Astigmatic (Toric) Intraocular Lenses

Astigmatism is a refractive error like myopia or hyperopia. In an eye with astigmatism, both distance and near vision are distorted, resulting in a blurred image. Normally round objects appear more oval. In the dark of night, light reflections such as car lights occur more.

Every person has some astigmatism. However, when the degree of this defect is low, it may not cause discomfort. When astigmatism exceeds 1 diopter, people's complaints increase. Therefore, correction of astigmatism is essential. This can be done by eliminating the symptom with glasses or contact lenses or by laser surgery.

It is mostly applied for hyperopic patients who have difficulty seeing both near and far, or for patients over the age of 40 with near vision difficulties. During this procedure, the natural eye lens that has lost its function is removed and replaced with a multifunctional artificial intraocular lens that provides clear vision at near, intermediate and far distances. These smart lenses refract the rays according to their distances and function according to the needs of the person.

 

In addition to these, astigmatic intraocular lenses called special toric, which are produced to correct astigmatism, can be used. Currently, there are astigmatized (toric) models of both distance intraocular lenses and distance, near and intermediate distance (smart lenses) intraocular lenses on the market.

After the necessary examinations and measurements of the patient are taken, the ophthalmologist chooses the most suitable astigmatic intraocular lens model for the patient. Intraocular lens surgery with astigmatism is not different from a normal cataract surgery.

It is performed with drop anesthesia just like cataract surgery. The natural lens inside the eye is removed and replaced with an astigmatic (toric) intraocular lens. Only in the last stage, the astigmatized intraocular lens is placed on the appropriate astigmatism axis.

The bandage that is closed after the surgery is opened by the physician during the follow-up the next day. The patient starts to see on the same day and continues his/her daily life without glasses. After the same procedures are applied for the other eye, weekly and monthly medical check-ups are performed in addition to the use of drops for a certain period of time. At the end of everything, the patient gets rid of the complaint of astigmatism thanks to astigmatic intraocular lenses.

Patients who will be implanted with intraocular lenses must be evaluated well in every aspect. Diabetics, yellow spot patients, glaucoma (eye pressure) patients can use monofocal toric lenses instead of multifocal. Multifocal toric intraocular lenses cannot be used for these patients. For this reason, patients who will be fitted with intraocular lenses should be examined well, examinations and measurements should be made and it should be decided by a specialist physician whether they are suitable for the operation.

When cataract patients are analyzed, it is seen that 1/3 of these patients have astigmatism of 1 to 1.5 diopters or more. It is beneficial that the intraocular lens used in the surgery of these patients should be an astigmatized (toric lens). If it is not used, the patient will continue to be dependent on glasses as the complaint of astigmatism is not eliminated in the daily life of the patient after surgery. Just as glasses or contact lenses cannot be considered without astigmatism, the intraocular lens cannot be without astigmatism.