TORIC IOL Specialist in San Antonio Texas

1. What are cataracts?

Cataracts occur when proteins in your eye begin to clump together and form a cloud over your natural lens. Cataracts develop at varying rates and can occur in one eye or both. They are more common as you get older, although you can also develop cataracts after an eye injury.Initially, your UltraVision eye doctor may recommend glasses to help improve your vision; if cataracts worsen, your doctor may recommend corrective surgery. During cataract surgery, your eye surgeon removes the cloudy lens and replaces it with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL). Following surgery, you may no longer need your glasses.

2. What is Toric IOL?

A toric IOL is a specially designed soft artificial lens used to replace your cloudy lens that also allows your surgeon to precisely orient the lens to address astigmatism. The lens is made up of biocompatible material and has been used to correct vision in more than 25 million eyes since 1991.

3. What is Astigmatism?

Astigmatism occurs when the cornea of your eye is curved in such a way that it prevents light from focusing properly on the retina, leading to blurry vision. If you have astigmatism, your cornea may be shaped more like a football, with flatter and steeper curves than the preferred rounded shape.
Almost everyone has some degree of astigmatism. If your astigmatism is affecting your vision, however, it can be corrected with:● Glasses or contact lenses● Reshaping therapy referred to as orthokeratology● SurgeryYour eye care specialist at UltraVision may suggest a toric IOL to correct both the cataract and astigmatism if you’re having cataract surgery. Without placement of the toric IOL, you may still need to wear glasses to correct the vision changes caused by your astigmatism following surgery.

4. What can I expect during placement of my toric IOL?

Placement of your toric IOL for cataracts is done as an outpatient procedure. A local anesthetic is used to ease any discomfort before surgery begins. Then, under a microscope with precision and care, your eye surgeon makes a small incision into your lens, and with special microsurgical instruments, removes the cataract lens.
The toric IOL is then inserted into your eye and the incision is closed with dissolvable stitches.