An artificial lens is necessary after a patient has undergone cataract surgery. The problem is, most artificial lenses are mono-focal. That means a patient will be forced to decide if it’s more important to see clearly up close or at a distance, and they’ll have to invest in glasses to make up the difference. PanOptix is a revolutionary lens option that our team at ICT Eye in Wichita, KS, offers our patients so they don’t have to make that choice.
Aside from cataracts, if your eyes are generally healthy and you don’t want to be stuck relying on glasses, PanOptix could be a good solution for you.
A consultation will help us know for sure if this trifocal lens option will reduce or eliminate your need for glasses. We’ll be able to go over all your options with you so you can make the right decision based on your unique needs.
If you’ve started to notice vision changes, it’s always a good idea to have that checked out as soon as possible. Some signs that you may be developing cataracts include vision that is growing increasingly blurred or clouded. You may notice your vision dimming as well, so it could be growing more difficult to see in low light environments. On the other hand, you may also notice an increased sensitivity to light.
Some patients with cataracts find that one of their eyes is producing double vision. Difficulty reading is another common sign. Finally, if you’ve noticed colors don’t seem as vibrant as they used to, that’s another sign that you could be developing cataracts.
About one in every three people can be affected by astigmatism, making it a very common concern. This condition can be hereditary or could be caused by either surgery or an injury. A natural lens that, due to its shape, isn’t able to function properly is usually the culprit. Patients with astigmatism may also find it changing over time.
Symptoms associated with astigmatism include blurred vision, which can be limited to a certain distance or can affect all distances. It may also lead to eye strain or discomfort, and headaches. If you have astigmatism and are ready for some good news, a trifocal lens can actually offer you a safe and effective treatment option, especially if your condition is under one diopter of measurement.
One form of farsightedness is presbyopia, which is caused by a decrease in the eye’s ability to focus on things that are close up. It is common to see this develop with age. If you’re having to hold your phone at an arm’s length so you can read the screen, you may be dealing with presbyopia.
Either bifocals or reading glasses used to be considered the best way to deal with presbyopia, but the introduction of trifocal lenses has changed that. Designed specifically with this condition in mind, patients who find bifocals disorienting or just don’t like glasses can seek out trifocal lenses instead.
A consultation is an important step before any surgery should be considered. Our team will want to make sure a trifocal lens will be a good fit for your needs. We also will want to give you enough time to ask any questions you have about the process. If it’s determined you’re a good candidate, we’ll go over any information you’ll need for before and after the surgery.
Before the surgery starts, you’ll be given an anesthetic and have your pupils dilated. A trifocal lens, just like any other intraocular lens, serves to replace the lens of your eye that you were born with. So if you have a faulty natural lens, or if your natural lens had to be removed during cataract surgery, PanOptix serves as a replacement.
The panoptix surgery needed to put it into place is considered an outpatient procedure. It can usually be wrapped up in as little as 10 to 20 minutes. That’s less time than your average lunch break!
This panoptix surgery is so routine that it’s often seen as one of the safest medical procedures out there. It’s also extremely effective. Once the lens is placed, we’ll monitor you for a bit before sending you on your way. Many patients find it to be a surprisingly simple and easy process.
To give patients time to adjust, usually, one eye is treated per surgery. While each case can vary somewhat, many patients can enjoy immediate improvements to their vision.
This lens is expected to keep providing you clear vision for your entire lifetime. Our team thinks that’s worth celebrating, which is why we’re so proud to offer this service.
While mono-focal lenses are limited to only helping patients see clearly at a single distance, a PanOptix lens can offer both near, intermediate, and distance vision with sharp 20/20 clarity, making it a trifocal lens.
The power behind this trifocal lens is found through its use of light. It can achieve 88% total light utilization at 3mm pupil size, which means plenty of light is able to effectively reach the retina.
It also has a 4.5mm diffractive zone. That means the lens doesn’t rely completely on pupil size. In a range of lighting conditions, it will continue to offer good results.
When it comes to being able to see well at any distance, that’s where the multiple focal points come in. For this trifocal lens, a focal point was added at about four feet, or 120 centimeters. This is considered an intermediate vision distance.
The light energy of this intermediate focal point was then able to be redirected. That allowed the lens to offer focal points at near, intermediate, and distant ranges; a powerful three-in-one effect.
So, what is considered near vision? When you look down at your cell phone or read a book, you’re using near vision. A mono-focal lens is usually far-distance focused, since reading glasses can be used to help with near vision. Since this lens covers both vision needs, you won’t have to worry about constantly misplacing or replacing your reading glasses.
Reading glasses can be a great tool, but having to rely on them can be frustrating too. It can take some of the spontaneity out of life, especially if you are trying to look at something a family member wants to show you, but don’t know where you put your readers.
Typing on your computer, cooking, shaving, or anything that’s done at about an arm’s length is considered intermediate vision. Intermediate vision is also responsible for looking at the face of a loved one as you’re chatting.
It plays a pretty big role in our daily lives, so having good intermediate vision can make life easier when it comes to enjoying our favorite activities, or performing at work.
If you’re watching a movie, driving, or enjoying the view around you as you hike, you’re using distance vision. Distance vision plays an important functional role, such as enabling you to safely drive yourself.
It also is important for recreational activities, like enjoying the scenery without squinting or having to clear up foggy glasses. Whether you’re looking for better independence or sharper vision for your hobbies, PanOptix has you covered.
If you’ve always enjoyed good vision and independence from glasses, being forced to face cataract surgery and the prospect of relying on glasses in the future may be upsetting. Age can bring a lot of changes, but one change that you can minimize is reliance on glasses.
Rather than having cataract surgery represent a major life change, a trifocal lens can mean the changes to your vision will be much less life-altering.
It’s generally well understood that extended sun exposure can be damaging to the skin, which is why sunscreen or protective clothing is often associated with long days out in the summer sun. The truth is, unprotected exposure to sunlight can be damaging to your eyes too. Unless you have prescription sunglasses, protecting your eyes and wearing glasses at the same time can be difficult.
This trifocal lens option can protect your eyes and support your vision at the same time. It offers UV protection and blue light filtering to shield your retinal cells from damage and help protect your vision from further deterioration, year-round.
If you think it’s time to consider bringing all the improvements this treatment has to offer into your life, we’d be happy to meet with you. Reach out to our team at ICT Eye in Wichita, KS, today to set up your consultation.
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