Custom Lens Replacement at Medical Eye Center
As the second leading cause of[1] visual impairment in the world, cataract surgery is the most commonly performed surgery in the United States.
At Medical Eye Center, our compassionate, expertly trained surgeons are dedicated to providing the best possible visual outcomes for our patients, and have performed over 17,000 cataract procedures, placing them among the most experienced cataract surgeons in the nation.
If you’re considering cataract surgery, our surgeons will work hand-in-hand with you to determine the best possible course of action based on your eye conditions, vision goals, and lifestyle.
[1] https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/blindness-and-visual-impairment
Becoming a Patient at Medical Eye Center
At Medical Eye Center, we’re committed to creating a comfortable, safe environment for our patients. Our facilities have been designed with patient comfort in mind, and you will be treated in a state-of-the-art environment with the latest in eye care technology.
If you’re not already a patient with us, we work closely with other eye doctors in the region. If you’ve been referred to us for evaluation or treatment, we will send a report of your examination to your referring physician.
Click here to schedule an initial appointment with us.
What do you love most about working at Medical Eye Center?
Working as a collaborative team is imperative at the Medical Eye Center and shapes the experience our patients receive. The dedicated providers and employees help to elevate the experience of any patients that come through the door. We love what we do, and love being able to help you on your complete vision experience.
What makes Medical Eye Center Different?
The quality of care that Medical Eye Center provides is exceptional, allowing for the most state of the art care amongst our Southern Oregon and Northern California region. Our staff is equipped to provide care for everything from routine generalized visits to more advanced highly specialized cases.
What makes eye care special to you?
Dr. Oliva never gets tired of being able to make a lasting impact on his patients quality of life. Whether that is at home in the Rogue Valley of Southern Oregon, or abroad while performing surgery with his non-profit Himalayan Cataract Project with Cureblindness.
What do you love about working here?
Choosing Medical Eye Center provides you access to proficient and compassionate eye care services. Our facility boasts highly skilled and experienced professionals who are equipped to meet all your vision needs. At Medical Eye Center, our top priority is providing exceptional eye care to every patient who comes through our doors.
What makes Medical Eye Center different?
Our compassionate and expertly trained surgeons have performed over 17,000 cataract procedures, placing them among the most experienced cataract providers in the nation. The breadth of experience has created providers who believe in holistic care and the overall outcomes for their patients. In addition, they are well-versed in curating personalized and personable care plans and following through after each surgery.
What makes the Medical Eye Center team exceptional?
Our team loves what we do. From holding the patients hand before surgery to making sure all their questions are answered, our team takes every step to make sure any patient feels comfortable, heard and empowered over their health and vision journey.
What is some feedback you hear from your patients?
During the post operative appointments we often hear that our patients left feeling comforted and taken care of. Its not uncommon to feel a little nervous coming in for an initial surgery, but by the time patient returns for the second surgery, they often feel completely at ease. This is attributed to the incredible staff taking all the measures to ensure a great experience.
How did you get started in Ophthalmology?
During his first year in medical school, Dr. John Welling saw a video of other surgeons performing cataract outreach procedures in the Himalaya’s. This immediate transformation inspired Dr. Welling to acquire a fellowship under Dr. Geoff Tabin. His love for the life changing overseas efforts became a life long initiative for him that he continues to practice through of Daybreak Vision Project.
What is a fun fact about you?
Dr. John Welling spend a lot of his time hiking and getting to enjoy the outdoors with his family, that consists of 5 kids, all 11 and under! When he is not enjoying Southern Oregon’s beauty, he serves as the CO-Founder and CEO of Daybreak Vision Project, providing sight restoring surgeries to those in need in Africa.
WHAT IF I DON’T HAVE CATARACTS BUT WANT TO BE FREE OF GLASSES?
What is Refractive Lens Exchange?
Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE) is a surgical vision correction procedure that removes the natural lens from the eye and replaces it with a clear plastic intraocular lens (IOL). It is an alternative to LASIK, which uses a laser to create a thin flap on your eye to then reshape your cornea. An IOL is an implant which replaces your natural lens, allowing your eye to better focus on objects, and reducing your need for glasses or contacts. It is identical to a cataract procedure, the most common eye procedure in the world.
Why Have Refractive Lens Exchange?
- It’s a preemptive solution for people over 40 who are beginning to develop cataracts, as RLE eliminates the need for future cataract surgery.
- It provides an ideal solution to those with presbyopia, a vision disorder that affects a person’s ability to focus close up, as it can help with near vision activities such as reading, computer, and smart phones.
- It’s a great choice for people with hyperopia (farsightedness), myopia (nearsightedness), or astigmatism who have a significant refractive error or abnormal cornea that would otherwise disqualify them for LASIK.
What to Expect:
A minimally invasive surgery: During the actual procedure, a very tiny incision is made in the eye so the natural lens can be removed and the new intraocular lens (IOL) can be positioned. Stitches are not required in most cases.
A comfortable procedure: For RLE, anesthesia typically consists of relaxing medication and a local anesthetic. A Certified Nurse Anesthetist will be monitoring your anesthesia to help ensure a pleasant and comfortable experience.
A short recovery time: Typical recovery time after RLE is around one week, during which your eye doctor may ask you to limit certain physical activities, such as bending and lifting.
Fast results: Many patients experience improved eyesight almost immediately following RLE surgery. For some, vision may be blurry at first as your eye heals, and there may be some mild discomfort and itching for a couple of days after the procedure, but within a few days, your discomfort should disappear.
What should I consider with the Intraocular lens options?
What is an IOL?
An intraocular lens (IOL) is a small, artificial lens that is surgically implanted inside the eye to replace the eye’s natural lens. IOLs are commonly used to treat cataracts, a condition where the eye’s natural lens becomes cloudy and affects vision. During cataract surgery, the cloudy lens is removed and replaced with an IOL. The IOL helps to restore clear vision by focusing light onto the retina at the back of the eye. IOLs can also be used to correct certain refractive errors, such as nearsightedness or farsightedness.
What makes one lens better than another?
There are several factors that can determine the quality and suitability of an intraocular lens (IOL) for cataract surgery:
- Lens design: IOLs come in different designs, including multi-focal, extended depth of focus (EDOF), Toric, and mono-focal or single-distance focus.
- Each design has its advantages and disadvantages, and the lens choice will depend on the patient’s individual needs and preferences.
- Material: IOLs can be made from different materials, including silicone, acrylic, and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). Each material has unique properties, such as flexibility and durability. The choice of material will depend on the patient’s individual factors, such as their age and the health of their eyes.
- Optical quality: The optical quality of an IOL is important for achieving clear vision after surgery. Factors that affect the optical quality include the lens surface quality, the optical design, and the refractive index of the lens material.
- Surgeon skill and experience: The skill and experience of the surgeon performing the cataract surgery is also a critical factor in determining the success of the procedure and the quality of vision after surgery.
How long do the intraocular lenses last?
The lifespan of an intraocular lens (IOL) can vary depending on several factors, including the type of IOL, the patient’s age, and any underlying medical conditions that may affect the eye. In general, IOLs are designed to be a permanent replacement for the eye’s natural lens and can last a lifetime. However, some IOLs may require replacement if they become damaged or if the patient’s vision changes over time.
The most commonly used IOLs are made of durable materials such as silicone or acrylic, which are designed to withstand the rigors of daily life. However, the long-term performance of the IOL can also depend on the patient’s eye health and any other conditions that may affect the eye, such as diabetes or glaucoma.
If you have an IOL and are experiencing changes in your vision, it is important to see your eye doctor for an evaluation to determine if any adjustments or replacements are needed.
What is an adjustable lens implant?
What is an IOL?
An intraocular lens (IOL) is a small, artificial lens that is surgically implanted inside the eye to replace the eye’s natural lens. IOLs are commonly used to treat cataracts, a condition where the eye’s natural lens becomes cloudy and affects vision. During cataract surgery, the cloudy lens is removed and replaced with an IOL. The IOL helps to restore clear vision by focusing light onto the retina at the back of the eye. IOLs can also be used to correct certain refractive errors, such as nearsightedness or farsightedness.
What makes one lens better than another?
There are several factors that can determine the quality and suitability of an intraocular lens (IOL) for cataract surgery:
- Lens design: IOLs come in different designs, including multi-focal, extended depth of focus (EDOF), Toric, and mono-focal or single-distance focus.
- Each design has its advantages and disadvantages, and the lens choice will depend on the patient’s individual needs and preferences.
- Material: IOLs can be made from different materials, including silicone, acrylic, and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). Each material has unique properties, such as flexibility and durability. The choice of material will depend on the patient’s individual factors, such as their age and the health of their eyes.
- Optical quality: The optical quality of an IOL is important for achieving clear vision after surgery. Factors that affect the optical quality include the lens surface quality, the optical design, and the refractive index of the lens material.
- Surgeon skill and experience: The skill and experience of the surgeon performing the cataract surgery is also a critical factor in determining the success of the procedure and the quality of vision after surgery.
What are the Intraocular Lens options?
The lifespan of an intraocular lens (IOL) can vary depending on several factors, including the type of IOL, the patient’s age, and any underlying medical conditions that may affect the eye. In general, IOLs are designed to be a permanent replacement for the eye’s natural lens and can last a lifetime. However, some IOLs may require replacement if they become damaged or if the patient’s vision changes over time.
The most commonly used IOLs are made of durable materials such as silicone or acrylic, which are designed to withstand the rigors of daily life. However, the long-term performance of the IOL can also depend on the patient’s eye health and any other conditions that may affect the eye, such as diabetes or glaucoma.
If you have an IOL and are experiencing changes in your vision, it is important to see your eye doctor for an evaluation to determine if any adjustments or replacements are needed.
Types of Intraocular Lens Implants
Cataract surgery not only removes your cataracts, but also offers you an opportunity to reduce your dependency on glasses. You have a choice as to which intraocular lens (IOL) is implanted during your surgery.
Single-Focus Intraocular Lens Implants
A single-focus IOL has one point of focus, which is usually distance vision. If you choose a single-focus IOL, you will generally need glasses for near activities like reading. On the other hand, if your single-focus IOLs are focused on near vision, you will typically need glasses to see distant objects clearly. This is the case even if you didn’t need glasses before surgery.
Custom Intraocular Lens Implants
Custom IOLs are advanced lens implants that not only treat cataracts, but also improve distance vision, reading vision, and everything in between. Your doctor will help determine which implant is best for you.
Which intraocular lens is right for me?
After reviewing the overall health of your eyes, your surgeon will discuss your options and help you choose the IOL that best fits your individual needs and lifestyle. While no lens implant can re-create the vision of a 20-year-old, many patients report being able to read the newspaper, restaurant menus, and food labels without glasses after receiving Custom IOL implants—all in addition to the clearer distance vision that regular cataract surgery provides.
Types of Custom IOLs:
multi-focal Intraocular Lens Implants
Medical Eye Center is pleased to offer the most advanced multi-focal IOL technology, including the recently FDA-approved tri-focal lens. However, if you frequently drive at night, keep in mind that this lens can produce rings or halos around bright lights, which may make driving at night disorienting at first. Most patients adjust to this effect given time.
A multifocal IOL contains multiple zones that focus light at a variety of distances, allowing you to see a continuous range of vision without glasses. This results in excellent visual acuity of close up and far away objects. Many patients report the ability to read small print and see distances, both without glasses.
Toric Intraocular Lens Implants
If you have astigmatism, your surgeon may recommend a Toric IOL, which helps restore clarity to distance vision. Correcting astigmatism once required tiny limbal relaxing incisions (LRIs) to be made in the cornea to change its shape. Now, Toric IOLs can replace the need for these incisions in patients with mild to moderate astigmatism. For those with higher levels of astigmatism, a combination of technologies may be used. Generally, these procedures reduce the thickness of your glasses at all distances, and may also reduce your reliance on glasses for distance vision.
RxSight Light Adjustable Lens
We are excited to offer the Light Adjustable Lens™ (LAL), FDA approved for patients with preexisting astigmatism of 0.75 diopters or more. This is the first lens that allows your eye doctor to adjust your IOL prescription after cataract surgery. The LAL is made of specialized photo-sensitive material. Unlike other lenses, which come with a pre-set prescription, the UV sensitivity of the Light Adjustable Lens allows your eye doctor to customize your prescription after surgery. This innovative technology will help you achieve vision correction that is fine-tuned just for you.
Once your eyes have healed from surgery, your doctor will schedule three to four prescription customization appointments using a Light Delivery Device (LDD). The LDD will adjust your prescription by using UV exposure to change the curvature of the lens. These follow-up appointments involve a simple light-based treatment that is non-surgical and non-invasive.
Custom Lens Replacement Costs and Payment Options
The procedure of the Custom Lens Replacement through IOL prior to developing cataract is considered an elective and not billable to insurance. The cost for this is and out-of-pocket expense and is due at the time of surgery. However, since this procedure will prevent you from developing cataracts in the future, we encourage patients to consider the value of this by means of enhanced quality of life. Additionally, Medical Eye Center is happy to make pre-payment arrangements and proudly offers Care Credit which is designed to be used in the event of healthcare related costs and may be a low to zero interest solution for many considering this procedure.
Additional Costs:
Apart from the surgery itself, there may be additional costs related to the surgery. Following the surgery, you will need post-operative drops to aid in the healing process, which may be partially covered by insurance, and eyeglasses and sunglasses updates that work in tandem with your new IOL, which will not likely be covered by insurance, see financing below.
Payment Options
When talking with your insurance provider, be sure to clarify what your policy’s co-payments and deductibles are, as these can affect the cost of your surgery.
Financing
At Medical Eye Center, our goal is to make the most advanced procedures affordable for any budget. If insurance doesn’t cover all the costs of your intraocular lens implants, the CareCredit® card offers convenient payment options so you can get the procedure you want, when you want it.
CareCredit® Benefits:
- Low monthly payment plans
- No money down
- No penalty for early pay off
- No annual fees
- No application fee
- The application process is fast and confidential
See if you prequalify for a CareCredit® Credit Card. Get a decision in seconds with no impact to your credit bureau score.
Get EyeSmart
If you’d like to learn more about IOLs, visit the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s webpage on Intraocular Lens Implants.
Learn More
If you have any further questions about cataracts, or the cataracts procedure at Medical Eye Center, please feel free to give us a call at 541-734-4816.
English