Lifestyle Lens Options
If you are looking at a vision correction procedure that involves a lens implant, then you may find yourself with an array of choices to make involving what kind of lens you want. In the early days of implantable lenses, the choices were mostly on the surgeons’ side, meaning that the differences between lenses were more about how the lens would be inserted, or how it might be fixed inside the eye.
These days the choices of lens implants for patients to choose from are vast and growing, and may also represent the choice to reduce the need for reading glasses after surgery. In a way, these choices represent a kind of fine tuning of the surgical results.
- Some lenses may provide multiple focusing distances (near and far), similar to what multifocal glasses or “toric” contact lenses may have provided before surgery.
- Some lenses can correct both astigmatism and presbyopia, many are special ordered for your personal prescription.
- In every case, we want you to be happy knowing you made your choice with all the information available at the time.
A note about costs
If you are making a choice about a lifestyle lens and your provincial health plan is paying for your surgery (most likely cataract), the lifestyle lenses are not considered “medically necessary” and are not covered by provincial insurance, therefore they will represent an additional cost to the patient. Keep in mind that the “standard” lens will be covered if your health insurance is covering the costs of your surgery.
Some patients may be choosing a lifestyle lens as part of an elective vision correction procedure that is not covered under provincial health plans, in which case the cost of the lens is added to the expense of the procedure.
Because of the variety of lenses to choose from, and the special needs that each may address, they have a wide variety of costs. We will do everything we can to provide you with the information you need to make the best choice for yourself.
We always advocate for Patient Choice
Our job is to inform you as to your choices – the types lenses that are available (taking into account your lifestyle and visual requirements), what their costs might be, what the advantages may be for your particular lifestyle or occupation, what some of the potential side effects may be, etc. We will work closely with you so that you feel comfortable making your decision, knowing whatever you choose, we want you to be happy with the results. Every individual has different needs, desires, financial priorities, and in the end, your decision is what you will live with. We aim to support you in making your best choice.
