Carrying out this treatment even before the onset of cataracts and thus being able to do without glasses is a very attractive alternative for a younger person.
The procedure itself is no different from the one used in cataracts. This procedure also replaces the natural lens with an artificial one. The treatment is a preventative measure that you can decide on before the disease process forces the issue. Any existing astigmatism can also be corrected with the procedure. There is a rapidly developing ,wide range of intraocular lenses which, basically can adapt to any visual defect. We determine which lens suits you with the help of sophisticated and innovative technology. The topography of the cornea and modern biometry( lens strength measurement) form the basis of our planning. The most complex lens is not always the best one. Our goal is your optimal vision.
Here is a description of the various lens options:
(SINGLE-VISION LENSES ( MONOFOCAL)
When using single-vision lenses , vision is optimised for distances of between one metre and beyond. This lens type is used in the majority of cases because both the eye and brain get used to it more readily. It is important to know that you still need reading glasses for closer than the above mentioned distance. If there is a simultaneous astigmatism, the lens can also compensate for this (toric lens).
MULTI-INTENSITY LENS (TRIFOCAL)
Trifocal lenses offer the most complete solution of all refractive therapies. The three viewing areas near, middle and far can be compensated for. This is a further development of the well-known bifocal lens which has been optically modified so that vision in the transitional areas is possible also.
Due to the different zones, unwanted light reflections (halo effects) can occur at the interfaces particularly at night and with background lighting. However the latest generation of trifocal lenses has significantly reduced this effect.
SPECIAL LENSES
In the procedure , a lens is implanted either in front of the iris (Artesan/Arteflex) or between the iris and the eye lens (ICL) without having to remove the eye lens. This only requires a very small access
to the anterior chamber of the eye and the procedure takes about 15 minutes. Thus even high diopters of more than 15D can be compensated for. If you are over 40 years of age and your accommodation ability ( ability to see at different distances) allows you to have a satisfactory near vision, special lenses are an attractive alternative to lens exchange (loss of accommodation) and laser treatment (modification of the cornea) even at low diopters. However the probability of developing a cataract remains the same and a lens exchange might possibly still be necessary.
The prices of the intervention are highly dependent on the kind of lens to be used, ranging from 200€ (monfocal) to over 1000€ for a toric trifocal lens (per eye).
With the monofocal basic lens without compensation of corneal contracture, the treatment price is aprox. 3.650€. With multifocal/ toric lenses the price is around 5.500€.
Depending on the progress of the cataract, health insurances cover a part of the costs.
In our experience, health insurance companies only reimburse what is absolutely medically necessary ie.normally basic monofocal lenses.