Cataracts occur when the lens of the eye becomes cloudy, blurring and distorting vision over time. Cataract surgery aims to remove the clouded lens and replace it with a synthetic lens, fully restoring vision. This lens is called an intraocular lens (IOL), meaning inside the eye (as opposed to contact lenses, which are placed on the exterior).
The most effective of these lenses have generally fallen into two categories: multifocal and accommodating. The multifocal lens separates light into distant and near focal points (monofocal lenses only provide one focal point), while accommodating lenses actually move inside the eye to change focus. Now, with the new FDA-approved Tecnis® Symfony Intraocular Lens, there is a brand new category of intraocular lenses to aid in visual acuity for patients suffering from cataracts.
What is the Tecnis® Symfony Lens?
Tecnis® Symfony lenses are a state-of-the-art intraocular lens that provides one lengthy focal point rather than the two fixed focal points that traditional multifocal lenses offer. It has FDA approval after being the subject of many clinical studies with over 2,000 eyes involved.
The Tecnis® Symfony Lens is the only lens on the market that is able to correct presbyopia. Presbyopia is an age-related refractive error, that unlike other refractive errors, only affects the eye’s natural lens. As we age, this normally flexible lens becomes rigid, which makes it difficult to see up close. The Symfony Lens eliminates that issue altogether by replacing the natural lens.
Why Should I Consider Tecnis® Symfony Lenses?
Tecnis Symfony lenses offer several advantages over its counterparts. Because they are designed to provide one elongated focal point, there is a seamless transition between faraway points and close by points, even from bright areas to dark areas.
While patients with standard intraocular lenses sometimes report an increase in glare or intrusive halos, tests from Symfony lenses reported a lower occurrence because there are no competing focal points.
Another problem with traditional lenses is what is known as optical aberrations, either spherical or chromatic. Tecnis® Symfony lenses have been specifically designed to eliminate these problems, leading to an overall improvement of your quality of vision.
The Tecnis® Symfony lens is currently the only IOL designed specifically to correct presbyopia as well as cataracts. Presbyopia, an age-related refractive error that makes it difficult to see up close, can leave people reaching for their reading glasses several times a day. If you’d like to be reading glasses-free, the Symfony lens may be for you. The Symfony lens also comes in a toric variety, meaning it can also correct astigmatism!
Come Talk to Us!
Here at our office in Johnston, Rhode Island, we are dedicated to answering any questions you might have. We want to help find the best intraocular lens for you, and with the exciting, new advent of Tecnis® Symfony lenses, there is yet another way for you to see clearly again!
