ACRYSOF® IQ Toric Aspheric IOL
When you struggle with astigmatism, your cornea is shaped irregularly with more curve in one direction than the other. This is often referred to as a football shaped cornea. As a result, patients with astigmatism experience blurry, distorted vision as light fails to focus directly onto the retina of the eye.
For patients with both cataracts and astigmatism, LaserVue Eye Center is proud to offer the AcrySof® IQ Toric aspheric IOL from Alcon. With the specialized design of the IQ lens, patients can help enhance contrast, reduce glare, and assist the eye in recovery from photostress.
The AcrySof® IQ IOL from Alcon has been around for nearly 25 years, and has been implanted over 100 million times worldwide.
This Toric intraocular lens (IOL) corrects for both conditions simultaneously by delivering precise astigmatism correction, predictable outcomes, and quality distance vision. Meanwhile, it allows for greater freedom from glasses for cataract patients with astigmatism.
“Toric” contact lenses are designed to correct astigmatism and are an option for patients with astigmatism who want to gain freedom from glasses. However, some users find these contacts to be uncomfortable and have difficulty adjusting to them.
Aside from contact lenses, there are many surgical options available to treat astigmatism, such as LASIK laser vision correction, astigmatic keratotomy (AK), or limbal relaxing incisions (LRI). However, if you are planning to have surgery to remove a cataract, you now have an additional option: The Alcon Acrysof® IQ Toric implantable lens makes it possible to treat cataracts and correct corneal astigmatism at the same time.
During your pre-procedure consultations, your eye doctor will recommend the option that is best for your needs. If you are interested in any specific lens options or features, then make sure to discuss the benefits and details with your doctor.
Visual Outcomes
- Treats cataracts and astigmatism at the same time
- Improved Vision: Offers greater freedom from glasses while enjoying great distance range
- Reduced need for glasses and contacts: Improves vision in challenging, low-visibility settings
- Range of cylinder powers corrects even lower levels of astigmatism
- Blue-light filtering technology filters more than just UV light
94% of patients achieved uncorrected distance vision of 20/40 or better in clinical trials
What Sets the AcrySof IQ Toric IOL Apart
Many cataract patients with astigmatism will still experience blurry vision at a distance because standard intraocular lenses (IOLs) do not correct astigmatism. This leads patients in need of corrective eyewear, or additional surgery, in order to address their blurry vision.
Additionally, the AcrySof® IQ Toric IOL has a unique aspheric shape, which significantly reduces night vision challenges and loss of contrast sensitivity. Made of a biocompatible hydrophobic acrylic polymer material, the AcrySof® IQ offers a unique design fit to bind easily to your eye and decrease complications.
In many cases, the AcrySof® IQ Toric IOL may eliminate the need for limbal relaxing incisions. These incisions are made at the edge of the cornea to encourage healing in a more spherical shape. The AcrySof® IQ’s unique toric design achieves similar outcomes while reducing spherical and other disturbances. This is due to its special biocompatible material and square-edge design, which aids in binding to the eye and decreasing the likelihood of complications.
Another unique advantage of the AcrySof® IQ lens is its proprietary BioOptics light filtering design. The lens offers both ultraviolet (UV) filtering and a yellow chromophore, which filters short-wavelength blue light. This mimics the effects of a youthful adult’s vision, and has shown to help improve vision and aid recovery, when compared to UV-only lenses.
Candidacy
These conditions may make you an ideal candidate for the Alcon AcrySof® IQ IOL:
- Are in overall good eye health
- Are a cataract patient with pre-existing astigmatism
- Want to achieve improved vision at a distance with less reliance on glasses
Lens Implants Comparison & Benefits
Lens Replacement & Cataract Surgery Options
| TYPE OF SURGERY | BASIC CATARACT SURGERY | ASTIGMATISM CORRECTING SURGERY | PREMIUM LENS REPLACEMENT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Astigmatism Correction | No | Yes | Yes |
| Type of Lens | Basic monofocal Lens | Astigmatism-correcting monofocal lens or basic monofocal lens with laser corneal astigmatism correction | Multifocal or Extended depth-of-focus |
| Dependence on glasses after surgery | Full Time. Bifocals or progressives for best near and far vision. | Reading glasses for computer and near. | Little to no dependence on glasses |
| Patient Benefits and surgical results | Safe Results. Improved vision. Lowest patient cost |
Excellent outcomes with greater precision, predictability, and accuracy Minimal to no reliance on glasses to see far away Reading glasses needed |
Excellent outcomes with greater precision, predictability, and accuracy Minimal to no reliance on glasses to see far away, mid-range, and near |
| Surgical enhancements to optimize vision after surgery | Not included | Yes, within the 1st year after surgery | Yes, within the 1st year after surgery |
Cost of the AcrySof® IQ Toric IOL
The cost of your procedure with the AcrySof® IQ Toric lens varies, depending on factors such as your surgeon’s experience and the details of your personalized treatment.
The only way to determine the cost of your procedure is to have a consultation with your cataract surgeon. When you visit LaserVue Eye Center for a consultation, your doctor will give you a detailed quote based on what lens and procedure is right for you. You will also receive information about what’s included in your price, and any financing options available.
Experience and long-term results take top priority in achieving your best visual outcomes, not just the price.
Health insurance plans typically cover the cost of cataract surgery using standard monofocal intraocular lenses (IOLs). However, premium IOLs may be not covered or may be covered differently depending on different insurance policies and individual patients. If not covered by insurance, the patient will need to pay the cost of their choice of premium IOL.
Limitations & Side Effects
As with all other IOLs, you should carefully consider your surgeon and practice to ensure that your treatment meets high standards of safety and precision. Your surgeon will use careful evaluation, diagnostic testing, and clinically sound judgement to determine the risks and benefits before implanting any IOL.
High astigmatic patients (i.e. more than 2.5 D) may experience some spatial distortions. Some cautions associated with toric IOLs include residual cylindrical error or axis misalignments.
You should caution to avoid implanting toric IOLs if your posterior capsule is ruptured, zonules are damaged, or if a primary posterior capsulotomy is planned.
The Miracle of Cataract Surgery
When your cataract has been removed, it may seem like a miracle! Suddenly, all of the things you couldn’t see clearly are bright, clear, and vivid again. In fact, many people will tell you that they haven’t seen life this clearly in years.
Once you see how good the world looks, you’ll be so glad—like millions of others just like you—that a cataract is one challenge that you can live without.
As with any surgical procedure, there are risks. You and your doctor should consider the potential risks and benefits, and determine if cataract surgery is right for you.
If you suspect a cataract or are seeking cataract surgery in Northern California or the San Francisco Bay Area, Dr. Stephanie Wangyu and Dr. Jay Bansal are experienced cataract surgeons who can help you through this process. Our team of experienced surgeons possess up-to-date techniques and advanced technologies in cataract surgery and premium intraocular lens options.
Please feel free to contact us directly at 1-800-527-3745 or schedule your free consultation online. LaserVue Eye Center is dedicated to excellence in cataract and refractive vision correction. Call us today!
Our North Bay Cataract office and ambulatory surgery center is located in Santa Rosa at:
3540 Mendocino Ave., #200
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
If you have a cataract or think you may have decreased vision caused by a cataract, call 1-800-527-3745 to schedule your cataract exam today!
“LaserVue Eye Center are my first choice for LASIK and cataract surgery both for myself and for my patients. My patients appreciate the friendly and caring approach and the excellent care LaserVue provides. That is why I chose LaserVue for my own cataract surgery.”
— Dr. Ian Middleton, Optometrist
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State of the Art Technology
This allows us to provide the highest quality care to our patients who are here to improve their vision. To ensure this, we use not only state of the art technology and specialized equipment, we also have highly trained surgery staff, who specialize in eye surgery.
This surgery center is where our surgeons performs all cataract procedures and other leading edge vision correction procedures.
Ready to SEE a Change?
Helping you to achieve your personal best vision is our mission at LaserVue Eye Center. Wondering where to start?
Please complete the fields on the right to schedule a free consultation and discuss your options with our eye doctors! You can also Call 1-800-527-3745 to speak with our staff.
