The TECNIS® Multifocal Lens Procedure
Multifocal Lens Replacement for Patients in Ocala, The Woods, & Beyond

What to Expect After the TECNIS® Multifocal IOL Procedure

Each year, over 18 million cataract surgeries are performed around the world, making it one of the most commonly performed surgical procedures.

The surgery is generally a 15- to 30-minute outpatient procedure that is performed under local or topical anesthesia. You will be fully awake, but you will be comfortable and feel no pain. Typically, you will be asked to arrive an hour or so prior to your procedure and will be allowed to leave after a period of observation following your procedure.

The TECNIS® Multifocal IOL Procedure

STEP 1: REMOVING THE CATARACT
: Your surgeon will make a small incision in your eye, through which your cataract will be removed. To remove your cataract, your doctor will break apart the cataract and extract it, a technique called phacoemulsification. An IOL will then be inserted through the same tiny incision into the lens capsule of your eye.

STEP 2: INSERTING THE IOL: 
The IOL will be used to replace your cataract-affected natural lens. The lens is made of a material that is flexible, which allows the surgeon to fold and insert it through the small incision described in Step 1.

STEP 3: RENEWING YOUR VISION: 
Once the IOL is in position, you should begin to notice an immediate improvement in your vision. Because this procedure is performed through an incision that is very small, your eye should be able to heal rapidly with little or no discomfort.

1. THE FIRST FEW HOURS AFTER SURGERY

• You will most likely notice an immediate improvement in your vision.
  
• Most patients are able to leave their doctor’s office and return home soon after surgery.
  
• Do not rub or touch your eye.
  
• Be sure to follow your doctor’s instructions when using the postoperative eye drops.
  

2. THE NEXT FEW DAYS

• Your eye may feel itchy and become sensitive to light. This is normal and should go away after a day or two.
  
• You will be able to resume simple daily activities, such as reading, watching TV, using the computer and walking.
  
• Remember to wear the protective eyewear your surgeon provides outside in the sunlight and while sleeping.
  
• As your brain adapts to the TECNIS® Multifocal IOL, your vision should continue to improve over the next several months.
  
• Avoid using any soaps, lotion or makeup near your eye.
  

• Continue to avoid strenuous activity and using soaps or lotions near your eye.
  
• You may use eye makeup with careful application.
  
• Some itching and redness may still be noticeable but should be decreasing as your vision continues to improve.
  
• Some patients may notice rings or glare around lights when driving at night. Remember, it takes time for the brain to adjust to seeing with the TECNIS® Multifocal IOL.
  

• Usually, after one month, your eye will be completely healed.
  
• Most people who experience rings or glare find they are no longer noticeable after about six months.
  
• With your doctor’s approval, you can get back to your normal daily activities, including active ones such as driving, golfing, jogging, gardening and traveling.
  

If you have any further questions about the TECNIS® Multifocal IOL, cataract surgery or the recovery process, be sure to speak with your doctor.

Important Safety Information - TECNIS® Multifocal Intraocular Lens (IOL)


Indication: TECNIS® Multifocal intraocular lenses are indicated for primary implantation for the visual correction of aphakia in adult patients with and without presbyopia in whom a cataractous lens has been removed by phacoemulsification and who desire near, intermediate and distance vision with increased spectacle independence. The intraocular lenses are intended to be placed in the capsular bag.


Risks: As with many things, there may be a trade-off. If you decide to have a multifocal lens, your use of glasses may decrease, but at the cost of losing some of the sharpness of your vision. Even with glasses, this loss of sharpness may become worse under poor-visibility conditions such as dim lighting or fog. There may also be some visual side effects, such as halos and glare from lights at night, which are more common than with a monofocal IOL. Halos are rings of light that you may notice when looking directly at a source of light, such as oncoming car headlights. Glare is a scattered light effect that can appear around a source of light.


General risks with cataract surgery and IOL implantation: Whatever your lens choice, there are risks and possible complications of cataract surgery and lens implantation. Complications could be minor or temporary, or could permanently affect your vision. Complications are rare and may include the worsening of your vision, bleeding or infection. Contact your eye doctor right away if you have any of the following symptoms after surgery: itching, pain, flashing lights, “floaters,” a “curtain” in your vision, redness, severe headache, nausea/vomiting, sensitivity to light or watery eye.


PLEASE NOTE: Warnings and precautions accompany all IOLs because they are prescription-only medical devices. The following warnings and precautions apply to all multifocal IOLs.


Warnings: A very small number of patients (less than 1% in US clinical studies) may be dissatisfied and request removal of their multifocal IOL. Under poor-visibility conditions, your vision may be reduced more than it would be with a monofocal IOL. Under these conditions, you may have more difficulty recognizing some traffic signs and hard-to-see objects on the road. Therefore, you may need to take extra care when driving, especially in poor-light conditions. In rare instances, multifocal IOLs may make some types of retinal surgery more difficult.


Precautions: If your eye is not healthy (including glaucoma), your vision may not be good even after your cataract is removed. In this case, you may not get the full benefit of the multifocal IOL. Before surgery, your eye doctor will check to see if you have any eye diseases. Be sure to tell your eye doctor if you have any health conditions that may affect your surgery or vision, and provide an updated list of medications to the doctor. There is a chance that your vision with a multifocal IOL may not be good enough to perform very near or detailed “up close” work without glasses. The TECNIS® Multifocal IOL is designed for near vision at approximately 13 inches. Take all prescribed medicines and apply eye drops as instructed. You should avoid any activity that could harm your eye while you are recovering from surgery. Before and after the surgery, your eye doctor will tell you about activity restrictions. If you wear contact lenses, your eye doctor may ask you to discontinue wearing your lenses prior to being evaluated for the multifocal IOL. There were no patients 21 years old or younger included in the clinical study. As a result, there are insufficient data to support safety and effectiveness of this IOL in this age group.


Adverse events: The most frequently reported adverse event that occurred during the clinical trial of the TECNIS® Multifocal lens was macular edema, which occurred at a rate of 2.6%. Other reported reactions, occurring in 0.3%–1.2% of patients, were inflammation of the eye and secondary surgical intervention (including biometry error, retinal repair, iris prolapse/wound repair, trabeculectomy, lens repositioning and patient dissatisfaction).

REFERENCE:


1. Market Scope. The 2011 Comprehensive Report on the Global Presbyopia Correcting Surgery Market. St. Louis, MO: Market Scope LLC.