Blog post by: Eye Physicians of Long Beach
Toric lenses are a comprehensive solution for cataract surgery patients with astigmatism. They address the refractive error and cataracts simultaneously, offering a transformative visual experience. With a toric lens, patients can achieve greater independence from glasses or contact lenses after cataract surgery.
Keep reading to learn more about what a toric lens is and how to know if you might need one!
When Do You Need Cataract Surgery?
A cataract is the clouding of the natural lens of your eye. It occurs when proteins break and accumulate inside your lens.
Initially, cataracts often don’t cause obvious symptoms. As they progress, you may experience symptoms such as blurred vision, frequent prescription changes, difficulty seeing at night, halos, glare, light sensitivity, and double vision.
When these symptoms start to affect your day-to-day life, your ophthalmologist will recommend cataract surgery. Cataract surgery is the only way to eliminate cataracts.
During cataract surgery, your surgeon will remove the cataract-affected lens and implant an intraocular lens (IOL) in its place. The new IOL helps you see clearly again.
What is Astigmatism?
Astigmatism is a type of refractive error. Usually, the cornea, the clear front layer of your eye, has an even, round shape, much like a basketball.
This allows light entering your eye to focus sharply on your retina so you can see clearly. But with astigmatism, the cornea has an irregular shape like a football.
The uneven shape prevents incoming light from focusing properly on your retina, causing blurred and distorted vision both near and far.
What is a Toric Lens?
In the past, cataract surgery patients with astigmatism had no IOL option that would address the refractive error. If they wished to reduce or eliminate their dependence on visual aids, surgeons would perform LASIK or refractive surgery after cataract surgery to fix their astigmatism.
Toric IOLs have revolutionized cataract surgery. Today, patients can easily correct their pre-existing astigmatism at the time of cataract surgery with a toric lens.
A toric lens is a type of intraocular lens specially designed to correct astigmatism. These IOLs have a unique shape that compensates for the uneven corneal curvature that causes astigmatism.
This eliminates the need for additional procedures or reliance on visual aids to achieve clear vision after cataract surgery. A toric lens considerably reduces astigmatism and delivers excellent distance vision.
How Can You Tell if You Need a Toric Lens?
A toric lens may be right for you if you have moderate to significant corneal astigmatism and are seeking a permanent alternative to contact lenses or glasses after cataract surgery. It can significantly reduce or even eliminate the need for corrective eyewear at a particular distance, allowing you to perform most routine activities without visual aids.
The toric IOL can also be an appropriate choice if you have realistic expectations. Although it can effectively correct astigmatism, providing sharper, clearer vision, it might not completely eliminate the need for contacts or glasses.
You may still require prescription lenses for a few tasks, such as reading and other near vision activities. While a toric lens has clear advantages, it might not be appropriate for everyone.
Ultimately, you’ll need to undergo a thorough evaluation with your ophthalmologist to determine if a toric lens is the most suitable option for your eye health, visual goals, and lifestyle.
What Happens During Cataract Surgery with a Toric IOL?
Prior to your procedure, your surgeon will take precise eye measurements to determine the axis and magnitude of astigmatism. These measurements will ensure proper toric IOL selection. They may also put small markings on the edge of your cornea to enable accurate positioning of the toric lens.
During cataract surgery, numbing eye drops will be applied to prevent any pain or discomfort. You may also be given a sedative to help you feel calm.
Your surgeon will then create a small incision in your cornea to reach the cataract-affected lens. Next, they’ll break it into tiny pieces using ultrasound energy and suction out all the fragments.
They’ll insert the toric lens through the same incision to replace the natural lens of your eye. Using the corneal marks made before surgery as a guide, they’ll carefully rotate the toric lens to accurately align with your astigmatism, and then the surgery is complete.
Proper IOL alignment helps achieve optimal astigmatism correction, considerably enhancing visual acuity. The incision made is self-healing and doesn’t need stitches.
Cataract surgery with a toric lens takes about 10 to 15 minutes, and you can go home soon after your procedure.
How Long Does Recovery Take after Cataract Surgery with a Toric Lens?
Recovery is typically fast, with most patients noticing visual improvement within a few days. However, it can take several weeks for your vision to completely stabilize as your eye heals and adjusts to the new toric lens.
During the recovery period, it’s important to apply the prescribed antibiotic and anti-inflammatory eye drops as directed to fight inflammation, prevent infection, and promote healing. Attending scheduled follow-up appointments is also essential.
It will enable your ophthalmologist to monitor healing progress and address any concerns that might arise early.
Eliminate Cataracts and Astigmatism in One Fell Swoop
If you have cataracts and astigmatism, getting a toric lens at Eye Physicians of Long Beach can not only restore your sight but also increase your freedom from visual aids. Our experienced ophthalmologist can tailor your toric IOL to your particular needs so you can experience the maximum benefits of personalized vision correction.
Are you interested in a toric lens? Schedule your appointment at Eye Physicians of Long Beach in Long Beach, CA, today to find out if the IOL is appropriate for you.