Great Lakes Eye Care is pleased to offer a range of lens options for your cataract surgery! Each option is designed to help improve your vision and align with your personal goals and lifestyle needs.

BASIC FIXED LENS

This is the standard lens that has been used successfully in cataract surgery for decades. It is a high-quality option that restores clear vision, but it has limitations:

• Does not correct for astigmatism, but will generally reduce a previously large glasses prescription to a smaller one, and keep a relatively small glasses prescription in the small range
• A glasses prescription (bifocals or progressive) should be expected for best vision at distance and near post-surgery 
• Fixed lens: vision is not adjustable post-surgery without an additional surgical procedure or glasses
• This option has the least out-of-pocket expense: final cost varies by individual insurance coverage (deductibles, copays, testing, etc.)

WHY GLASSES MAY STILL BE NEEDED
Even with careful measurements, cataract surgery outcomes can vary slightly from person to person because every eye is unique. While most patients achieve excellent distance vision, some may still need a small prescription for their sharpest vision. Over-the-counter readers are very common after surgery. 

SINGLE FOCUS LENS WITH ASTIGMATISM CORRECTION ($1500 MINIMUM OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSE PER EYE)

• Corrects all levels of astigmatism using advanced lens technology and/or limbal relaxing incisions performed during surgery
• Most patients achieve excellent distance vision without glasses; some may still need a light prescription for the sharpest distance vision
• Typically provides vision clear enough to meet driver’s license requirements without correction
• Reading glasses (or glasses for intermediate tasks) are usually still required

Patient Expectations and Exceptions:

• Most patients choose to target distance vision in both eyes, with the expectation of needing over-the-counter readers or prescription glasses for reading.
• Exception 1: Near-sighted patients. If someone values being able to read in bed without glasses, they may instead choose to target near vision (typically around -2.00 to -3.50, depending on their starting point). In this case, glasses would be required for distance activities.
• Exception 2: Long-term, successful monovision contact lens wearers. These patients may continue with monovision using this lens option. However, it is not recommended to attempt monovision in patients who have not previously succeeded with monovision contact lenses, since risks outweigh the benefits and secondary surgery would be required if it doesn’t work.
• Fixed Lens: vision cannot be adjusted after surgery without additional surgery or prescription glasses, where fees would be incurred for both

Advanced Testing (included at no extra cost):
For this option, detailed preoperative measurements are required. At Great Lakes Eye Care, we use our proprietary “Cooke Formula”, which enhances standard formulas to provide the most accurate lens power prediction possible. This state-of-the-art Advanced Testing helps us tailor your intraocular lens (IOL) choice to your eye’s unique dimensions and visual needs!

UNDERSTANDING ASTIGMATISM

Astigmatism is an irregular curve of the cornea that can blur vision at all distances.

• If untreated during surgery, patients will often need glasses with astigmatism correction afterward.
• Some patients never notice astigmatism in their glasses before surgery because their natural lens partially balanced it out. After cataract surgery, the cloudy lens is replaced, and that balance is gone— so astigmatism correction may become necessary. 
• Astigmatism can be corrected during surgery with advanced techniques or advanced technology lenses, reducing the need for glasses.

WHAT ARE LEVELS OF ASTIGMATISM

The amount of astigmatism is measured in diopters (D).

• Mild Astigmatism (about 0.5–1.4 D): Very common — this may affect up to half of all cataract patients. These lower levels can often be treated effectively during cataract surgery with a combination of advanced lens technology and/or small, precise incisions on the cornea (called limbal relaxing incisions or LRIs).
• Moderate Astigmatism (about 1.5–2.9 D): Typically requires a specially designed intraocular lens (called a toric IOL) for more reliable correction.
• High Astigmatism (3.0 D and above): Treated with stronger toric lenses, and in some cases paired with additional corneal incisions for the best possible clarity.

Why this matters:
Even small amounts of astigmatism can blur your vision after surgery if not treated. By addressing astigmatism during cataract surgery, we can greatly reduce your dependence on glasses for distance vision. Cataract surgery is a unique opportunity to correct a patient’s astigmatism. Our Single Focus Lens with Astigmatism Correction Package is designed with this in mind.

CUSTOM VISION OPTION: LIGHT ADJUSTABLE LENS (LAL/LAL+)
($3900 MINIMUM OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSE PER EYE)

• The only lens that can be adjusted after surgery to customize your vision
• Allows patients to “test drive” different vision settings before finalizing their results
• Can correct moderate astigmatism
• Offers the potential for custom-blended vision across multiple zones (distance, intermediate, near)
• Most patients will initially be set for distance vision in both eyes and use reading glasses until adjustments are made
• This is the best option for patients who have undergone prior refractive surgery, such as LASIK

Special Note for Mono Vision Patients:
For patients who are long-time, successful monovision contact lens wearers, the Light Adjustable Lens is the best option, since it is both customizable and reversible during the adjustment phase.

Adjustment Process:

• Begins about 1 month after your second surgery
• Takes approximately 2.5 months (sometimes longer, especially if you’ve had LASIK or PRK in the past)
• Requires wearing special UV-blocking glasses outdoors until 24 hours after the final “lock-in” treatment

IF YOU’VE HAD LASIK IN THE PAST

Patients who have had LASIK often have more unpredictable results with standard fixed lenses, meaning glasses are more likely to be needed afterward. The Light Adjustable Lens (LAL/LAL+) is usually the best option for these patients because it can be adjusted after surgery to fine-tune vision and reduce dependence on glasses. If a patient prefers a Basic Fixed Lens, we strongly recommend Prior Refractive Surgery Advanced Testing ($450 for both eyes) in order to ensure the best possible target outcome. 

What To Expect:
No matter which lens you choose, cataract surgery can dramatically improve your vision and reduce your dependence on glasses or contacts. Our team will work with you to match your lens choice to your lifestyle and visual goals.

Important Disclaimer:

Lens choice is a personal decision based on your goals, cost, and any other eye conditions you may have.

• Insurance typically covers only a standard (monofocal) lens.
• Advanced technology lenses require an additional out-of-pocket investment, due before surgery.