Lifestyle Lens Frequently Asked Questions
Who is a candidate for a lifestyle lens?
Lifestyle lens candidates include individuals with cataracts that impair vision, as well as patients over age 45 who desire a full range of vision in each eye without corrective lenses. Patients with health problems, such as diabetes or a chronic infection, should wait until those conditions are under control before scheduling this procedure. You are not a candidate for a lifestyle lens if you have already undergone a cataract correction procedure. Your surgeon will perform a careful examination before making any recommendation. At that time, your eyes will be measured to determine the correct lens power for your lifestyle lens.
I have had LASIK vision correction. Am I still a candidate for a lifestyle lens?
As long as your eye is healthy, you can have a lifestyle lens implanted, even if you have already had a refractive procedure like LASIK.
What does the procedure involve?
A lifestyle lens is implanted on an outpatient basis in less than 20 minutes. The eye is numbed with eye drops, and medications are given for relaxation. Your surgeon removes the eye’s natural lens and replaces it with the new lens. You will feel only slight pressure. After the procedure, your surgeon administers drops to control inflammation and prevent infection. The very small incision requires no stitches and heals quickly.
When can I resume normal activity?
Most patients can drive and return to work after only a few days. The eye may still be sensitive to touch and to light, and sunglasses are recommended for outdoor activity. Your surgeon will advise you regarding activities you should avoid while the eye is healing.
Can lenses be implanted in both eyes on the same day?
Generally, your surgeon will implant a lifestyle lens in one eye first, then monitor the healing and vision of that eye before scheduling the procedure for your other eye.
Is the procedure to implant a lifestyle lens safe?
The lifestyle lens procedure is virtually identical to the cataract procedure that has been performed safely for the past 25 years on more than 65 million eyes in the U.S. alone.
Is there an additional cost for a lifestyle lens?
Yes. Medicare pays the standard cataract benefit and the patient pays an additional charge for the lifestyle lens and related technical services.
Which lens is right for me?
For cataract patients, the choice is between a traditional lens plus glasses for near vision or the greater visual freedom offered by a lifestyle lens. Patients without cataracts can choose bifocals or the chance to recapture a full range of vision without corrective lenses. Before advising you, your surgeon will consider the health of your eyes, your lifestyle, and the demands of your occupation and hobbies. Ultimately, the decision is yours. Ask yourself, “What would my life be like without glasses?”
Is there an additional cost for a lifestyle lens?
Yes. Because lifestyle lenses are an upgrade from the standard monofocal replacement lenses usually used in cataract procedures, they are considered elective. The implantation of a lifestyle lens requires additional pre-operative testing to measure for lens accuracy. These tests are not covered by Medicare or most health insurance plans. Associated Eye Care’s additional fee for a lifestyle lens includes an Extended Care Component that covers these tests as well as post-operative office visits for up to twelve months, beginning on the date of surgery.
For information on Associated Eye Care’s flexible financing plans, click here.
Where can I learn more about lifestyle lenses?
For more information on the ReSTOR™ lifestyle lens, click here.
For more information on the ReZoom™ lifestyle lens, click here.
For more information on the Crystalens™ lifestyle lens, click here.
