One Lens Choice For Life

You're comfortably sedated, and most patients feel little or no pain. You may notice light and movement, but you won't see what the surgeon is doing. The procedure takes about fifteen minutes, and you're home the same day. Most patients tell us it was the easiest part of the whole experience.

Some patients with multifocal lenses do notice rings around lights at night, especially in the first months. For most, the brain adapts and the effect fades, though for a small number it persists. If your measurements or your lifestyle point away from a multifocal, we'll recommend a different lens. You can preview the halo effect in the simulator above.

Insurance often covers a majority of the cost of cataract surgery and a standard lens implant. Insurance companies don't pay for the benefit of astigmatism correction, extended range of focus, or independence from glasses. Some patients decide that eliminating decades of glasses and squinting at menus is good value. That's a personal decision, and we'll give you the exact numbers for all options, in writing.

Not every eye is a candidate: certain retina, cornea, or macula conditions make a monofocal the safer choice, and your measurements at your appointment will determine which options are right for you. There is also a small chance we discover during surgery that the eye doesn't have enough support to safely hold a premium lens; if that happens, we place a monofocal lens instead. Either way, we'll tell you plainly and do what's right for your eyes.

Some eyes have enough astigmatism to blur vision, but not enough to need the more expensive toric lens. For those patients we may recommend limbal relaxing incisions (LRI): tiny incisions at the edge of the cornea that let the cornea relax into a rounder, clearer shape. An LRI is $900. If you choose a multifocal or extended depth of focus premium lens, your astigmatism correction — with either an LRI or a toric lens — is included in the premium package.

No. Each eye is treated on a separate day, typically two to four weeks apart. This lets the first eye begin healing, and lets us confirm its result, before the second surgery.

Your completed Welcome Packet from the mail, including the Health & Physical form and the Vision Preference questionnaire (you can fill one out on your computer or print another copy here), your current glasses, a list of your medications and any eye drops you use, your insurance card, a photo ID, and, if you'd like, a spouse or family member. Most patients bring someone, and we encourage it.

Yes. Your eyes will be dilated at your consultation so we can fully examine your lens and retina. Dilation blurs near vision and makes your eyes sensitive to light for a few hours, so bring sunglasses, and if possible have someone available to drive you home.