Can an IOL help with astigmatism?
Toric IOL San Diego
When you’re having cataract surgery, you’ll need to choose an intraocular lens (IOL), which is the artificial lens that will be used to replace your eye’s damaged natural lens. If you have astigmatism, this can influence your IOL options.
What are the options for a person with astigmatism who’s getting an IOL?
What is astigmatism?
In most people, the cornea (the clear part at the front of the eye) is round. This allows light to focus onto a single point, so that vision can be sharp. In people with astigmatism, however, the cornea is oval-shaped instead of round. This creates two focal points instead of one, resulting in a blurry image on the retina.
A typical IOL is round. However, a round lens won’t work to correct astigmatism, because in people with this condition, the cornea itself is not round. A different option is needed for astigmatism.
What is a toric IOL?
In order to correct astigmatism, a toric IOL can be used. This is an IOL that isn’t round, as other IOLs are. Instead, it’s designed to correct for the oval shape of the cornea. A toric IOL must be placed in the right orientation in order to function correctly, so that it’s aligned properly with the cornea.
There are a variety of toric IOLs available, with a variety of different features. For example, there are multifocal toric lenses available. These lenses have multiple different focal points, instead of just one. There are also accommodating toric IOLs. These are able to change shape when certain muscles of the eye move, much like the eye’s natural lens does. Both of these options can reduce dependence on reading glasses after cataract surgery.
Another option is to get a traditional round IOL, and to use glasses or contacts to correct your astigmatism after your cataract surgery. Many people prefer a toric IOL, so that they can get correction for their astigmatism while they’re getting a new lens anyway. However, this isn’t required, and you can still choose a round IOL if you have astigmatism.
Looking for a toric IOL San Diego?
While there are quite a few options for toric IOLs, not every IOL on the market has a toric version available. If you’re interested in a toric lens, we’ll be happy to discuss your options with you. We offer a wide range of premium IOLs here in the office, and we can help you to choose which one you’d like to receive during your cataract surgery. Simply contact our front desk to book an appointment with one of our specialist eye surgeons.
