THE VIVITY EXTENDED RANGE IOL
Extended Range IOLs
The TECNIS® Symfony IOL and the AcrySof™ IQ Vivity™ Extended Vision IOL are a type of lens implant called Extended Range IOLs. These lenses are designed to have some of the advantages of multifocal IOLs without the disadvantages of a multifocal. These IOLs provide good distance and intermediate vision without glasses, but patients may still need glasses for reading. These lenses can cause some glare and halos with night driving, but usually less so than with a multifocal IOL, and generally this is very mild. While multifocal IOLs can create a slight loss of contrast acuity, these extended range IOLs compare to the standard monofocal IOL in contrast sensitivity.
Both the Symfony and the Vivity IOLs are available with built-in astigmatism correction (the Symfony Toric and Vivity Toric) to correct mild to moderate amounts of astigmatism. These extended range IOLs are an excellent choice for a patient wishing to be more independent of glasses, especially if the patient has some astigmatism or concerns about glare.
These lenses are also a good option in patients who are not ideal candidates for a multifocal IOL, but who still desire more range of vision without glasses than a monofocal IOL can provide. In patients with very mild macular issues, such as mild macular aging changes or a mild macular epiretinal membrane, multifocal IOLs do not work as well. If the macular issues are mild, an extended range IOL is often a very good option.
The AcrySof™ IQ Vivity™ Extended Vision IOL is an “extended range” or extended depth of focus (EDOF) IOL. The AcrySof™ IQ Vivity Toric™ Extended Vision IOL is the astigmatism correcting version of this IOL. An extended range (EDOF) IOL is designed to provide a continuous range of clear distance and intermediate vision without the need for glasses. Reading vision may or may not require glasses.
What are the risks with this lens?
The Vivity IOLs are the same shape and size as a standard IOL, so they do not increase the risk of surgery. Vision in dim lighting may be slightly reduced. Glare and halos can occur especially with night driving, but these are generally very mild and tend to dissipate somewhat with time.
How do I know if I am a good candidate for the AcrySof™ IQ Vivity™ Extended Vision IOL?
A complete eye exam is needed to determine the overall health of the eye. Patients with severe glaucoma, macular degeneration, corneal scarring and other significant eye disease may not benefit as much from this IOL. Patients with very mild macular conditions can be considered for this IOL. When there is mild macular pathology, EDOF IOLs often work better than the multifocal IOLs (Restor,® Tecnis®, and PanOptix®). When choosing between an extended range IOL or a multifocal, your ophthalmologist will make a recommendation after a detailed eye exam with macular scanning, and discussing lifestyle needs with the patient.
