Lens Implants
A cataract occurs when the clear natural lens of the eye becomes cloudy and significantly interferes with your sight. During surgery the cataract is removed and replaced with a lens implant. There are several new developments in the design of lens implants that now provide you this single opportunity to try to regain the kind of vision you had before you needed reading glasses. Some of these new technology lens implants correct astigmatism and others correct presbyopia (inability to see up close to read) in addition to your cataract. These conditions are pre-existing and their proper treatment can significantly enhance your vision after your surgery. The procedure and lens implant you choose are permanent.
The majority of the cost of your cataract surgery is covered by Medicare and/or your medical insurance. This includes the eye surgeon’s professional fees, the facility fee, the anesthesia fee, and a standard lens implant. The new technology premium lens implants are not covered by Medicare or your medical insurance because they treat astigmatism and presbyopia in addition to the cataract. Depending on your specific insurance plan, you may have to pay a co pay, co-insurance, or towards a deductible. Please discuss which lens implant is best for your particular situation with your eye surgeon.
STANDARD lens implant - This is a monofocal or "single focus" lens implant generally selected to correct distance vision. After surgery, most patients need reading glasses and many still need distance glasses too. These glasses are usually bifocal or progressive glasses. This lens implant does not correct astigmatism or presbyopia. There is no additional charge for this implant.
TORIC lens implant (astigmatism-correcting) - Toric implants correct pre-existing corneal astigmatism which is unrelated to the cataract. Most people have some degree of astigmatism, but even moderate amounts 
can affect the vision significantly. A person who has both cataracts and astigmatism will not regain high-quality uncorrected vision unless the astigmatism is also addressed. After surgery, most patients need reading glasses and some still need distance glasses. If the toric implant is used the uncorrected distance vision is generally much better compared to the standard lens implant. There is an additional charge per eye (not covered by Medicare or medical insurance).
FULL VISION lens implant (presbyopia-correcting) - These lenses are accommodating or multifocal ("multi focus") lens implants which are intended to enhance both near vision, and distance vision. There is no guarantee that you will be glasses-free after surgery, but these implants are designed to decrease or eliminate your dependence on glasses. These lenses are more likely to restore your vision to what it was like many years ago. There is an additional charge per eye (not covered by Medicare or medical insurance). The following are the current FDA approved lens implants to correct presbyopia: Crystalens®, Restor®, ReZoom™, & Tecnis®.
