Patients affected by astigmatism have blurry vision problems and need corrective laser eye surgery. Constraints exist to wearing glasses and contacts. Often a toric lens has become a common treatment for astigmatism, which is performed during the time of cataract surgery.
What is astigmatism?
Those affected with this condition have problems focusing on objects. The shape of their eyes changes to oval from its normal orientation. The irregular shape creates vision problems for the person. Their vision becomes blurry and distorted at most times. The cataract surgery measures the corneal shape to measure the extent of distortion. If the distortion lists above a certain threshold, it indicates that the person may be treated by toric IOL. For those affected with little astigmatism, they may not need the IOL. The corrective procedure is done at the time of cataract surgery.
Toric IOL vs. Glasses
Toric IOL has the facility to correct astigmatism just the way a pair of glasses provides focal length adjustments. But as is not in the case of the latter, the IOL is instead implanted — providing a permanent way to view objects near and far with clarity. It has been studied that toric IOL gives better vision and optical quality than glasses. The vision correction is in the inside of the eyes. After cataract surgery, the IOL consolidates into its position. This mechanism provides a stable solution for a lifetime.
Glasses are a cumbersome eye accessory if the patient is looking for a long-term solution. A consultation with an eye surgeon at Sugarland Eye & Laser Center in Houston is appropriate for those looking for expert advice on arriving at a decision whether to choose IOL implants or glasses. Generally, for those with acute astigmatism, glasses are not an effective solution. They can get dusty, dirty, and need constant cleaning. But after a toric IOL implant, the person can continue to wear glasses, but this time the glasses will have thinner lenses, lighter in weight and so on.
Toric intraocular lens types
Various types of toric IOLs exist based on their UV protection and high energy blue protection indexes. Some IOLs shield the retina from the sun’s glare. Some others provide UV protection, vision correction, and built-in mechanisms for vision enhancements at the near and far ranges. The objective becomes to reduce the person’s dependence on glasses and reading aids.
The cost
IOL surgeries became covered by insurance companies. Currently, the toric IOL implant is considered an advanced technology given that the patient can solve the problem, although not as effectively, by choosing to wear glasses instead. Cases exist where the medical insurance company will reimburse the medical insurance part and the claimant may have to pay some of their own money for the toric IOL implant. Patients can check with a LASIK eye clinic if they have any specialized programs and insurance covering in this regard. But at the end of the day, this procedure is done by expert surgeons and is completely worth it.
Sugarland Eye & Laser Center leads in providing premium LASIK technologies to Houston, Sugar Land, and the surrounding region. The Center’s award-winning medical director introduced revolutionary technologies such as iLASIK to the region. This technology is used by NASA astronauts, Navy SEALS and Air Force fighter pilots. At Sugarland Eye & Laser Center, you can now receive the same treatment. For more information, please call (281) 240-0478 or visit us at www.houston-lasik.com.
About the Author
Amjad Khokhar, M.D. is Chief LASIK Surgeon at Sugarland Eye & Laser Center. Add Dr. Khokhar on Google+ here.
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http://www.garyfostermd.com/toric-intraocular-lenses/:
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