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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

OHIP only covers a basic measurement of the size of your eye to help your surgeon to select the most 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). If you would like to know what IOL options you have, and would best suit your lifestyle and vision needs, then more specialized tests would be required to give your doctor more information about the shape and curvature of your eyes. These specialized tests require an additional fee.

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.
  • An aspheric monofocal lens is designed to provide improved image quality by reducing spherical aberrations. It will provide crisper, clearer images with enhanced contrast and improved low light vision as compared to a spherical lens.
  • Clareon® IOL – is an advanced aspheric monofocal IOL that is made from an enhanced material that provides 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. Learn more about Clareon® IOL

All lenses (monofocal, blended, EDOF, and trifocal) have a toric option. Toric lenses are used to correct for corneal astigmatism, which occurs when the cornea is oval-shaped rather than spherical in shape. From your specialized testing, your doctor will be able to see if you have astigmatism. If you do, using a toric IOL implant will give you sharper vision, and eliminate the need for astigmatism correcting glasses after surgery.

Experience Clear, Sharp Vision with Refractive Monofocal Lenses! The TECNIS Eyhance™ IOL is designed to provide exceptional distance vision with minimal risk of halos, glare, and starbursts at night. Unlike traditional monofocal lenses, the TECNIS Eyhance™ IOL offers improved depth of focus, providing functional intermediate vision. This means it gives you clear distance vision and helps with tasks like using a computer or seeing the dashboard in a car, though you may still need reading glasses for up-close work.

TECNIS Eyhance™ offers Distance PLUS without compromise by extending the depth of focus to give you functional intermediate vision while maintaining exceptional distance vision (Johnson & Johnson Vision)

Key Benefits:

  • Improved Intermediate Vision: TECNIS Eyhance™ IOL extends the depth of focus, offering better intermediate vision compared to standard monofocal lenses
  • Minimal Visual Disturbances: The lens design reduces the risk of halos, glare, and starbursts, providing a more comfortable night-time vision experience (Johnson & Johnson Vision) (Johnson & Johnson Vision) .
  • High Spectacle Independence: Many patients experience a high level of spectacle independence, especially for intermediate distances (Johnson & Johnson Vision) .

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.

Our Premium IOL Options

TECNIS PureSee IOL by Johnson & Johnson The TECNIS PureSee IOL represents a major advancement in cataract surgery technology. This lens improves visual outcomes by enhancing contrast sensitivity and reducing halos and glare, often associated with traditional lenses. It offers high-quality vision, excellent distance and intermediate vision, and functional near vision, providing a high level of spectacle independence (Johnson & Johnson Vision) (Top Doctors) .

TECNIS Symfony™ IOL The TECNIS Symfony IOL uses unique optical technology to deliver sharper distance vision compared to other EDOF lenses. It provides an extended range of vision and is designed to minimize the need for glasses after surgery (Johnson and Johnson Vision) .

Acrysof® IQ Vivity® IOL The Acrysof IQ 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. This lens is suitable for patients with retinal or other visual conditions and aims to provide clearer, more consistent vision.

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 lenses provide a wide range of vision, significantly enhancing your sight. While they offer great improvement, you may still need glasses for reading or other close-up tasks.

Our Trifocal IOL Options

AcrySof® IQ PanOptix® IOL The AcrySof IQ PanOptix IOL is a trifocal lens designed to give you excellent vision in all lighting conditions. It features a yellow filter to block harmful UV rays and blue light, helping to protect your eyes. This lens is ideal for balancing near, intermediate, and distance vision. We’ve seen great success with the PanOptix IOL, providing our patients with improved vision and a high level of satisfaction (Review of Optometry) .

TECNIS Synergy™ IOL The TECNIS Synergy IOL is another advanced trifocal 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 AcrySof® IQ PanOptix® IOL, and schedule a consultation to find out which trifocal lens is right for you

Monofocal IOL

Monofocal lenses are often referred to as the standard lens because they correct vision at a single distance. During cataract surgery, this is the only lens covered by OHIP.

Since it’s a basic intraocular lens, it does not correct astigmatism, meaning you will still need glasses after surgery for activities like reading or seeing at different distances that the monofocal lens doesn’t cover.

There are no additional out-of-pocket expenses for patients who choose this lens, as OHIP covers both the lens and the cataract surgery itself. The basic lens with ascan at the hospital is covered by OHIP

Lens Brands

Acrysof IQ (Monofocal), J&J TECNIS Monofocal

Toric IOL

Toric lenses are similar to monofocal lenses but are specially designed to correct astigmatism, allowing patients with this condition to see clearly at a distance.

However, you will still need glasses to see at other distances that the toric lens doesn’t correct. OHIP, as well as other insurance plans, do not cover toric lenses, so there will be an out-of-pocket expense for these lenses.

Many advanced lens implants include a toric component, which not only corrects astigmatism but also provides an extended range of vision.

Lens Brands

Tecnis Toric

TECNIS PureSee

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

Typically, achieving monovision with monofocal lenses requires using different lenses in each eye. However, the Eyhance IOL allows you to use the same type of lens in both eyes for a more seamless experience.

This is possible due to the unique design of the Eyhance IOL. Unlike a standard monofocal lens, which is set to a single focal point throughout, the Eyhance IOL has a focal point at the edge of the lens that transitions to a nearer focal point towards the center.

This simple yet effective design enhances your vision, providing better clarity than standard monofocals. With the Eyhance IOL, your vision is not solely dependent on the cooperation of both eyes, allowing for improved sight overall.

Lens Brands

TECNIS Eyhance

Multifocal IOL

Enjoy Clear Vision at All Distances! Multifocal lenses offer clear vision for near, intermediate, and far distances, reducing the need for glasses.

Benefits:

  • Multiple Focal Points: Designed to help you see clearly at various distances 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, but they typically diminish over time​
  • Cost: Multifocal lenses are premium and require out-of-pocket payment​ 

Personalized Assessment

Our team will evaluate your needs to recommend the best lens for you.

Lens Brands

J&J Tecnis PureSee, Acrysof IQ Restor, Symfony, Symfony Toric, AcrySof™ IQ Vivity™ Extended Vision Intraocular Lens (IOL), AcrySof™ IQ Vivity™ Toric Extended Vision IOLs, AcrySof™ IQ Vivity™ Extended Vision UV Absorbing IOL, and AcrySof™ IQ Vivity™

Learn More About TECNIS PureSee

Trifocal IOL

Achieve Clear Vision at All Distances! Trifocal lenses provide excellent vision for near, intermediate, and far distances, reducing the need for multiple pairs of glasses.

Benefits:

  • Wide Range of Vision: These lenses help you see clearly for various tasks, from reading to using a computer to driving​ 
  • Convenience: Enjoy improved vision for daily activities like shaving, applying makeup, and writing​

Considerations:

Out-of-Pocket Costs: Trifocal lenses are premium lenses and not covered by OHIP

Possible Visual Disturbances: Some patients might experience halos or starbursts around lights

Lens Brands

Panoptix, Panoptix 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 LensesNon-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 CustomizationStandardized visual outcome based on a one-size-fits-all approach.Customizable to your visual needs, providing a more personalized visual experience.
Surgery TechniqueStandard 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?
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