Implant Vision Correction offers a new alternative for both Cataract patients seeking a broader range of vision and LASIK patients who are not candidates for traditional LASIK. If you are seeking vision correction or cataract surgery in New York City or have heard about the new premium lens implants look no further. Recent technology breakthroughs have led to the development of several exciting new options for cataract patients, including the ReStor and crystalens premium lens implants that can help provide a broader range of vision, greatly reduce dependence on glasses and correct for Presbyopia. In addition, the Acrysof Toric lens implant can help reduce or eliminate astigmatism after cataract surgery.
Similarly, LASIK candidates now have the option of choosing these premium lens for Refractive Lens Exchange. Refractive Lens Exchange allows older patients, who may still have needed glasses after LASIK for reading, to have a full range of vision restored. The Verisyse or Visian ICl phakic implants are excellent options for patients who may have been told that they are too nearsighted, or do not have thick enough corneas for LASIK. Dr. Harry Koster and NY Vision Group are at the forefront of these new technologies and are dedicated to finding the best vision solution for each patient, helping each achieve their lifestyle goals.
Cataract Patients in New York have NEW lens implant options
Traditionally, cataract patients had only one choice for the lens to be placed in their eye during cataract surgery—a monofocal lens. These lenses correct for only one (mono) type of vision, either near or far vision, and most patients were corrected for distance vision. As a result, most cataract patients will require reading glasses to see up close. Now, as a result of technological advances, there are several multifocal lenses that permit patients to have a wide range of quality vision, from near to distance. These implantable lenses, which replace the natural lens of the eye, include the ReStor Intracocular Lenses (IOLs). Another option that offers a wider range of vision than the traditional monofocal lens is the crystalens “accommodating” lens. If you have been diagnosed with cataracts, with or without presbyopia, these new implant options may be the right solution for you-- allowing you to not only treat the cataract but also turn back time to bring back much of your ability to see up close and at a distance. If you have worn glasses or contact lenses most of your life, the ReStor or crystalens implants, could mean vision independence for the first time.
Because these lens implants are placed in the eye after the natural lenses of the eye has been removed, these are also sometimes referred to as non-phakic lenses. Phakic derives from the Greek word for lens – “phakos”; thus a non-phakic lens implant means the human lens has been removed before the new lens is implanted.
New York City Premium Multifocal Options
The AcrySof ReStor Lens is a premium implant that can restore a range of vision with increased independence from glasses or contact lenses. For most patients the ReStor IOL delivers excellent near and far vision and good intermediate vision without reading glasses or bifocals. In fact with this increase in vision quality, Restor patients would be able to pass the visual acuity part of the drivers license exam in most states (without glasses!). The AcrySof ReStor lens is a unique technological innovation which is particularly well suited for patients who would like to have a chance of eliminating glasses. The ReStor lens has been FDA-approved for cataracts, with or without presbyopia since March 2005 and was approved for use in Europe two years prior to that time.
How Does ReStor Work?
ReStor Lens New York
As we perform daily activities such as reading, watching television or working on the computer, our eyes are constantly changing focus through a process known as “accommodation”. This task is performed by the lens of the eye, which changes shape, or accommodates, to allow the eye to focus at different distances. As we age, however, our lens loses the ability to change shape and thus our accommodating ability diminishes, causing us to become more dependent on bifocals or reading glasses. The Acrysof ReStor IOL is a foldable IOL lens that was designed to overcome this dependence, helping correct for the condition known as presbyopia. It features the latest of apodized and refractive technologies similarly used in microscopes and telescopes to improve image quality.
Clinical Studies
During ReStor’s clinical studies, patients experienced lifestyle enhancement through quality vision and greater freedom from reading glasses and bifocals. In fact, according to these clinical studies, four out of five patients who received ReStor lenses in both eyes reported never wearing glasses following their surgery, compared to only 1 out of 10 patients who received standard monofocal lenses. This is the highest level of freedom from glasses ever demonstrated in an IOL clinical trial.
In addition, clinical studies showed that:
- Nearly 94 percent of patients in the clinical study were so satisfied with their vision they would have the AcrySof® ReSTOR® lens implanted again, if given the choice.
- 84 percent of patients demonstrated uncorrected vision without glasses of 20/25 or better for distance. (This is significant, since in most states 20/40 vision is required to pass the vision test for a driver's license without glasses or contact lenses.)
- 84.3 percent of patients with the AcrySof® ReSTOR® lens in both eyes achieved distance visual acuity of 20/25 or better in both eyes following surgery and near vision acuity of 20/32 without reading glasses or bifocals.
Typically there is an adjustment period for ReStor, and all multifocal implant lenses, as a patient’s brain learns to see up close and at a distance. Also, as with all multifocal lenses, some patients report halos or glare around lights after their surgery. However, only 5% of patients receiving the ReStor implant had noticeable nighttime halos, and most of those reported decreased symptoms over time. Most patients reported that their ability to see at near, intermediate and far distances outweighed any visual side effects.
The AcrSof ReStor lens come from Alcon, a world leader for cataract surgery. It is made of the same material as Alcon’s widely-used AcrySof intraocular lens, of which more than 25 million have been implanted worldwide. Click here for more information on ReStor.
Crystalens (Click here to learn more about Crystalens)
Crystalens is an accommodating intraocular lens that, like the ReStor IOL, can treat both a person’s cataracts and their loss of near and intermediate vision. Crystalens was modeled after the human eye, and, like the natural lens, it uses the eye muscle to flex and accommodate in order to focus on objects in the environment at all distances. Crystalens was approved by the FDA for cataract use, with or without presbyopia, in late 2003.
How Does Crystalens work?
Crystalens New York
The crystalens IOL is engineered with a hinge design to allow the optic (the part of the lens that you see through) to move back and forth as you change your focus on an image. Thus Crystalens moves and changes position using the eye’s natural focusing mechanism, instead of remaining fixed and stationary with the eye. This movement allows the eye to focus on objects across a broad range of distances to reduce or eliminate dependence on glasses. In particular, this accommodation provides significant advantages in improving intermediate vision.
Generally patients report that there is little adjustment required for the Crystalens lens implant. Crystalens produces a single image, consistent with normal vision, meaning patients do not need to adapt to viewing multiple images. In addition, patients with Crystalens implants report fewer problems with glare, halos and night vision. Nonetheless, as with any surgical procedures, inherent risks exists with all multifocal implants, whether Crystalens or Restor, and a patient’s results cannot be guaranteed.
FDA Clinical Trial Information
- 98.4% of patients implanted with crystalens in both eyes could pass a driver’s test without glasses
- 100% could see intermediate (24” to 30”), the distance for most of life’s activities, without glasses
- Some patients did require glasses for some tasks after the implantation of the crystalens
- Significantly more patients implanted with a crystalens (88.4%) could see better at all distances then patients implanted with a standard IOL (35.9%)
Long term, most patients have continued to report excellent vision seven years after implantation with crystalens. More than 95,000 crystalens implants have been implanted worldwide and that number is growing daily.
Acrysof Toric Lens.
The Acrysof Toric lens implant differs from the multifocal implants describe above in that it was specifically designed for patients who have a significant amount of astigmatism. In the past, when patients with significiant astigmatism had cataract surgery, they would still require glasses for near and distance vision (because of their astigmatism). The design of the Acrysof Toric lens makes it possible to reduce or eliminate astigmatism and improve uncorrected distance vision. As with the other premium multifocal implants described above, there is an additional cost for this lens implant. However, we strive to make all of these lenses affordable through our various payment options.
Which Premium Lens Implant is Right for me?
If you are like many New York patients seeking lens implants you are probably wondering which implant is right for me? During your consultation, the doctors and staff at NY Vision Group will discuss with you the various premium implant options and which one is the best solution for you based on your lifestyle and your specific visual needs. Each of the premium lens implants options have unique attributes that may or may not be beneficial for you. These premium lens implants can also be used in Refractive Lens Exchange cases (as further described below). We also urge you to utilize the helpful tools found in our Patient Education section, including the IOL counselor.
Exciting new implant options also exist for New York LASIK patients, and NY Vision Group is at the forefront of utilizing these options. In particular, patients who are interested in Laser Vision Correction who are not candidates for LASIK because of certain conditions may be good candidates for a “phakic” lens implant or for a refractive lens exchange. Phakic lens implants are placed between the cornea and the lens of the eye—with the natural lens remaining in place (in contrast to the implants used during cataract surgery, in which the clouded natural lens of the eye is removed). In a refractive lens exchange, the clear, cataract-free lens of the patient is removed and exchanged with a premium multifocal IOLs such as the ReStor or crystalens.
These vision correction options are particularly suitable for patients who are interested in LASIK but have some or all of the following conditions:
- Thin or irregularly shaped corneas
- Significant dry eye condition
- High level of myopia (nearsightedness) or hyperopia (far sightedness)
- Correction only needed for reading vision (presbyopia),
Phakic Implants
NY Vision Group offers several different “phakic” implants. These implants are called “phakic” because the natural lens of the human eye remains in place during the procedure. In contract, a non phakic, or psuedophakic implant is used during cataract surgery because the clouded natural lens of the eye is removed. The research and development of phakic lens implants has been ongoing for more than 15 years. Phakic implants are actually divided into two groups, those that are placed behind the iris (the colored part of the eye) and those that are placed in front of the iris. The implant that is placed behind the iris is called the Visian ICL, and the implant that is placed in front of the iris is called the Verisyse.
What is the Visian ICL?
The Visian ICL is a phakic intraocular lens (IOL) used during refractive surgery for correcting myopia and hyperopia, with or without astigmastism. Unlike the IOLs that are used during cataract surgery, the Visian ICL does not replace the eye’s natural lens. Instead it is placed behind the iris, in front of the natural lens. Because the phakic IOL does not replace the lens, but supplements the lens, it is like a prescription contact lens. In fact it is sometimes referred to as an implantable contact lens. The best candidates for the Visian Lens are between 20 and 50 years old, with moderate to high levels of myopia, and healthy eyes.
What makes the Visian ICL different?
The Visian ICL is often informally called an implantable contact lens, however, ICL actually stands for Implantable Collamer Lens which identifies the unique material that the lens is made of. Unlike other phakic IOLs, the Visian ICL is made from Collamer, a unique organic lens material designed specifically for the Visian lens. This proprietary lens material has greater biocompatibility than acrylic and silicone lenses. The Visian ICL is also foldable, requiring a smaller incision during the surgical procedure than the other available lenses. This smaller incision is seen as less invasive, does not require sutures, and is astigmatically neutral. Another advantage to the Visian ICL is that while it is meant to stay in the eye indefinitely, if a patient’s vision changes, the Visian ICL can be removed or exchanged by a trained ophthalmic surgeon, such as Dr. Harry Koster.
The Verisyse implant is another phakic implant which is placed in a patient’s eye in front of the iris. As with the Visian ICL, the natural lens of the eye remains. Thus the Verisyse lens gives the the patient’s eye another focusing lens that provides high quality, high definition focus like a normal eye. The Verisyse has a 20 year track record, with more than 100,000 lenses inserted. Like the Visian implant, the best candidates are healthy individuals age 20-50 with stable prescriptions who have moderate to high levels of myopia.
The Verisyse Procedure
The Verisyse phakic implant is smaller than a contact lens with two securing arms on either side. While the patient is under local anesthesia, the surgeon makes a small incision and slips the Verisyse implant in front of the iris, behind the cornea. The implant is centered over the pupil and then secured.
During the FDA trials, 100% of the patients receiving the Verisyse implant achieved 20/40 or better vision. In addition, more than 50% of Verisyse patients gained one or more lines of vision. As with implant vision correction in general, the Verisyse lens is reversible. In the unlikely event a patient is not satisfied with his or her vision, the implant can be removed. Although infrequent, some Verisyse phakic lens implant patients have reported halos or slight glare in their vision. As with all surgeries, there is also the remote possibility that patient will experience infection. Swelling of the cornea and cataract formation are also potential complications for the Verisyse implant.
Refractive Lens Exchange.
For LASIK patients who are not good candidates for traditional LASIK, another option is a refractive lens exchange with a multifocal or accommodating lens. Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE) is essentially cataract surgery but exclusively for refractive purposes, because the lens that is removed is not clouded with a cataract. RLE is sometimes called Clear Lens Exchange (CLE), Clear Lens Extraction (CLE), or Refractive Lens Replacement (RLR).
During the procedure, the natural lens of the eye is removed and replaced with a foldable implant. To achieve the best vision correction and widest range of vision, a multifocal lens such as the ReStor, or an accommodating lens such as the crystalens are recommended. These premium IOLs provide the broadest range of vision with less chance of patients requiring glasses, helping reduce the possibility of presbyopia.
RLE is particularly attractive for LASIK patients who have high refractive errors, thin corneas, dry eyes, cornea problems, or a combination of these conditions, which make traditional LASIK less appropriate. Also, if the exact desired refractive change is not achieved by the replacement lens, that IOL may be exchanged for a different power, or a cornea-based refractive surgery technique, such as LASIK, PRK or Epi-LASIK may be used to fine-tune the correction. Finally, since RLE removes the natural lens, there is no possibility of developing cataracts in the future.
Because RLE is a procedure than involves both the equivalent of cataract surgery and the possibility of refractive surgery, it is important to look for a surgeon such as Dr. Harry Koster, who has both extensive cataract experience and extensive cornea-based refractive surgery experience. Nonetheless, as with any surgical procedure, there are inherent risks, and a patient’s results cannot be guaranteed.
Which LASIK Implant Option is right for me?
At your consultation, the doctors and staff at NY Vision Group will review your options and help identify which procedures best suits you, based on your lifestyle and your visual needs. If cost is an issue, we offer several financing options and will work with you as best we can to meet your vision goals.
- Dr. Koster is a New York Multifocal IOL specialist who can help you select the lens that is right for you. If you are having trouble seeing clearly or feel that you may be experiencing cataracts please feel free to contact us directly.
- Implant Options Page Topics Include: restor lens new york, rezoom multifocal IOL new york, crystalens new york, visian icl new york, verisyse lens new york.
- For a second opinion regarding cataract surgery in New York please, do not hesitate to call us. We are happy to provide a thorough eye exam and offer you the best implant options in New York City.
