Toric IOL
Don’t wait any longer…See clearly again
TORIC: Intraocular Lens
Southern Louisiana and Texas cataract patients now have the option of reducing or eliminating pre-existing astigmatism with the Toric Intraocular Lens (IOL). This new lens design provides quality distance vision and astigmatism correction all in one step.
In the past, patients undergoing a cataract procedure only had the option of a single-focus lens to correct distance vision; However, they would still have to wear glasses or contact lenses to correct astigmatism. Sometimes, they would undergo additional procedures to correct astigmatism. With the Toric IOL, Dr. Falgoust can treat the cataract and the astigmatism correction in one predictable and precise step.
Astigmatism simply means that the curvature of the cornea is irregular. Instead of being shaped like a basketball, its shape resembles a football with both steep and flat curves. These different curvatures in an astigmatic eye cause light to focus at multiple points in the eye instead of focusing only at one point on the retina (the light sensing part of the eye). The result is blurry, distorted vision.
Results
The Toric IOL has been used in more than 25,000 cases nationwide. In clinical trials, 97 percent of patients reported freedom from glasses for distance vision.
The Toric IOL is Medicare approved. Medicare and most insurance companies will cover a portion of the cost of this procedure. New insurance guidelines allow the patient to pay the additional costs associated with the Premium Toric IOL because of its astigmatism correction properties. The fees associated with the lens upgrade may be compared to the cost of glasses to correct astigmatism after surgery.
Benefits
By treating astigmatism and cataracts in one step, our patients enjoy clearer distance vision while enjoying activities, such as traveling, sports, driving and other hobbies, without the hassle of glasses or contact lenses.
Cataract treatment is among the most commonly performed procedures in the United States. The procedure is performed in an outpatient surgery facility under local anesthesia.
