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What is an IOL?

During cataract surgery, the clouded lens of the eye is removed and replaced with a clear, synthetic intraocular lens (IOL), reversing the effects of cataracts and restoring visual clarity. If a standard, monofocal IOL is implanted, the patient will likely still need corrective eyewear after surgery for near or intermediate vision, or to correct astigmatism. Patients that prefer more visual independence after surgery and less reliance on glasses or contact lenses after may choose to upgrade to an advanced IOL.

When the eye is unable to properly bend (refract) light onto the retina, it cannot produce clear images. This is called a refractive error, and may impact the ability to clearly see distant objects (myopia, or nearsightedness) or near objects (hyperopia, or farsightedness). Other refractive errors include astigmatism, which is caused by an irregular curvature of the lens or cornea, and presbyopia, an inability to focus on nearby objects caused by aging of the lens.

In patients with refractive errors, an advanced IOL can be placed to improve the eye’s ability to properly focus light, resulting in improved vision. Some of our patients who have not been diagnosed with cataracts choose to undergo the same procedure, known as refractive lens exchange in the absence of cataracts, with the goal of achieving clearer vision through the help of advanced IOLs.

To learn more about how you may be able to improve your vision using advanced IOLs, we invite you to read on for more information about the many options available to our patients in the San Diego area.

Light Adjustable Lens™

light adjustable lensGordon Schanzlin New Vision Institute is proud to be the first practitioner in San Diego to offer the revolutionary Light Adjustable Lens from RxSight®. Thanks to state-of-the-art photoreactive materials, the Light Adjustable Lens allows us to fine-tune a patient’s vision after the lens has been implanted.

Once a patient’s eye has healed after cataract surgery with Light Adjustable Lens implantation, the patient returns to our offices for painless and non-invasive adjustments to the lens using a special light. This light makes minute adjustments to the shape of the lens, allowing our surgeons to correct vision to a phenomenal degree of accuracy. Most patients require just a few light treatments to achieve optimal vision, at which point the lens power is Trusetd Source Checkbox Trusted Source Customizing Your Vision RX Sight Go to Source permanently locked into place .

According to recent research, patients who receive Light Adjustable Lenses are more than twice as likely as recipients of standard IOLs to achieve Trusetd Source Checkbox Trusted Source Summary of Safety and Effectiveness (SSED) of Light Adjustable Lens and Light Delivery Device system US Food and Drug Administration Go to Source 20/20 distance vision .

AcrySof® IQ PanOptix® Trifocal IOL

acrysof IQ Panoptix trifocal iol Trusetd Source Checkbox Trusted Source AcrySof® IQ PanOptix® Directions for Use. Go to Source PanOptix Trifocal Intraocular Lens Implant IOLPanOptix is the the first trifocal IOL approved by the FDA, and it is currently the only trifocal IOL available in the United States. This IOL is innovative because it is designed to improve near, intermediate and distance vision while reducing or eliminating the need for reading glasses. PanOptix can provide more ease for a variety of activities, including reading and screen-time, and it may be a great option for patients with active lifestyles.

Gordon Schanzlin New Vision Institute is committed to bringing the most advanced vision correction options to San Diego. PanOptix utilizes ENLIGHTEN Optical Technology to provide an exceptionally high light utilization and less pupil dependence than traditional multifocal IOLs. Since its introduction in 1990, the AcrySof IQ IOL has been implanted more than 120 times across the world. In an Trusetd Source Checkbox Trusted Source Alcon Introduces AcrySof IQ PanOptix Trifocal IOL in the U.S., the First and Only FDA-Approved Trifocal Lens Alcon. (n.d.). Go to Source FDA clinical study , more than 99% of patients who had received this IOL reported that they would choose the PanOptix again.

Tecnis Symfony® – Depth of Focus Intraocular Lens

Tecnis symfonyThe Symfony intraocular lens provides an extended range of vision by increasing depth of focus. Individuals with active lifestyles who wish to see clearly for distance, intermediate and some near activities will be well suited for this lens. The Symfony lens allows for a range of vision as well as having features that improve overall quality of vision. This lens also has the ability to correct for some ranges of astigmatism. Trusetd Source Checkbox Trusted Source Tecnis Symfony IOL Johnson & Johnson Surgical Vision Go to Source In clinical studies the Symfony lens demonstrated a low incidence of glare and halo and was developed to reduce spherical aberrations that have been noted in other intraocular lens implants.

ReSTOR ® Lens Implant

AcrySof® ReSTOR multifocal IOLs can improve the full range of your vision after cataract surgery. These advanced IOLs have revolutionized cataract surgery in that they can help patients see clearly at both far and near distances, potentially reducing the need for Trusetd Source Checkbox Trusted Source ReSTOR intraocular lens implantation in cataract surgery: quality of vision published correction appears in J Cataract Refract Surg Chiam PJ, Chan JH, Aggarwal RK, Kasaby S. Go to Source bifocals or reading glasses .
Restore lens implant
During the procedure, the cataract is removed and the ReSTOR IOL will be placed through the same incision. A protective shield will need to be worn for a few days after surgery; however, most patients are able to resume normal, non-strenuous daily routines the day after the procedure. As with all IOLs, any heavy lifting, swimming, frequent bending, and other physical activities should be avoided for about two weeks following the lens implant procedure. Though every individual heals at a different rate, most patients’ distance vision often becomes very good within about a day or two, and near vision typically improves after about one week.

Tecnis® Multifocal IOL

The Tecnis Multifocal IOL is an advanced lens implant that can accommodate for a range of distances. Available in three separate models, this innovative lens option has concentric rings that split light between different distances, enabling patients to achieve high-quality near, intermediate, and distance vision. It can often be Trusetd Source Checkbox Trusted Source Johnson & Johnson Surgical Vision, Inc. TECNIS® Multifocal 1-Piece IOL DFU, Models ZKB00 and ZLB00 Go to Source beneficial for those who have refractive lens exchange procedures, as well as cataract surgery patients with or without presbyopia.

The Tecnis Multifocal lens is designed to not only reduce the effects of presbyopia, but also to help patients clearly focus at a range of distances even in low-light conditions. In fact, the Tecnis Multifocal lens has proven so effective, many patients report that their need for eyeglasses has been significantly reduced or even completely eliminated.

Alcon AcrySof® IQ Vivity® IOL

The Vivity lens from Alcon uses leading-edge technology to offer an advanced multifocal experience. This non-diffractive Extended Depth of Focus IOL is an exciting new option for cataract surgery patients who are seeking to improve their intermediate and distance vision while also correcting age-related near vision loss due to presbyopia in order to Trusetd Source Checkbox Trusted Source AcrySof™ IQ Vivity™ Extended Vision Intraocular Lens (IOL) U.S. Food and Drug Administration Go to Source reduce dependence on reading glasses . The IQ Vivity™ Toric Extended Vision IOL is also available for patients with astigmatism.

What makes the Vivity lens different from other multifocal IOL options is the exclusive X-Wave™ technology which is the first of its kind. This innovation reduces post-procedure side effects such as glare and halos, which are visual disturbances that sometimes occur with other lenses, especially when driving at night. X-Wave also filters blue light and gives protection from UV rays, making it appropriate for a range of lifestyles.

Accommodating IOLs

Accommodating IOLs are designed to counteract the changes to the eye’s lens that cause presbyopia, or the loss of near vision associated with aging. In a young eye, the lens changes shape to allow for clear vision at different ranges. With age, the lens becomes less flexible, making it more difficult to focus on objects up close. This process of the lens’ adjustment to change focal distance is called accommodation, and accommodating IOLs are made to restore this process.

At GSNVI, we offer multiple options for patients seeking accommodating IOLs, including the Crystalens® and the Trulign™ IOL, which can also correct astigmatism.

Contact Gordon Schanzlin New Vision Institute

Interested in learning more about vision correction with Advanced Technology Lens Implants?
Schedule an evaluation to see if you are a candidate.

The Patient Experience

Want to do something that will change your life? Dr Gordon did an amazing job on my eyes. I can't describe what it feels like to see correctly. The people at the New Vision Institute make the visits and process so easy. I have never waited in their waiting room. I always felt valued, safe and most of all confident that Dr Gordon and team were committed to the best possible results. I highly recommend them.

Chris W.
Trused Source Icon - Checkbox Sources

1 RX Sight. Customizing Your Vision. Available: https://www.rxsight.com/us/customizing-your-vision/. Accessed July 15, 2020.

2 US Food and Drug Administration. Summary of Safety and Effectiveness (SSED) of Light Adjustable Lens and Light Delivery Device system. Available: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cdrh_docs/pdf16/P160055B.pdf. Accessed July 15, 2020.

3 Alcon. (n.d.). Alcon Introduces AcrySof IQ PanOptix Trifocal IOL in the U.S., the First and Only FDA-Approved Trifocal Lens [Press release].https://www.alcon.com/media-release/alcon-flagship-acrysofr-intraocular-lens-reaches-100-million-implants-and-counting. Accessed July 15, 2020.

4 AcrySof® IQ PanOptix® Directions for Use.

5 Johnson & Johnson Surgical Vision. Tecnis Symfony IOL. Available: https://www.jnjvisionpro.com/products/tecnis-symfony%C2%AE-iol. Accessed July 31, 2023.

6 Chiam PJ, Chan JH, Aggarwal RK, Kasaby S. ReSTOR intraocular lens implantation in cataract surgery: quality of vision [published correction appears in J Cataract Refract Surg. 2006 Dec;32(12):1987]. J Cataract Refract Surg. 2006;32(9):1459-1463. doi:10.1016/j.jcrs.2006.04.015. Accessed July 15, 2020.

7 TECNIS® Multifocal 1-Piece IOL DFU, Models ZKB00 and ZLB00. Santa Ana, Calif. Johnson & Johnson Surgical Vision, Inc. Accessed July 15, 2020.

8 U.S. Food and Drug Administration. AcrySof™ IQ Vivity™ Extended Vision Intraocular Lens (IOL) (Model DFT015), AcrySof™ IQ Vivity™ Toric Extended Vision IOLs (DFT315, DFT415, DFT515), AcrySof™ IQ Vivity™ Extended Vision UV Absorbing IOL (DAT015), and AcrySof™ IQ Vivity™ Toric Extended Vision UV Absorbing IOLs (DAT315, DAT415, DAT515) – P930014/S126. Available: https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/recently-approved-devices/acrysoftm-iq-vivitytm-extended-vision-intraocular-lens-iol-model-dft015-acrysoftm-iq-vivitytm-toric Accessed November 19, 2020.

The doctors at Gordon Schanzlin New Vision Institute have either authored or reviewed and approved this content.

Give us a call at: 858.455.6800 or fill out the form below to request a vision consultation!