Presbyopia, which affects most people over the age of 40, involves the inability to focus on things up close. As a result, patients require glasses to see items at near distances. Astigmatism occurs when the cornea is not spherical in shape, thus causing the vision to be blurry or distorted. With handheld devices being at the forefront of technology in this day and age, being able to see close objects clearly is paramount.
Before the development of Extended Depth of Focus technology, the IOL most commonly used in cataract surgery was a monofocal lens. This type of lens only allows patients to see distance or near, but not both. Even after cataract surgery, most patients found themselves still in need of eyeglasses in order to see things more clearly, particularly at near. The Symfony IOL lens was created with specific design features to improve both vision range and quality. This approval was based on a study that compared and contrasted the TECNIS Symfony lens to a TECNIS aspheric monofocal lens in almost 300 people. Participants that received a TECNIS Symfony IOL achieved greater improvements in near vision, while maintaining similar distance vision. This group was also more likely to reduce the overall need for eyeglasses and achieve quality vision under nearly any lighting condition.
If your eyes are relatively healthy aside from regular cataract symptoms, the Extended Depth of Focus IOL may be right for you. As always, consult with our knowledgeable team of doctors for a final say. Our doctors will go over your vision needs to customize and tailor treatment specific to you.