If reducing your need for glasses or contact lens use after cataract surgery is something you are interested in, Arleo Eye Associates offers the Vivity extended depth of field artificial lens.

Your surgeon can use a Vivity artificial lens during your cataract surgery to reduce the need for glasses for distance and mid range, such as driving, watching television, and computer use. This does not mean you will not need glasses for any distance or mid range activities, but it will give you an increased range to your vision and allow you to do at least some of these things without glasses or contact lenses. You will still need glasses for anything closer than arm’s length, such as reading a book or menu, and seeing small detail close up.

The Vivity lens is an out of pocket cost to you and not covered by your insurance. Included in the cost are extra tests to make sure that you are a good candidate for this lens and that there is no other pathology that would affect your vision after surgery, and if there is, to make you aware of your visual potential after surgery. Your surgeon will also use Alcon’s ORA technology in the operating room to take extra measurements of your eye and make real time adjustments to the artificial lens to give you the best vision we can possibly give you.

Having a Vivity artificial lens does not mean that you will not need glasses for at least some things after surgery.

The surgeons at Arleo Eye Associates use Alcon’s AcrySof IQ Vivity lenses if that is what you elect to have.

Primary open angle glaucoma is the most common form of glaucoma. With open angle glaucoma, the drainage system of the eye becomes clogged, which leads to less drainage of fluid, causing eye pressure to increase. If the eye pressure becomes too high for your eye, it damages your optic nerve causing defects in your visual field.

During cataract surgery, your surgeon can insert the iStent trabecular micro-bypass stent into the trabecular meshwork of your eye to help maintain aqueous fluid flow and help control your glaucoma.

iStent is not a cure for glaucoma and it does not mean you will not need other treatments, but it will help with continuous control of your eye pressure.

The procedure is done during your cataract surgery and only takes a few extra minutes to actually complete.

We will ask that you discontinue any over the counter blood thinners, such as Cod Liver Oil, Flax Seed Oil, and Aspirin for 5 days before your surgery. If your primary care doctor feels that it is safe for you to stop any prescription blood thinners, this should also be done before your surgery. If it is not safe for you to stop them, then you can continue them.

Having an iStent does not mean your glaucoma is cured or that you won’t need any other treatments such as drops, lasers, or surgery in the future.

Please discuss any questions or concerns you have about iStents with your ophthalmologist before your procedure.