written or reviewed by
Howard Weiss, M.D.

Everything You Need to Know About IOLs for Cataract Surgery

Have you been having difficulty seeing? You may be suffering from cataracts. Cataracts are a common age-related condition where the lens of the eye becomes cloudy, causing your vision to slowly deteriorate. Living with cataracts can be a big adjustment and most patients eventually decide to have cataract surgery. When you have cataract surgery, your eye doctor removes the cloudy lens and replaces it with a clear artificial lens. These lenses are called intraocular lenses, or IOLs. Let’s look at the different types of IOLs for cataracts and how you can choose the right one for you.

A Guide to IOLs

There are several types of IOLs to choose from, each designed to meet different vision needs and lifestyle goals. Your eye surgeon can help you select the option that is best suited to your eyes and the activities that are most important to you.

• Monofocal IOLs: Monofocal IOLs are the most common type of IOL covered by insurance and Medicare. They correct cataracts but you may still need to use glasses with this type of IOL. A monofocal IOL means that the eye can only focus on one point at a time.
• Multifocal IOLs: Multifocal lenses help the eye to focus at many different distances, far and near. This type of IOL can help you reduce your need for glasses. Multifocal IOLs are considered a premium lens option. At Washington Eye, our premium lens options are many, and each has advantages and disadvantages. Talk to your eye doctor about which multifocal IOL is right for you.
• Light Adjustable Lens (LAL): The Light Adjustable Lens (LAL) is an advanced premium intraocular lens that allows your vision to be customized after cataract surgery. Unlike traditional IOLs, which have a fixed prescription when they are implanted, the LAL can be fine-tuned through a series of painless light treatments in the weeks following surgery. This gives your surgeon the ability to adjust your vision based on your real-world experience before locking the lens into its final prescription. The LAL is an excellent option for patients seeking the highest level of precision and greater independence from glasses.
• Toric (Astigmatism-correcting) IOLs: This type of IOL helps correct astigmatism and improves uncorrected vision. If you’re interested in a multifocal IOL or premium monofocal lens and you have astigmatism, use of Toric IOLs can actually correct both astigmatism and cataracts at the same time! For patients suffering from astigmatism, a Toric IOL is the most logical IOL to choose.

If you are considering cataract surgery, how do you know which IOL is the best choice? The answer depends on your vision, lifestyle, and goals after surgery. Some patients simply want clearer distance vision, while others hope to reduce their dependence on glasses for reading, computer work, and other daily activities. Premium IOLs — including multifocal lenses, toric lenses for astigmatism, and the Light Adjustable Lens — offer different advantages, and your surgeon can help determine which option to choose.

On the other hand, if you need insurance to pay for your IOLs then you will want to consider monofocal IOLs. Your doctor can help you work through these details and decide on the IOLs that are best for you. To make the most of your appointment, write down any comments, questions, or concerns that you may have about IOLs or cataract surgery. We recommend that you share these questions with your doctor in order to start a dialogue about what to expect from cataract surgery and IOLs.

Before undergoing cataract surgery, it is important to know what IOLs are and what their unique advantages are. If you still have questions about IOLs or cataracts, you’ll find lots of answers in our Intraocular Lens (IOL) and Cataract Surgery FAQ page. For general inquiries about cataract surgery, we would love to talk to you more. Just contact our office to schedule a consultation with one of our doctors at Washington Eye Physicians & Surgeons!