What you need to know about cataract treatment cataract about know to need you What Patient information When eyesight starts to diminish Effective cataract treatment Good vision greatly contributes to our personal well-being and to our ability to do the things we enjoy. However, as we grow older, our eyesight naturally starts to diminish. Cataracts are a common cause for this gradual deterioration. Left untreated, a cataract can increasingly begin to restrict daily activities and the overall quality of life. What’s more, cataracts are frequently accompanied by other common eye conditions such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism and presbyopia. Most types of vision impairment are easily corrected with eyeglasses or contact lenses. A cataract, however, cannot be treated with these conventional means, or even with medication. Surgical replacement of the eye’s clouded natural lens with an artificial lens (medically speaking: intraocular lens, or IOL) is the only effective method for removing a cataract. In fact, cataract surgery is the most frequently performed surgical procedure and highly successful in restoring vision. In this brochure, you will find useful information on cataract treatment and the various types of intraocular lenses available today, which may help you understand your options and facilitate discussions with your eye doctor. 3 How the eye works Common forms of vision disorders Understanding vision Refractive errors The human eye is an amazing organ. Each one Lens Retina Refraction refers to the bending of light rays in is unique. The quality of our individual vision is the eye. Refractive errors such as nearsightedness, determined by the size and shape of our eyes, farsightedness and astigmatism occur when the which can greatly vary. cornea’s optical power and the length of the eye are not aligned, thereby preventing the light rays from With a healthy eye, light rays pass through the focusing directly onto the retina. cornea at the front of the eye, and are focused by the lens inside the eye directly onto the layer of Light rays Nearsightedness (Myopia) Near-sighted vision simulation tissue at the back of the eye called the retina. People with “near-sighted” vision (myopia) are able The formed image is then sent to the brain via to clearly focus on objects up close, but not on the optic nerve. those in the distance. When the eye’s dimensions are not symmetrical, Farsightedness (Hyperopia) Pupil or its shape is somehow irregular, this can lead to Optic nerve Conversely, people affected by “far-sighted” vision (hyperopia) can clearly focus on objects in the a vision disorder. These so-called refractive errors, Cornea explained on the next page, are the most common distance, but have difficulty clearly seeing those that Far-sighted vision simulation types of eye conditions and can affect individuals Normal vision are up close. of all ages. Light rays pass unhindered through the transparent lens and are focused directly Astigmatism onto the retina, forming a clear image. An astigmatism occurs when the cornea has an irregular (slightly oval) shape, causing the light rays to focus on more than one point. As a result, vision is blurry or distorted. Astigmatic vision simulation 4 5 Age-related vision changes Cataract treatment Cataract and presbyopia A proven procedure A cataract is a gradual clouding of the natural Typical signs of cataract Cataracts cannot be delayed or prevented, nor treated with medication. The cloudy natural lens of the eye. This is natural part of the aging lens needs to be removed surgically. Cataract surgery has proven to be a safe and effective • Gradual deterioration in vision quality process, sooner or later affecting most of us. treatment method for many years, as clinical results show. In fact, it is the most widely • Hazy or cloudy vision In some cases, such as diabetes or eye trauma, performed surgical procedure in the world today. • Faded color and contrast perception cataracts can also affect younger people. • Increased sensitivity to bright light During cataract surgery, the cloudy lens is broken down and carefully removed through • Frequent changes in eyeglass prescription What is a cataract? a small incision in the cornea of approximately 2 mm. It is replaced by a tiny artifical lens, A cataract occurs when the eye’s crystalline lens called an intraocular lens or IOL, which is implanted through the same incision. The becomes increasingly clouded, usually due to a procedure is performed under local anesthesia on an outpatient basis. The surgical change in its protein structure. As the lens becomes procedure generally takes 15 to 30 minutes. Also, the surgery generally does not require thicker and less transparent, it prevents light from sutures, which facilitates a quicker recovery. clearly passing through it – similar to a foggy window. Cataracts are often accompanied by other vision Typical steps of cataract treatment disorders. Presbyopia, another common age-related eye condition, often causes vision deterioration years before a cataract develops. Normal vision Vision with a cataract What is presbyopia? Typical signs of presbyopia After the age of 40, the lens starts to become less Surgery preparation Outpatient surgery Follow-up visits Regular exams flexible, causing a reduced capability to adjust and • The need for reading or progressive glasses Eye measurements to Same-day procedure First day after Periodic check-ups focus on objects at various distances. Objects up • Difficulty with near range tasks such as reading calculate the correct with local anesthetic surgery, then for by your eye doctor close, in particular, become increasingly difficult to • Objects must be held farther away to see them intraocular lens power such as eye drops approx. a month, see clearly. clearly as needed 6 7 Intraocular lenses (IOLs) Intraocular lenses with added benefits Modern cataract treatment technology Advanced cataract treatment options An intraocular lens represents highly innovative Actual size of an IOL Different types of intraocular lenses are available today to accommodate various vision needs technology – both in terms of its corrective power compared to an almond of cataract patients. Lenses are classified by the number of focal points and can be either and the vision quality it can provide. In addition monofocal or multifocal (bifocal or trifocal). to treating cataracts, certain types of IOLs also Commonly made of a soft, synthetic and enable correction of other vision disorders such as biocompatible material, a typical intraocular lens Main types of intraocular lenses presbyopia. Modern intraocular lenses simulate the measures approximately 11 mm in diameter. The refractive properties of the natural lens, and can thickness of the optic can vary, depending on the enable good vision at one, two or three distances. lens power. The corrective power of the lens is Monofocal lenses Bifocal lenses Trifocal lenses individually calculated for each eye and may differ with one focal point for with two focal points with three focal points for each eye. far or near vision for near and far vision for near, intermediate and far vision Modern intraocular lenses can also have additional functions, enabling them to better match the unique requirements of each patient. Far: beyond 100 cm (Spatial orientation) Typical types of intraocular lenses with additional functions Aspheric lenses Violet-light Toric lenses Intermediate: approx. 80 cm for better contrast filtering lenses for astigmatism Near: approx. 40 cm (Computer work) (Reading) vision with extended filter correction function Various vision distances (near, intermediate, far) can be achieved with modern intraocular lenses 8 9 Common types of intraocular lenses Additional vision distance Intraocular lenses with one focal point Intraocular lenses with two focal points Monofocal intraocular lenses Bifocal intraocular lenses The most common type of intraocular lens has a monofocal optic with a single corrective Similar to bifocal eyeglasses, bifocal intraocular lenses have two focal points to provide power (focal point). Monofocal lenses are designed to provide clear vision for one distance, clear vision for both distance and up close. Patients treated with bifocal IOLs may need usually far, which is important for tasks such as driving. However, patients with monofocal to wear eyeglasses for certain intermediate-range tasks (approx. 80 cm) such as computer IOLs may continue to need eyeglasses for activities at other distances, for example, reading. work. Distance vision Distance vision (beyond 100 cm) (beyond 100 cm) Intermediate vision Intermediate vision (approx. 80 cm) (approx. 80 cm) Near vision Near vision (approx. 40 cm) (approx. 40 cm) Vision simulation with a monofocal lens: clear vision at distance Vision simulation with a bifocal lens: clear near and distance vision 10 11 Designed for clear vision across all distances Intraocular lenses with added functions Intraocular lenses with three focal points For individual vision needs Trifocal intraocular lenses Advanced intraocular lenses are available to meet patients’ individual vision requirements. The most advanced intraocular lenses today, trifocal IOLs, have been used to successfully Depending on the design, these intraocular lenses offer further benefits, for example, treat cataracts for several years. These lenses are designed to project multiple images improved contrast perception. onto the retina, which the brain combines into one sharp picture, allowing patients to see objects clearly at various distances – similar to progressive eyeglass lenses. Aspheric intraocular lenses Due to their aspheric (i.e. not round) optic shape, these lenses enable the light rays to Trifocal intraocular lenses are designed to enable not only clear far vision and a comfortable be optimally focused onto the retina which can help to improve vision quality and contrast reading distance. This type of IOL provides in addition good intermediate vision, which sharpness, particularly in poor lighting conditions (at dusk or at night). is essential for performing daily activities such as cooking or computer work. As a result, many patients with trifocal lenses no longer need to wear glasses.