What IOL Option Is Best?
September 6, 2023
When planning to have cataract surgery, there are many things to consider. You should arrange for someone to drive you home on the day of the procedure, and prepare to take it easy for a few days.
You should also think carefully about the lens you will receive. Every person who gets cataract surgery faces an important decision: which lens to choose.
At Eyes of York, we offer a range of IOL options to accommodate the needs and goals of every patient. The lens you choose will directly affect your clarity of vision after surgery.
Keep reading to find out what IOL option may be best for you!
What Is an IOL?
IOL is short for intraocular lens. To understand the role of an IOL, you must first understand how cataracts affect the eye and how cataract surgery works. 
Cataracts form inside the lens of your eye. Located behind the iris, the lens is a usually transparent structure that helps focus light as it enters the eye.
This is why, when you have a cataract, you experience symptoms like cloudy vision, glare, and faded colors. In a fifteen-minute outpatient procedure, your cataract surgeon can remove your natural lens where the cataract is and replace it with an IOL that will restore your vision.
An IOL is a synthetic lens that is designed to function like your natural lens. They’re made from a soft, biocompatible material, such as silicone or acrylic, that you cannot see or feel.
What Happens During Cataract Surgery?
During cataract surgery, your cataract surgeon will create a small incision in the corneal surface. Ultrasound waves are then used to dissolve the cataract, and then the remnants of the cataract are gently removed.
The lens capsule is left intact, which is the membrane that surrounds the lens. Once your natural lens is removed, your cataract surgeon will insert the folded intraocular lens through that same incision.
As it unfolds, it will be positioned in place of the preexisting lens. After this, cataract surgery is complete, and the IOL is in place.
No stitches are needed. The incision is small enough to heal on its own.
What Are My IOL Options?
While there used to be minimal options when it came to selecting an IOL, today, you have the opportunity to choose from a range of options. Your decision can make a significant impact on your life after cataract surgery.
At Eyes of York, we provide three primary categories of IOLs: Forever Young, Legal to Drive, and Standard. Offering excellent near and distance vision, the Forever Young IOL is a well-loved option for those looking to rely on visual aids less after surgery.
It can accomplish this in two ways: by giving you the benefit of multifocal or extended depth of focus capability. A multifocal lens has distinct focal points for different vision zones, whereas one with an extended depth of focus provides a continuous range of vision.
The Legal to Drive lens is a Toric lens implant. This option is meant for patients with a moderate to high degree of astigmatism. In this case, you can select to have either your distance vision or your near vision corrected.
You will still need to wear glasses for the other. A Standard lens is also known as a monofocal lens.
In conjunction with this lens implant, the shape of the cornea is also modified to correct mild astigmatism. A Standard lens only creates one focal point for your vision.
So, it can add clarity to a single range of vision. With this option, most patients choose to have their distance vision corrected, meaning you would still need glasses for near and intermediate vision.
Choosing the Right IOL For You
Cataract surgery is no longer about only removing a cataract. Thanks to modern advancements, refractive cataract surgery allows you to eliminate your cataract and reduce your need for visual aids at the same time.
The best IOL will depend on your visual goals, budget, and lifestyle.
If you would like to rely less on glasses or contacts, the Forever Young IOL can provide outstanding results. 
True to its name, it can bring the quality of your vision back to what it used to be. This is an excellent option for those with active lifestyles, as visual aids can be a hassle during physical activity.
If reducing your dependence on visual aids is less important to you, a lens that only corrects at one distance may be adequate. We are here to assist you in selecting the right IOL for you, ensuring that when you look back, you will be glad you made the choice that you did.
Would you like to discuss your IOL options? We are ready to help you select the one that aligns perfectly with your preferences. Schedule a cataract evaluation at Eyes of York in York, PA, today!