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If your vision has become increasingly cloudy with age or you have started to experience more glare than before, it may be important to consider not only presbyopia but also the possibility of cataracts.
Cataract surgery is a common ophthalmic procedure in which the clouded natural lens is removed and replaced with an intraocular lens (IOL) to help improve vision.
In recent years, a wider variety of intraocular lenses has become available, allowing patients to consider not only cataract treatment but also correction of presbyopia.
Because different types of lenses can be selected according to an individual’s eye condition and lifestyle, interest in customized IOL selection has continued to grow.
1. What Is an Intraocular Lens for Cataract Surgery?
The crystalline lens is a transparent structure inside the eye that refracts incoming light so that it can focus accurately on the retina.
However, when the lens becomes cloudy due to aging, trauma, diabetes, or other causes, light may no longer pass through properly.
This can result in cataract-related symptoms such as blurred vision and increased glare.
During cataract surgery, the clouded natural lens is removed and replaced with an artificial intraocular lens that takes over its focusing function.
Modern intraocular lenses are made from materials designed with biocompatibility in mind.
They can generally be divided into categories such as monofocal intraocular lenses and multifocal intraocular lenses.
If you are comparing lens options while searching for an eye clinic in Eunpyeong-gu, it is important not to focus only on a particular lens brand or model.
Your eye condition, visual needs, and preferred focusing distances should all be considered together.
2. What Types of Multifocal Intraocular Lenses Are Available?
1) Clareon PanOptix
Clareon PanOptix is an intraocular lens based on the optical design of PanOptix, a widely used trifocal IOL, and incorporates Alcon’s Clareon® material.
It is designed to provide three focal ranges: distance, intermediate, and near vision.
This means it can be considered for a wide range of activities, including distance tasks such as driving and watching television, intermediate tasks such as computer or tablet use, and near activities such as reading or using a smartphone.
It is also designed to maintain long-term optical clarity.
The Clareon material was developed in part to reduce the occurrence of glistenings, or microscopic fluid-filled vacuoles that may occasionally be observed in some acrylic lens materials.
2) PanOptix PRO
PanOptix PRO is based on the existing Clareon PanOptix platform and features the latest ENLIGHTEN™ optical technology.
It is designed to improve the efficiency of light utilization while reducing unnecessary light scatter.
The goal is to make more effective use of available light under the same lighting conditions.
In particular, the diffractive step structure of the optic has been more precisely engineered to help reduce light scatter and residual light effects that may occur as light is refracted through the lens.
3) Synergy
Synergy is an intraocular lens that combines extended depth of focus (EDOF) technology with a multifocal optical design.
It is designed to provide functional vision across a broad range of distances while also addressing presbyopia.
The lens aims to offer a relatively continuous range of vision rather than relying on a single focal point.
4) Odyssey
Odyssey is one of the more recently introduced next-generation multifocal intraocular lenses.
It has been developed with the goal of improving optical concerns that may occur with some conventional multifocal lenses, such as nighttime glare, halos, and reduced contrast sensitivity.
Its lens surface and optical structure are designed to support smoother visual transitions across different distances.
3. What Should Be Checked Before Choosing an Intraocular Lens?
Before selecting an IOL, it is helpful to consider the following factors:
✓ Whether you frequently drive at night or spend a significant amount of time in dark environments
✓ How much time you spend on near and intermediate tasks such as computer work, smartphone use, or reading
✓ How much you would like to reduce your dependence on glasses or reading glasses after surgery
✓ Whether you have astigmatism and what condition your cornea is in
✓ Whether you have any accompanying eye diseases, including retinal disease or glaucoma
✓ Your occupation, daily activities, and overall lifestyle
In particular, if retinal disease or optic nerve disease is present, a multifocal intraocular lens may not always be the most suitable option.
In such cases, another type of lens or treatment strategy may be more appropriate.
Therefore, when choosing an eye clinic in Eunpyeong-gu, it is important to consider whether the clinic performs a thorough preoperative evaluation and takes into account each patient’s eye condition and lifestyle rather than applying the same lens option to everyone.
4. Important Precautions After Cataract Surgery
✓ Temporary Changes in Vision
Immediately after cataract surgery, vision may feel somewhat blurry, and symptoms such as glare or halos around lights may temporarily occur.
These symptoms may gradually improve during the recovery period.
However, if symptoms become more severe or persist for an extended period, it is important not to make assumptions on your own.
You should visit an eye clinic near Bulgwang Station or your ophthalmologist to determine the exact cause.
✓ Face Washing and Protective Eye Shield
During the early postoperative period, care should be taken to prevent water from entering the operated eye directly while washing your face.
You may also be instructed to wear a protective eye shield according to your surgeon’s recommendations.
✓ Lifestyle Management During Recovery
Activities that may increase the risk of infection or place unnecessary stress on the eye should be limited during the recovery period.
These may include eye makeup, swimming, sauna use, and strenuous exercise.
✓ Eye Drops and Regular Follow-Up Examinations
Prescribed eye drops should be used regularly according to the dosage and schedule provided by your ophthalmologist.
It is also important to attend scheduled follow-up appointments so that your doctor can monitor the recovery of the eye and any changes in vision.