Every patient that comes to CEENTA has specific needs to be addressed, especially when it comes to lens choices for cataract or refractive lens surgery. Rather than use a “one size fits all approach,” we offer multiple lens options for these patients to cater to their unique lifestyles.

In This Article...

1. The artist and photographer
2. The overnight driver
3. The one seeking glasses independence
4. The one wanting to keep their glasses
5. The former LASIK or RK patient

The artist and photographer

Hobbyists and those who rely on precision for their livelihood, such as painters, pilots, and photographers, have special visual needs. Dr. Kashyap Kansupada, a CEENTA cataract surgeon who practices out of our Belmont and Huntersville offices, provides additional guidance for these patients. “For those wishing to reduce their need for glasses, I recommend an extended-depth-of-focus lens implant, such as Vivity. For those who don’t mind reading glasses, a toric (astigmatism correcting) monofocal IOL lens corrected for distance vision, such as Eyhance Toric is appropriate. Finally, for those who wish to wear a bifocal, a simple monofocal lens implant, such as Eyhance, is your best bet.” These options optimize quality of vision at distance.

The overnight driver

Many people drive during late-night hours, including truck drivers, late-shift workers, and vacationers, when glare from oncoming headlights and low lighting conditions make driving challenging. A multifocal lens implant may not be the best choice due to the 3% chance of severe glare/halos these implants can impart. The Eyhance monofocal with or without astigmatism correction will allow for the most light and least glare for nighttime visual needs.

The one seeking glasses independence

While cataract surgery can remove the cloudiness from your lens, it can also be an opportunity to say goodbye to your glasses or contacts. ‘Multifocal lenses, such as Synergy and Panoptix, can eliminate the need for glasses or contacts in 90% of patients,” Dr. Kansupada explains. “Extended-depth-of-focus implants, like Vivity, can achieve 50% spectacle independence.”

The one wanting to keep their glasses

A patient may want to keep wearing glasses following their cataract surgery because they (or their partner) may prefer their appearance with spectacles. They may still opt for lens implant upgrades and wear a pair of glasses with no-prescription lenses for social occasions. Doing so will allow the patient to enjoy precision vision while still retaining their desire to wear corrective lenses.

The former LASIK or RK patient

Did you know that you can still enjoy lens implant upgrades after your myopic (nearsighted) LASIK procedure? Contrary to popular belief, one treatment does not prevent the other. For these patients, it is recommended that they first have a special scan of their corneas to make sure there are no significant irregularities after healing from the myopic LASIK procedure. If there are no significant irregularities, then an extended depth of focus or multifocal lens implant may be used to reduce dependency on glasses/contacts. However, according to Dr. Kansupada, “Hyperopic (farsighted) LASIK patients are unfortunately not a candidate for these lens implant upgrades and would be better served with a special monofocal lens implant option.”

Patients who had radial keratotomy (RK) typically have an irregular cornea precluding use of the extended range lens implants. They can use the Eyhance Toric lens implant to treat their astigmatism if the astigmatism on their scans is amenable.

Cataract surgery can be a life-changing procedure for patients with differing visual needs. At CEENTA, our team of surgeons can discuss the most suitable lens options for you, including monofocal, multifocal, extended-depth-of-focus, and toric lenses. To schedule your consultation with Dr. Kansupada in Belmont or Huntersville today, you may use our online scheduling platform or through your myCEENTAchart account if you are an existing patient.

This blog is for informational purposes only. For specific medical questions, please consult your doctor. New patients can make appointments online with any of our eye doctors in North and South Carolina. Current patients can also make appointments through myCEENTAchart with physicians they have already seen.