You may have heard that intraocular lens implants (IOLs) can help with nearsightedness and farsightedness if you have cataracts and need to have them surgically fixed. If, however, you suffer from astigmatism, what then? Likewise, as IOLs are able to fix cataracts they can help to remedy this issue. In this article, you will get to find out how cataract surgery may correct astigmatism.
What is called astigmatism?
The eye’s irregular shape, known as astigmatism, is a frequent visual impairment. Astigmatic eyes tend to be more elongated, like an American football, than round. Since of this, just a portion of an item may be in focus because the light is bent more in one way than another upon entering the eye. Glasses, contacts, or surgery can effectively correct the majority of instances of astigmatism.
What You Need to Know About Astigmatism and Cataract Surgery
Accuracies of Toric Intraocular Lenses
Cataract surgery can be performed in a number of different methods to correct astigmatism. The clouded lens may often be replaced with a toric IOL, a quality intraocular lens.
Like with astigmatic contact lenses, a toric IOL alters the way light is refracted through the lens to improve vision for those with astigmatism. However, unlike an astigmatic contact lens, which moves about on the surface of the eye whenever you blink, a toric IOL is implanted securely inside the eye, resulting in a more stable correction. Toric IOLs, like toric contact lenses, come in a variety of strengths to address astigmatism.
When a Toric IOL needs to be implanted, laser cataract surgery is the best option. If the corneal incision is made using a laser, the toric IOL may be placed into the eye with more precision.
The Function of Toric Intraocular Lenses
To correct the asymmetric power of the eye, which is typical of astigmatism, toric IOLs have varying powers in various meridians of the lens, much like toric soft contact lenses. Toric lens implant (IOL) cataract surgery is quite similar to traditional IOL cataract surgery, with a few key distinctions.
In order to properly correct astigmatism during cataract surgery, the surgeon must first take measurements to determine the optimal toric IOL power and the necessary orientation of the implant in the eye. Visit http://caiuk.org/can-you-get-a-cataract-after-cataract-surgery/ to read about Can You Get a Cataract After Cataract Surgery?
Toric IOLs are designed with unique marks on the lens’s periphery that show the surgeon which way the lens is oriented to correct for astigmatism. After the toric IOL has been surgically installed, the surgeon will spin the lens to ensure optimal astigmatism correction.
While using a toric intraocular lens (IOL) during cataract surgery, does not raise the risk of frequent problems, a misaligned toric IOL might create a blurred vision that is difficult.
Successful Implantation of Toric IOLs
It has been established through scientific investigation that toric lenses may correct astigmatism following cataract surgery more efficiently than limbal relaxing incisions.
It has been shown that after having a toric lens implant, 94% of patients with astigmatic eyes had astigmatism of 0.50 diopters or less, and 98% had astigmatism of 0.75 diopters or less, allowing them to see adequately without corrective lenses.
Research on the outcomes of cataract surgery has shown that patients who receive toric IOLs report the highest levels of satisfaction with their restored eyesight. Ninety-two percent of patients in one research said they could safely drive at night without their glasses six months following surgery, and 97% of patients who had toric lens implants said they would get the same IOL if given the choice.
Toric Intraocular Lens Price
The higher price of toric IOLs is likely one reason why more people don’t choose them to correct their astigmatism following cataract surgery. Premium lens implants, such as toric IOLs, come with an additional cost above the standard cataract surgery cost that the patient is responsible for paying.
According to a study by eye physicians conducted in 2015 by a major industry analyst, the average cost of cataract surgery with a toric IOL to correct astigmatism is $1,200 per eye. LRI surgery to treat astigmatism, on the other hand, will set you back an average of $520 per eye. The average cost of the more recent, automated LRI-like astigmatism correction treatment using arc-shaped incisions with a femtosecond laser is $1,100 per eye.
One other reason why toric IOLs are not more widely used is that cataract surgeons find them more difficult to implant than standard (spherical) IOLs because of the additional complexity required to adjust for astigmatism.
Effective astigmatism correction requires the accurate placement of a toric intraocular lens (IOL) within the eye, with the astigmatism correction properly matched with astigmatism already present in the eye. The toric intraocular lens (IOL) should be placed in such a way that it does not move about in the eye. In contrast to a spherical IOL, the visual acuity of a patient following surgery with a toric IOL can be severely affected by even minor mistakes in placement. You can also read about Do limbal relaxing incisions during cataract surgery still have a role by clicking here.
Incisions for Calming
During cataract surgery, your doctor may recommend making a few tiny incisions in your eye to correct your astigmatism instead of or in addition to a toric IOL. Small yet deep cuts are made around the cornea’s periphery, a process known as limbal relaxing incisions (LRI), with the goal of correcting the curvature of the eye.
How your surgeon makes the incisions to relax your limbs will determine how they turn out. The incisions for LRI may be made safely and efficiently by most surgeons who offer it; but, the degree to which they can correct your astigmatism will vary from person to person. LRI can correct astigmatism completely in the vast majority of patients. Surgery with a laser, such as LASIK or PRK, may be recommended if further correction is required. However, either a toric IOL or LRI can work adequately to treat astigmatism in the vast majority of patients.
Astigmatism Cataract Surgery
Cataract removal surgery is the most efficient and risk-free option. The technique, however, is not appropriate for everyone. If you’re having trouble with driving, reading, using a computer, or reading text messages because of your cataracts, you may want to look into surgery. Cataract surgery might not be needed if your eyesight loss is less severe than that.
The first step in figuring out if you’re a good candidate for cataract surgery is to get a thorough, individual assessment from an ophthalmologist.