iLasik vs ICL (Implantable Contact Lenses)

Lens Implant is a great option for people who hate having to put on reading glasses.

Many people only have to start using reading glasses in their forties. It’s down hill from there on. At first it’s just sometimes. Then most of the time they want to see up close. Then ALL the time.

The final straw is when they need glasses to see in the distance AS WELL as to see a computer or to read.

Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE)

Modern eye surgery gives people an alternative to reading glasses or multifocal glasses. It’s called Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE) but it’s just not very well advertised to people in the community.

All they know about is laser. Like LASIK or PRK or ASLA. These are fabulous for patients between 18 years of age and 45 years of age. But they have limitations in older patients who really should be informed about RLE.

Who Can Benefit from Refractive Lens Exchange Lens Implants

Refractive Lens Implants with diffractive intraocular lenses is a great option for people who hate multifocal glasses. People who can’t get used to having to look through one part of their glasses to see in the distance, and another part to see up close. With diffractive IOLs they can see in the distance as well as up close all in one line. Their side vision is so much better too.

Tecnis ZLBoo Diffractive Mulitfocal Lens

One of the lens implants used at Macquarie Street Eye Laser Centre is from a company called Abbott and is called the Tecnis ZLB00 diffractive multifocal lens.

Diffractive multifocal intraocular lenses distribute light to different focal lengths based on the diffractive pattern on the lens surface. Optical rings are present in these lenses that create two focal points, one for distance and one for near. IOL’s based on this concept have proven to be provide excellent distance, reading vision and are effective in correcting presbyopia.

The Level of Visual Restoration via Multifocal Diffractive Intraocular Lenses

A peer reviewed study of this lens confirmed that this multifocal diffractive IOL does have the ability to successfully restore distance and near visual function to patients who depend on glasses. Within this study 93% of the sample achieved visual acuities of 6/7.5 (that’s the same as 20/25) or better without any glasses. 100% of this sample were able to read the finest print post-surgery without any glasses at all.

The level of visual restoration achieved with this IOL is similar to that of the older model of the same platform called the Tecnis ZMB00. With the ZMB00 the near vision is fantastic but intermediate distance vision (like for using a computer or iPad) was less than perfect. It meant patients had to sit up closer to computer screens to see the font clearly or, if that was too uncomfortable, they’d just have to put some reading glasses on for that task alone.

The Tecnis ZLB00 is a lens that can be implanted into otherwise healthy eyes or into eyes requiring cataract surgery. The implantation is done at the same time as the cataract procedure.

Do Lens Implants have any Side Effects?

A side effect that’s well known with diffractive IOLs is the presence of halos and glare, usually with driving at night. In this study only one patient reported this side effect but didn’t have it so badly that they wanted the lens removed from their eyes.

If you are tired of needing glasses to read. Or having to wear multifocal glasses. Particularly if you’ve been told you have cataracts. Consider RLE with diffractive multifocal lenses.

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