Premium Lens Options (Intraocular Lenses)

If you have been diagnosed with cataracts, you now have the option of upgrading your procedure by opting for premium lens implants. At Jacksonville Eye Center, we offer premium lenses, also known as intraocular lenses, to provide clear vision at all distances after cataract surgery. Dr. Schnipper encourages you to discuss your lens options at your cataract evaluation. He will help you determine which lens is best with your lifestyle needs. Premium lens implants are a reliable vision correction solution for those nearing the age for cataract surgery. They are also known as “lifestyle lens implants”, because they provide excellent vision, possibly without the need for glasses. It is important to discuss the wide variety of options available to you with Dr. Schnipper.

What are intraocular lenses?

Good Candidates For IOLs?

If you have been diagnosed with cataracts, you now have the option of upgrading your procedure by opting for premium lens implants. At Jacksonville Eye Center, we offer premium lenses, also known as intraocular lenses, to provide clear vision at all distances after cataract surgery. Dr. Schnipper encourages you to discuss your lens options at your cataract evaluation. He will help you determine which lens is best with your lifestyle needs. Premium lens implants are a reliable vision correction solution for those nearing the age for cataract surgery. They are also known as “lifestyle lens implants”, because they provide excellent vision, possibly without the need for glasses. It is important to discuss the wide variety of options available to you with Dr. Schnipper.

What are intraocular lenses?

Good Candidates For IOLs?

General eye health is also an aspect of care we carefully observe. Certain eye diseases and conditions, such as severe dry eye syndrome or advanced glaucoma, can decrease the satisfactory results of lens exchange with any type of intraocular lens.

Our treatment process is thorough and includes a comprehensive eye exam and in-depth discussion about the capabilities and limitations of proposed lens types.

What eye conditions can intraocular lenses treat?

The various lens types that are made today can address a number of errors in vision. You could think of a corrective IOL as a type of contact lens that is permanently implanted in the eye. Patients may select their intraocular lens based on their lifestyle and prescriptive needs. Premium IOLs may contain some degree of correction for nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. Some intraocular lenses are made to correct presbyopia. In general, these medical devices for the eyes provide clearer, sharper vision after cataract removal or lens exchange.

Types of Premium Lenses

At Jacksonville Eye Center, we offer a variety of premium lens options for our cataract surgery patients. These lenses include:

• Tecnis® Symfony IOL
• Tecnis® Multifocal IOL
• Toric IOL
• Multifocal/Restor

Symfony® IOL

Vision after 50 can be frustrating. If you have experienced the common condition called presbyopia, you know what we mean. Are you tired of being attached to your reading glasses at all hours of the day? That’s understandable. Luckily, Dr. Schnipper is committed to providing his patients with the newest and most effective forms of presbyopia correction. The revolutionary Symfony® IOL is one of them. The Tecnis Symfony® IOL was FDA-approved in 2016, and has been making waves in the ophthalmology world since. What makes this IOL so special? It’s the first IOL designed specifically with presbyopia in mind. If you are have been dealing with presbyopia for some time, you know how hard it can be. Now imagine what its like to have presbyopia and cataracts. This is a recipe for some serious vision problems. Fortunately, the Symfony® IOL corrects both.

Tecnis Multifocal

Tecnis® Multifocal IOL helps cataract patients achieve clear vision at all distances after surgery, including improved night vision and driving capabilities. The Tecnis® Multifocal Intraocular lens is the first intraocular lens based on the wavefront data that makes modern LASIK procedures more accurate than ever before. The Tecnis® Multifocal intraocular lens is designed to give good vision for distance, intermediate, and up-close. Tecnis® describes this as giving “improved functional vision.” In clinical studies, Tecnis® has also been shown to give you better vision for driving in low-light situations compared to monofocal lenses.

In a recent clinical study, over 94% of study patients said they would choose the Tecnis® Multifocal Lens again (provided by Abbott Medical Optics). After surgery, up to nine out of ten patients no longer need to wear glasses, results much more successful than those achieved with standard multifocal lenses. It is the only lens FDA-approved to enhance functional vision and night-driving performance.

The Tecnis® Multifocal lens is ideal for cataract patients who have difficulty reading and seeing objects closely, as well as those with poor night vision. This lens is implanted during the same procedure that removes the cloudy lens, and does not require any additional incisions. Patients can often enjoy immediate vision improvement

Toric

Toric lenses are used to correct astigmatism. It is not the only method available for astigmatism correction, so consult Dr. Schnipper about your options. For people with astigmatism, images may look blurry or shadowed due to the asymmetric steepening of the cornea or natural lens, causing light to be focused unevenly. Astigmatism can occur at the same time as many other refractive errors. It can be corrected with glasses, contacts, corneal relaxing incisions, laser vision correction, and special implant lenses. If a cataract patient with astigmatism would like to be free of glasses post-surgery, Toric lenses are a good option. They do not correct presbyopia. ACRYSOF lenses are a popular choice.

Multifocal/RESTOR

Multifocal lens implants allow patients to see near, far, and distances in between after surgery. Here, the central part of the lens has a series of steps which are carved into a precise arrangement with heights and distances between each step. Each of the steps bends the incoming light differently, which creates a near focus that is separated from the distance focus formed by the remaining refractive portion of the lens. This separation between the images allows for less distortion and provides good quality of vision at near and far distances. The two main multifocal IOLs on the market right now are RESTOR IOL by Alcon® and Tecnis® by AMO.

How to Prepare for IOL Surgery

After the initial consultation and examination to choose the most appropriate intraocular lens, there is very little that needs to be done to prepare for surgery. Your eye doctor may prescribe antibiotic eye drops to use prior to surgery to decrease the risk of post-operative infection. Certain medications may need to be avoided, but you will be provided with a detailed list before your procedure if necessary.
If you have any questions about your cataract or lens exchange procedure, please do not hesitate to contact us.

IOL Procedure

The replacement of the natural lens of the eye is achieved with outpatient surgery. Most cataract and lens exchange procedures are complete in less than an hour.

Patients are typically awake during their procedure. A local anesthetic is administered in the form of eye drops. These drops sufficiently numb the surface of the eye so surgery is completely comfortable. A mild sedative may be prescribed to increase comfort. The sedative may make a patient groggy and very relaxed, but will not put them to sleep.

One of several predetermined techniques is used to create access to the lens through the front surface of the eye. Some patients are treated with ultrasound and a tiny incision while other procedures are performed completely with a laser device. After the natural lens is removed, the artificial lens is inserted into the empty capsule. Tiny, dissolvable stitches may be used to close certain incisions, but not all patients need this type of closure.

What Our Patients Say

“I want to thank Dr. Schnipper, Dr. Chin, Kathy, and the rest of the staff, for a wonderful and exciting , new , precise, clear, 20-50 vision of my left eye. Everything is bright and the colors are amazing. I can see leaves in the trees, blades of grass, bricks on houses. I know and I am confident that the outcome of the operation of my right eye will be the same. I am truly blessed. Dr. Schnipper, you have enriched my life. Thank you.” – Lana L.

Recovery after Premium Lens Surgery

Patients may be observed in the outpatient facility for thirty to sixty minutes after their procedure. The eye may be bandaged to prevent debris from causing irritation. Initially, vision may be blurry as the eye adjusts to its new lens. It is normal to experience itching or minor discomfort for a few days. The eye should be treated very carefully; no pressing or rubbing. Eye drops may be prescribed for use to reduce inflammation, control eye pressure, or prevent infection.

If the purpose of IOL surgery was to remove cataracts, vision may also brighten because the new lens is clear rather than brown- or yellow-tinged.
A follow-up visit usually occurs a day or two after lens exchange surgery and then again at one week and one month to monitor the progress of healing as the artificial lens becomes integrated into the eye. Within eight weeks, complete healing should occur.

Risks of Intraocular Lenses

Severe complications that threaten vision are rare after lens exchange surgery. In the instance of a complication after eye surgery, medication or other treatment can usually correct the problem.

Risks and complications of cataract or lens exchange surgery include:

• Bleeding in the eye
• Infection
• Droopy eyelid
• Increased pressure within the eye
• Visual distortion such as glares or halos
• The IOL may slip out of optimal position
• Retinal detachment

Results after Premium Lenses

Most people who receive a premium intraocular lens are able to reduce their need for eyeglasses or contacts. Once the eye (or both eyes, if both are treated) has healed, an exam is conducted to determine if prescriptive lenses are necessary to improve near or distance vision. This is usually determined one to three months after the IOL has been installed.

Schedule a Consultation

For more information about our Premium Lens options, contact Jacksonville Eye Center for more information. Call us today at 904-355-5555 to schedule a consultation. Dr. Schnipper serves Jacksonville, FL and surrounding areas.
General eye health is also an aspect of care we carefully observe. Certain eye diseases and conditions, such as severe dry eye syndrome or advanced glaucoma, can decrease the satisfactory results of lens exchange with any type of intraocular lens.

Our treatment process is thorough and includes a comprehensive eye exam and in-depth discussion about the capabilities and limitations of proposed lens types.

What eye conditions can intraocular lenses treat?

The various lens types that are made today can address a number of errors in vision. You could think of a corrective IOL as a type of contact lens that is permanently implanted in the eye. Patients may select their intraocular lens based on their lifestyle and prescriptive needs. Premium IOLs may contain some degree of correction for nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. Some intraocular lenses are made to correct presbyopia. In general, these medical devices for the eyes provide clearer, sharper vision after cataract removal or lens exchange.

Types of Premium Lenses

At Jacksonville Eye Center, we offer a variety of premium lens options for our cataract surgery patients. These lenses include:

• Tecnis® Symfony IOL
• Tecnis® Multifocal IOL
• Toric IOL
• Multifocal/Restor

Symfony® IOL

Vision after 50 can be frustrating. If you have experienced the common condition called presbyopia, you know what we mean. Are you tired of being attached to your reading glasses at all hours of the day? That’s understandable. Luckily, Dr. Schnipper is committed to providing his patients with the newest and most effective forms of presbyopia correction. The revolutionary Symfony® IOL is one of them. The Tecnis Symfony® IOL was FDA-approved in 2016, and has been making waves in the ophthalmology world since. What makes this IOL so special? It’s the first IOL designed specifically with presbyopia in mind. If you are have been dealing with presbyopia for some time, you know how hard it can be. Now imagine what its like to have presbyopia and cataracts. This is a recipe for some serious vision problems. Fortunately, the Symfony® IOL corrects both.

Tecnis Multifocal

Tecnis® Multifocal IOL helps cataract patients achieve clear vision at all distances after surgery, including improved night vision and driving capabilities. The Tecnis® Multifocal Intraocular lens is the first intraocular lens based on the wavefront data that makes modern LASIK procedures more accurate than ever before. The Tecnis® Multifocal intraocular lens is designed to give good vision for distance, intermediate, and up-close. Tecnis® describes this as giving “improved functional vision.” In clinical studies, Tecnis® has also been shown to give you better vision for driving in low-light situations compared to monofocal lenses.

In a recent clinical study, over 94% of study patients said they would choose the Tecnis® Multifocal Lens again (provided by Abbott Medical Optics). After surgery, up to nine out of ten patients no longer need to wear glasses, results much more successful than those achieved with standard multifocal lenses. It is the only lens FDA-approved to enhance functional vision and night-driving performance.

The Tecnis® Multifocal lens is ideal for cataract patients who have difficulty reading and seeing objects closely, as well as those with poor night vision. This lens is implanted during the same procedure that removes the cloudy lens, and does not require any additional incisions. Patients can often enjoy immediate vision improvement

Toric

Toric lenses are used to correct astigmatism. It is not the only method available for astigmatism correction, so consult Dr. Schnipper about your options. For people with astigmatism, images may look blurry or shadowed due to the asymmetric steepening of the cornea or natural lens, causing light to be focused unevenly. Astigmatism can occur at the same time as many other refractive errors. It can be corrected with glasses, contacts, corneal relaxing incisions, laser vision correction, and special implant lenses. If a cataract patient with astigmatism would like to be free of glasses post-surgery, Toric lenses are a good option. They do not correct presbyopia. ACRYSOF lenses are a popular choice.

Multifocal/RESTOR

Multifocal lens implants allow patients to see near, far, and distances in between after surgery. Here, the central part of the lens has a series of steps which are carved into a precise arrangement with heights and distances between each step. Each of the steps bends the incoming light differently, which creates a near focus that is separated from the distance focus formed by the remaining refractive portion of the lens. This separation between the images allows for less distortion and provides good quality of vision at near and far distances. The two main multifocal IOLs on the market right now are RESTOR IOL by Alcon® and Tecnis® by AMO.

How to Prepare for IOL Surgery

After the initial consultation and examination to choose the most appropriate intraocular lens, there is very little that needs to be done to prepare for surgery. Your eye doctor may prescribe antibiotic eye drops to use prior to surgery to decrease the risk of post-operative infection. Certain medications may need to be avoided, but you will be provided with a detailed list before your procedure if necessary.
If you have any questions about your cataract or lens exchange procedure, please do not hesitate to contact us.

IOL Procedure

The replacement of the natural lens of the eye is achieved with outpatient surgery. Most cataract and lens exchange procedures are complete in less than an hour.

Patients are typically awake during their procedure. A local anesthetic is administered in the form of eye drops. These drops sufficiently numb the surface of the eye so surgery is completely comfortable. A mild sedative may be prescribed to increase comfort. The sedative may make a patient groggy and very relaxed, but will not put them to sleep.

One of several predetermined techniques is used to create access to the lens through the front surface of the eye. Some patients are treated with ultrasound and a tiny incision while other procedures are performed completely with a laser device. After the natural lens is removed, the artificial lens is inserted into the empty capsule. Tiny, dissolvable stitches may be used to close certain incisions, but not all patients need this type of closure.

What Our Patients Say

“I want to thank Dr. Schnipper, Dr. Chin, Kathy, and the rest of the staff, for a wonderful and exciting , new , precise, clear, 20-50 vision of my left eye. Everything is bright and the colors are amazing. I can see leaves in the trees, blades of grass, bricks on houses. I know and I am confident that the outcome of the operation of my right eye will be the same. I am truly blessed. Dr. Schnipper, you have enriched my life. Thank you.” – Lana L.

Recovery after Premium Lens Surgery

Patients may be observed in the outpatient facility for thirty to sixty minutes after their procedure. The eye may be bandaged to prevent debris from causing irritation. Initially, vision may be blurry as the eye adjusts to its new lens. It is normal to experience itching or minor discomfort for a few days. The eye should be treated very carefully; no pressing or rubbing. Eye drops may be prescribed for use to reduce inflammation, control eye pressure, or prevent infection.

If the purpose of IOL surgery was to remove cataracts, vision may also brighten because the new lens is clear rather than brown- or yellow-tinged.
A follow-up visit usually occurs a day or two after lens exchange surgery and then again at one week and one month to monitor the progress of healing as the artificial lens becomes integrated into the eye. Within eight weeks, complete healing should occur.

Risks of Intraocular Lenses

Severe complications that threaten vision are rare after lens exchange surgery. In the instance of a complication after eye surgery, medication or other treatment can usually correct the problem.

Risks and complications of cataract or lens exchange surgery include:

• Bleeding in the eye
• Infection
• Droopy eyelid
• Increased pressure within the eye
• Visual distortion such as glares or halos
• The IOL may slip out of optimal position
• Retinal detachment

Results after Premium Lenses

Most people who receive a premium intraocular lens are able to reduce their need for eyeglasses or contacts. Once the eye (or both eyes, if both are treated) has healed, an exam is conducted to determine if prescriptive lenses are necessary to improve near or distance vision. This is usually determined one to three months after the IOL has been installed.

Schedule a Consultation

For more information about our Premium Lens options, contact Jacksonville Eye Center for more information. Call us today at 904-355-5555 to schedule a consultation. Dr. Schnipper serves Jacksonville, FL and surrounding areas.