Alcon AcrySof Toric Lens Implant.
For Patients with Astigmatism.
East Valley Ophthalmology offers the AcrySof Toric lens implant, a design
proven to correct for both cataracts and astigmatism simultaneously.
Implanted in the eye to restore single-distance vision after cataract
surgery, the AcrySof Toric lens has a unique patented design that provides
both spherical and astigmatic correction. The AcrySof Toric intraocular
lens belongs to the trusted family of Alcon AcrySof lens implants that
are some of the most widely used intraocular lens for cataract surgery,
with more than 30 million implanted worldwide. We invite you to make an appointment and learn more: 480-981-6111.
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AcrySof Toric Lens Implant.
The AcrySof Toric lens is designed to reduce corneal astigmatism and
improve uncorrected functional distance vision. The AcrySof Toric lens
offers these advantages over traditional lens implants:
- Correction of corneal astigmatism
- Enhanced clarity and quality of uncorrected distance vision.
- Filtered blue light protection
- Rich, vibrant color perception
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The AcrySof Toric lens is ideal for patients who wish to be corrected
for distance vision and are comfortable wearing glasses. Because this
lens does not offer the ability to accommodate or adjust one's vision
to varying distances, glasses would be required for near and intermediate
tasks for people who have this implant.
The
AcrySof Toric lens implant is also an excellent choice for those
who drive a lot at night, as it delivers great clarity with minimal
reports of glare or haloes under both bright and dim lighting
conditions.
Corneal Astigmatism:
Whether myopic or hyperopic, most eyes have corneal astigmatism to
some degree. Corneal astigmatism means that the front part of your eye,
the clear window you look through, is not perfectly round. Instead of
being spherical like a basketball, an astigmatic cornea is slightly
flattened, more oval in shape like a football, with one side steeper
than the other (as illustrated above).
Because the astigmatic cornea is curved more (steeper) in one direction
than the other, light entering the eye is refracted differently as
it passes through these different areas. This causes light to come
into focus at several different points on the back of the eye, rather
than ideally coming into focus at just one point (note the illustration,
right).
Depending on the direction and the amount of astigmatism, vision through
an astigmatic cornea will be affected in various ways. The illustration
(below) gives a broad example of the visual effects, depending on the
overall direction of the curve:
Limbal Relaxing Incisions For The Correction of Astigmatism
It is most common for eye surgeons to simply prescribe glasses or contact
lenses for the correction of astigmatism after cataract surgery. Some
surgeons will treat corneal astigmatism at the time of cataract surgery
by placing "limbal relaxing incisions" (LRI's). This involves
making tiny incisions in the cornea to "relax" or flatten the
steeper meridian, thereby causing the corneal curvature to become more
rounded, reducing astigmatism.
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These long, thin incisions are placed at the very edge of the cornea
(known as the corneal limbus) on the steepest meridian, and differ in
number and length according to the amount of astigmatism. Relaxing incisions
generally do not eliminate corneal astigmatism completely, but rather
reduce it to an acceptable level. Because the cornea is living tissue,
there may be "over-response" or "under-response" to
these incisions. Seldom is corneal astigmatism completely resolved; however,
a significant reduction in your astigmatism produces a more satisfactory
uncorrected visual result.
Some patients with extreme amounts of astigmatism may still require
the addition of limbal relaxing incisions to correct astigmatism after
cataract surgery with the AcrySof toric lens. For the patients, with
unusually high amounts of astigmatism, implanting the toric lens means
that less corneal surgery in the form of a limbal relaxing incision is
needed to achieve the same amount of correction.
In the future, the AcrySof Toric Lens will be available in higher powers
of astigmatic correction so that for very high amounts of corneal astigmatism
can be corrected without the need for the addition of limbal relaxing
incisions.
UV Blue Light Protection
In addition to its refractive role, the natural lens
inside your eye is also responsible for filtering high-energy
blue light commonly found within the sun's rays and
some artificial light. As part of the aging process,
your natural lens gradually turns yellow and it is
thought that this change in color may help to protect
the aging retina by filtering more of the these harmful
wavelengths.
When your natural lens is removed during cataract
surgery, the eye loses the ability to filter
blue light because most available lens implants
are clear and filter UV light only. A cataract
surgery patient receiving one of those implants
is left vulnerable to the transmission of UV
blue light. Some researchers believe that overexposure
to blue light may be harmful to the retina and
may contribute to macular degeneration and loss
of vision. The AcrySof Toric lens implant is
unique in its ability to filter blue light, having
a patented yellow tint that filters both UV and
blue light.
The light yellow color of the AcrySof Toric lens
is very similar to that of your natural lens and
is necessary to filter blue light, yet the Toric
lens does not alter the natural colors of the things
you see or change the quality of your vision. In
fact, results of a recent study show equal or better
color perception for patients implanted with the
AcrySof Toric lens as compared to the same lens
without the light yellow color.
Advantages of the AcrySof Toric Lens Implant
- The AcrySof Toric intraocular lens is designed
to correct for nearsightedness or farsightedness
and corneal astigmatism of the human eye..
- The AcrySof Toric intraocular lens is designed
to have the lens capsule “shrink wrap” around
it. This helps the lens stay stable and centered
within the eye.
- The patented yellow color of the AcrySof Toric
intraocular lens implant is biocompatible and bonded
to the structure of the acrylic material.
- The yellow color of the AcrySof Toric intraocular
lens implant, approximates the natural discoloration
(i.e., natural yellowing) of a healthy adult crystalline
lens, without a negative impact on color perception.
- The AcrySof Toric intraocular lens implant is compatible
with secondary cataract treatment (i.e., Nd:YAG laser
treatment), if required.
The AcrySof Toric lens is available in a wide range of optical powers
that effectively correct eye that are nearsighted and farsighted.
As each patient is unique, both in physiology and in viewing distance
preferences, the correct power intraocular lens for your cataract
surgery will be selected using biometry equipment. An in-depth discussion
of your needs and options will take place with your eye surgeon at
East Valley Ophthalmology.
Make your appointment today with East Valley Ophthalmology, to
see if the AcrySof Toric
lens for the correction of astigmatism is right for you.
The eye specialists of East Valley Ophthalmology perform advanced
technology diagnostic testing and treatment, as well as taking
the time necessary to provide each patient with information needed
to fully understand their condition and to achieve their best possible
visual outcome.
If you would like further information, please call our office at:
480-981-6111
East Valley Ophthalmology
Eye Doctors - Mesa, ArizonaIf you or a family member
or friend have not had a recent routine eye examination, have a specific eye condition that needs addressing, or are looking for
an eye specialist or professional eye consultant please take a moment to Request an Appointment.
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