The AcrySof Toric ® single-piece intra ocular lens (IOL) implant is an FDA approved lens. It is important for you to know the following before deciding if you wish to undergo surgery with implantation of this advanced technology IOL.

1. In some individuals the shape of the cornea is curved in such a way that vision is distorted or blurred. This is known as astigmatism, and is usually corrected with contact lenses or eyeglasses. A person who has both cataracts and astigmatism will not achieve high quality distance vision after cataract surgery unless the astigmatism is also corrected. This commonly requires glasses, usually bifocals, to correct both distance and near vision. Current technology, however, makes it possible to correct the cataracts that may be clouding your vision and the astigmatism all at the same time.
2. The AcrySof Toric ® IOL replaces your eye’s natural clouded lens during cataract surgery. It has the ability to reduce or eliminate corneal astigmatism at the same time as it corrects cataracts. Although correcting the astigmatism with this new type of IOL often provides very good distance vision, patients are still expected to need corrective lenses for near and intermediate tasks, as well as for correction of the non-operated eye if required. The procedure is performed on one eye at a time. If the second eye needs surgery, this would normally be performed about one month later. With this toric IOLimplanted in both eyes, your distance vision has a much better chance of being clear without dependence on glasses. The AcrySof Toric ® lens also filters out harmful ultraviolet light.
3. The procedure is similar to cataract removal in that the human lens that is inside the eye is removed and the toric IOL lens is inserted. Additional preoperative testing, surgical planning, and specialized techniques, customized for your eye, are performed by your surgeon with the implantation of a toric IOL. While problems with any eye surgery are possible, and visual results can never be guaranteed, the risks of the procedure are no greater than those assumed by a patient undergoing standard cataract removal.
4. Astigmatism reduction will not significantly delay your recovery or prolong the length of your operation. The results of astigmatism correction will be evaluated after surgery and usually become stable at 2-4 weeks after the procedure. Almost all patients will have less astigmatism than they would have without the corrective surgery.
5. Health insurances, including Medicare will provide coverage for removal of the cataract, but not for astigmatism correction. They consider the correction of astigmatism a completely elective procedure. Patients are therefore responsible for the additional charge of $600 payable to Eye Associates of Lancaster and another fee to the surgery center of $350-575 per eye.
6. If you have any questions not already addressed by your surgeon at the time of your visit, our technical staff and surgery coordinator will be happy to provide further information at the time of your surgery scheduling appointment.