Why a Premium Lens Like the Vivity IOL is Life-Changing
Do you or someone you love have cataracts? You may be wondering if you need cataract surgery.
With this decision also comes what kind of intraocular lens to choose before having cataract surgery. Choosing an intraocular lens (IOL) should involve taking your lifestyle and vision goals after cataract surgery into account.
For many people, a premium lens like the Vivity IOL may be worth considering. Premium lenses like the Vivity IOL replace your natural lens and can give you the best sight you’ve ever had. This revolutionary technology can help you see in ways that weren’t possible before.
At Eye Associates of Tallahassee, our team is dedicated to providing comprehensive care and guidance to our patients. We offer several premium IOLs to help improve your vision, including the groundbreaking Vivity intraocular lens.
Keep reading to learn why a premium lens like the Vivity IOL is life-changing and may be right for you!
What is the Vivity IOL?
The AcrySof® IQ Vivity™ IOL is the first and only intraocular lens that provides a non-diffractive, extended depth of focus. Having an extended depth of focus means that the lens enables high-quality vision at far and intermediate distances and functional vision when you’re looking at things that are up close.
In order to understand the Vivity IOL, it’s necessary to know how other IOLs provide clarity at different distances. Multifocal IOLs work by splitting the wavefront into different sections. These provide separate focal points to switch between, depending on what you’re looking at and seeing.
However, these IOLs are unintentionally flawed. Many patients with multifocal IOLs complain about glare, halos, and starbursts.
Experiencing these side effects makes it difficult to drive, especially at night. Because of this, many people opt for monofocal intraocular lenses during cataract surgery and continue wearing glasses to make up for the distances their IOL can’t correct.
The Vivity IOL works by using a new, proprietary non-diffractive technology known as X-Wave™. This advancement allows the lens to create a continuous, extended range of vision.
Understanding X-Wave Technology
Diffractive multifocal lenses are prone to starbursts, glare, and halos around light sources. The Vivity IOL acts more like a monofocal lens, which reduces these visual disturbances. This is possible due to the use of X-Wave technology, which is unique to the Vivity lens.
The adjustments made by X-Wave technology are tiny, but they have a massive impact on how the lens works. X-Wave™ uses two smooth-surface transition elements.
The first surface is a small, raised plateau. The small plateau stretches the focal range of the IOL, allowing you to see at multiple distances.
Below the first surface is the second surface, which features a slight curvature. Because the second surface has a slight curve, it allows the wavefront to utilize all available light without splitting it, reducing disturbances.
The result is a non-diffractive lens that provides clearer vision at multiple distances and fewer side effects caused by diffracted light. For patients, this means clearer, enhanced vision.
Who is a Good Candidate for the Vivity IOL?
If you’ve lived most of your life with clear vision, it can be difficult to adjust after cataract surgery. Even if you opt for a multifocal lens that allows you to see at various distances, you may still experience visual disturbances. This is why many patients opt for monofocal lenses, even when other options are available.
For some, wearing glasses constantly or dealing with occasional disturbances is something they can overlook. However, the Vivity IOL can be life-changing for the right person. If you’re bothered by the idea of choosing between extended vision and undisturbed sight, there’s another option.
With the Vivity IOL, you can enjoy clear vision at multiple distances without the visual disturbances caused by diffractive lenses. Your distance vision will be similar to a monofocal lens.
Having this quality of vision will allow you to drive safely and avoid glare, starbursts, and halos around lights. Your intermediate vision will also be clear, which makes using the computer, walking around the house, and focusing on the television easier. Your near vision will be functional, but you can boost it using reading glasses.
While the Vivity IOL won’t entirely eliminate the need for wearing glasses, it does allow you to avoid them in most situations. If you want to reduce your dependence on glasses after cataract surgery, the Vivity IOL is a premium lens that can help you achieve more natural vision after cataract surgery.
How Do I Know if the Vivity IOL is Right for Me?
Before deciding on any IOL, you need to consult with your eye doctor. Choosing an IOL is a decision that you and your ophthalmologist will make together based on your vision goals, lifestyle, and personal needs.
The only way to know for sure if the Vivity IOL is right for you is to schedule a cataract screening at Eye Associates of Tallahassee with one of our expert ophthalmologists. We will evaluate your eyes during this appointment, including monitoring current cataracts and going over information about the intraocular lenses that we offer patients.
The Vivity IOL has shown success in patients with glaucoma and certain macular disorders, but you might have a condition that prevents you from receiving this lens. If you have astigmatism, the Vivity lens also comes in a toric model, allowing you to correct astigmatism and remove your cataracts at the same time.
Because the Vivity IOL is a premium lens, it’s not covered by most insurance plans. That means that if you want it or another premium IOL, you’ll have to pay out of pocket. If you can comfortably afford a premium lens, reducing your dependence on glasses and contact lenses after cataract surgery makes it more than worth it for many patients.
