfaction due to standard vision correction.	Higher satisfaction due to enhanced vision quality and reduced need for corrective eyewear.

What Options Are Covered By OHIP, And What Are The Non-Insured Options?