View Our Cataract & Near Vision Restoration Frequently Asked Questions | Toronto

CATARACT AND NEAR VISION RESTORATION

What procedures do you offer?

For people with cataracts, high levels of nearsightedness or farsightedness, or Near Vision Loss, Clearview provides personalized vision correction options to meet every vision and lifestyle need. These procedures include: cataract and lens implant procedures, refractive lens exchange (RLE), Near Vision Restoration, and lens correction of severe nearsightedness and farsightedness. These procedures are described below:

RLE

RLE stands for refractive lens exchange. In this procedure, the natural lens of the eye (the crystalline lens) is replaced with a new, high-resolution intraocular lens or IOL implant. RLE is most often performed to treat cataracts, but is also commonly used to correct other vision problems such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and presbyopia. For people over 40 who have become dependent on reading glasses or bifocals, RLE is an increasingly popular procedure to eliminate or reduce the need for glasses in everyday life.

Cataract and Lens Implant Procedures

When vision becomes cloudy due to cataracts, the only way to restore clarity is through removing the cataract and replacing it with a high-resolution IOL implant. Just as different people have different lifestyles and vision needs, there many types of IOLs available to meet those different qualities. Today’s cataract treatments provide the opportunity to treat the cataract at the same time as correcting nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and presbyopia. In many cases after cataract surgery, people no longer rely on eyeglasses for many of their daily activities.

Near Vision Restoration

Today, there is a number of intraocular lens implant and laser options that can restore all, or most, of your ability to read and see up close without depending on reading glasses or bifocals. Many people choose Near Vision Restoration at the time of cataract treatment, as one advanced IOL can treat both the cataract and the loss of near vision from presbyopia.

Am I a good candidate for cataract and Near Vision Restoration treatment?

If a cataract is affecting your vision, you are most likely a good candidate for cataract or Near Vision Restoration treatment. For near vision correction treatment or any other premium IOL procedure, you must have a good understanding of the benefits and the potential side effects of each treatment option in order to make an informed decision. Our doctors will recommend a Personalized Vision Correction option designed especially for you.

Are cataract and Near Vision Restoration procedures safe?

Cataract surgery using an intraocular lens (IOL) implant is the most commonly performed procedure in North America; and has an excellent safety record. Roughly 15 million cataract procedures are performed worldwide every year.

What is the OHIP-covered cataract procedure?

OHIP covers the replacement of the cataract with a conventional monofocal lens or IOL implant in a hospital setting. A monofocal IOL usually gives you good vision at distance, but you will need glasses to correct either distance vision or near vision.

At the Clearview Vision Institute, we offer a range of premium IOL options to correct cataracts. These IOLs are designed to restore vision—near, far, and in between—to that of a healthy, young eye. For many people with cataracts who have one of these premium IOLs, there is little or no dependence on reading glasses or bifocals for everyday tasks. Lasik procedures allow many people to live virtually glasses-free for the first time in their lives.

What is the difference between a conventional IOL lens and a premium IOL lens?

A conventional lens used to treat cataracts is monofocal, meaning that it is designed to provide good vision at a distance. Premium lenses fall into two categories: high-resolution monofocal IOLs and presbyopia-correcting IOLs.

High-resolution monofocal IOLs are designed to provide excellent vision at a distance. It’s like the difference between an HD channel and a regular channel on your television. High-resolution monofocal lenses have optics that make vision sharper, which is especially helpful for people who need to see at night or in low-light situations.

Presbyopia-correcting IOLs are designed to provide Near Vision Restoration, which is the ability to see well at a distance and up close, in addition to correcting poor vision at all distances caused by cataracts. Many people who receive a presbyopia-correcting IOL live glasses-free.

What is the advantage offered by the premium IOL technologies?

The advanced cataract and Near Vision Restoration IOL technologies we have access to at Clearview are what make personalized vision correction possible. With our state of-the-art technology and facilities, we can fine-tune vision correction to meet the unique vision and lifestyle goals of each patient.

Because of the investigative and research work with both United States and European laser and lens implant companies, Clearview is able to work with virtually every technology available, and in many cases, before it is available for general public use. When you combine this access to technology with our experience and knowledge, the results are undeniable. In many cases, we see 50, 60, and 70-year-old people who have worn glasses all of their lives, now living virtually glasses-free. That’s the real advantage of technology and the reason why we work so hard to be at the forefront of vision care. The Clearview Vision Institute is Toronto’s leader in Lasik vision correction.

Why is a premium lens implant better?

People choose premium lens implants for different reasons depending on their vision and lifestyle needs. Generally speaking, premium IOL procedures provide the option for high-resolution vision—sharper vision day or night—or the opportunity to see both up close and at a distance without depending on glasses. The real question is, which premium IOL procedure is better for your personal lifestyle and vision needs? Schedule your personal vision consultation with a Clearview professional today.

Which IOL procedure is right for me?

Determining which IOL procedure is right for you is the focus of every cataract and lens implant evaluation. This begins with a review of your lifestyle and learning what you like to do—your hopes and lifestyle goals. We combine your goals with the detailed information we gather from the thousands of data points during your eye health evaluation. Then, we are ready to make a personalized recommendation that is right for you.

How much does an IOL procedure cost?

The cost of your procedure depends on the IOL technology that is suited for you. Our counsellors will review the costs with you and discuss payment options if needed.

Do you have payment plans your procedure?

Yes, while most people receiving a premium IOL choose the one-time payment option, we offer other options with 6 months interest free with Medicard.

Does the premium IOL procedure hurt?

Your safety and comfort are of the utmost importance to us. We use gentle anaesthetic eyedrops to numb your eye for the procedure. Though you will be completely awake, most people do not experience any discomfort during the procedure.

After the procedure, you may want to take an over-the-counter product like Tylenol® or Advil® for a day or two to relieve any minor discomfort. We will also provide eyedrops to keep the surface of your eye moist and comfortable.

How long does the cataract procedure take?

The cataract and lens implant procedure usually takes about 10 to 15 minutes and is performed in the surgery centre of our office.

Are there any side effects to the cataract procedure?

Every medical procedure has risks of side effects and complications. However, the side effects associated with most cataract procedures are more of a nuisance than a complication. Your eyes may be sensitive and even a little scratchy for a few days, and you may see a little glare or halos around lights. These are normal and will go away over time. Complications associated with cataract treatment, while rare, can occur. Our staff will explain all of these in detail before your procedure.

How long is the recovery after cataract treatment?

For most people who have had cataract treatment, recovery is relatively fast. You should notice an improvement in your vision almost immediately, and it will continue to get better over the course of the month following your procedure. You can resume most of your normal activities the day after the procedure, but we’ll provide you with some common sense restrictions, such as no rubbing your eyes. You will use eye drops for a short time following the procedure to provide moisture and comfort for your eye.

Will I have perfect vision after my cataract treatment? Do I still have to wear glasses?

Many of our premium IOL patients who choose Near Vision Restoration don’t need to wear glasses for most daily activities. If you choose a premium monofocal procedure using a high resolution IOL, you will probably not need glasses for driving and distance vision, but will need glasses for reading and working on a computer. In any procedure, the quality of your vision is also dependent on the health of your eye. Complications from diabetes, glaucoma, and corneal disease can affect the quality of vision after cataract treatment.

How many cataract procedures has Dr. Kranemann done?

Dr. Christoph Kranemann has performed thousands of cataract and vision correction procedures in his 15 years of practice. He has published his results in numerous medical journals around the world. He has also been an investigator for studies on many of the premium IOLs used by surgeons globally. His collaboration with various laser technology companies means that his patients are often amongst the first in North America to have access to the most advanced vision correction treatments.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call us - a Clearview vision consultant will be happy to assist you.

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