REAL Vision® FAQs

Colorado Springs & Pueblo, CO

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REAL VisionSM with accommodating IOL's

What is REAL Vision?

REAL Vision is a Reading Enhancement Accommodating Lens vision correction procedure incorporating accommodating intra-ocular lens (IOL) technology that results in patients having close up, as well as distance vision.

Used in conjunction with standard cataract extraction methods, REAL Vision can restore a full range of functional vision, from distance to near vision without total dependence on bifocals, reading glasses or contact lenses. top

What makes an accommodating IOL different from other intra-ocular lenses?

An accommodating IOL has the unique ability to focus on objects at close up as well as distance. This provides a full range of vision, without corrective lenses, from near to distance.

Standard (single vision) lens implants do not have the ability to provide a full range of vision. Most people who have single vision lens implants MUST wear glasses for intermediate and near vision. top

What can I expect my vision to be for reading & distance?

The vast majority of our patients enjoy significantly improved distance vision, and the ability to read the 8-point font in the phone book without reading glasses. Most can see text that is much smaller than that! Some of our patients report the ability to read 4-point font, which is found on road maps and medicine bottles. top

What about intermediate vision like working on the computer?

Your ability to see at intermediate (arms length) will be enhanced with REAL Vision. In an FDA clinical study 80% of the patients claimed they never wore glasses after their procedure. top

Will I be able to read in all light conditions?

REAL Vision provides vision that works very much like the normal human lens. It is important to remember that reading vision in low light is also influenced by the overall health of your eye and by the condition of the light sensors in the retina. As we get older our ability to see in low light conditions may start to decrease. It is always best to read in good light conditions. top

How can I find out if I'm a good candidate for REAL Vision?

First, a REAL Vision consultant will discuss the procedure and your candidacy with you. We will then perform a thorough examination and advise you of a customized treatment plan for you. This exam is provided at no cost so you can find out if you are physically qualified without incurring any cost. Just give our office a call at 630-3937 to schedule your consultation. top

Should I have the REAL Vision procedure in both eyes?

Studies have shown that both distance and near vision is greatly enhanced if both eyes are corrected. Dr. Buckley will look at a number of factors in deciding which eye to implant first, and when to implant the other eye. The usual wait between surgeries is two weeks, but this may vary based on how well the first eye is healing and the patient's visual outcome. top

How long will the surgery take? Will I feel anything?

REAL Vision is a painless procedure that is performed in an outpatient surgical facility. You will receive eye drops to anesthetize your eye and conscious sedation will be administered to help you relax. The actual surgery usually takes less than 15 minutes. top

What are the chances that something could go wrong with the surgery? What would they be?

The medical procedure to implant the accommodating IOL is the same safe, proven surgery performed annually on over 7 million eyes globally. Over 40 million procedures have been done in the last 25 years. Our surgeons have personally accomplished thousands of such procedures. But because it is surgery, it is not without a degree of risk.

Complications of surgery range from minor, usually temporary side effects, to sight-threatening complications. Fortunately, significant sight-threatening complications are extremely rare, and include, but are not limited to infection, hemorrhage, and retinal detachment. People with existing medical conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, chronic inflammatory conditions and chronic infections are at a higher risk of developing complications. Current data indicate that 98% of people have no complications after surgery.

You will receive a thorough examination and be fully informed of any increased risk of a complication. top

What will my vision be like after surgery?

Your close up and distance vision will usually be good the day after surgery. However, your vision will improve over the next week or two, and will dramatically improve after the second eye procedure is accomplished.

Everyone's focusing ability is different. Most people will be able to see clearly at near, and in the distance, but some people may be more comfortable with additional correction, particularly at night or in dim light.

It is important to remember that the REAL Vision procedure cannot resolve pre-existing visual conditions such as floaters, flashes, or visual field loss that are a result of conditions of the eye and not related to the lens.

The restoration of your vision after surgery will thoroughly discussed and a specific plan for optimizing your uncorrected vision for near and far will be recommended. It is important to remember that while virtually everyone experiences much improved vision after cataract surgery, some people will have better uncorrected vision than others.

Since this information is not intended to replace the advice of a health care professional, be sure and talk with your surgeon before making any decisions regarding vision correction procedures. top

What about glare, night driving problems, and light sensitivity?

These symptoms can sometimes be produced or exacerbated by cataract surgery. Many people report these problems before cataract surgery and even after surgery; however, they are rarely debilitating.

As with any intra-ocular lens, glare can be a problem at night when the pupil widely dilates and occasionally light can reflect off the edge of the implant and create a flash or halo of light. This typically does not occur in your central field of vision, but rather in the periphery. People who have worn contact lenses in the past may be familiar with this phenomenon. This condition should only last a few weeks, but may occur later at times.

Again, glare is rarely debilitating and if it does bother you, there are a number of things that can be done to improve your vision at night including medications or night driving glasses. top

When will I be able to return to normal activities after the REAL Vision procedure?

Typically you will be able to return to work and to normal activities following your one-day post op visit. You will be provided with medications to prevent infection and decrease inflammation, and a protective shield to cover your eye while sleeping. top

How often do I need to have my eyes checked after surgery?

You will be advised as to how often your eyes need to be checked. Typically, postoperative visits are accomplished one day after surgery, ten days after surgery, and again around 3 to 6 months after surgery. Thereafter, an annual exam is usually sufficient unless you have a specific problem. top

Can I go to any eye doctor for check-ups after the surgery?

Your surgeon and his staff may want to see you right after the surgery to ensure your eye is healing properly. This may include the 1st post-operative visit and sometimes the ten-day visit. After that, the surgeon may allow you to see another qualified co-managing doctor to perform your follow-up visits.

You should inform your surgeon if you would like a different doctor to follow-up with you after surgery so he/she can consult with that doctor to ensure a high level of care. You should immediately contact your surgeon if you have problems or any doubts about your eyes after surgery. top

Will I have to have cataract surgery later in life?

The REAL Vision procedure involves the removal of the eye's natural lens, while leaving the clear outer membrane (called the capsule) to hold the new accommodating IOL in place. Once your natural lens is removed and replaced with an artificial lens, you will never develop a cataract and will never require cataract surgery. top

What happens if my eye is injured sometime in the future?

Eye injury can involve many different parts of the eye. The clear front part of the eye, the cornea, and the back part of the eye, the retina, are most often affected by injury.

The presence of an artificial lens does not make the eye any more vulnerable to trauma. Indeed, once the human lens has been replaced during the REAL Vision procedure, eye trauma would not cause a cataract. top

What about future eye surgery?

Advanced implantation techniques and the biocompatibility of the IOL allow the body to treat the lens as a normal part of the eye. The artificial lens is encased in the original membrane that surrounded the natural lens. This membrane, called the capsule, traps and holds the IOL in the correct anatomical position in the eye.

Since the implant is fixed in the same position as the original lens, any future eye surgery that could be performed in or around the normal eye can be performed in an eye after the REAL Vision procedure.

Botox treatments, plastic surgery, pterygium removal and other cosmetic procedures should not be performed until your eye is well healed. Typically this is around 3 months, but your doctor will advise you when it will be safe to undergo these procedures. top

I have rosacea on my face, what effect will this have on my REAL Vision procedure?

Rosacea is not generally considered a contraindication for REAL Vision unless symptoms are expressly related to the lids or the eye itself. Your doctor will perform a complete examination and if symptoms such as an infection of the eyelids, styes, eye irritation and red eyes are present, he/she may elect to treat these conditions with medication before surgery.

If you have rosacea and are not currently exhibiting significant symptoms, inform your doctor of your condition. top

I have dry eyes. Will REAL Vision help this condition or will I still have to use artificial tears? The REAL Vision procedure will have very little effect on chronic dry eyes. This condition is related to a variety of internal and external medical conditions and is sometimes associated with aging. You should consult your eye doctor on a therapy that is most suited to the cause and severity of your condition as well as your lifestyle. top

Will REAL Vision influence chronic red and irritated eyes or headaches from eyestrain?

If eye irritation is a result of excessive contact lens wear, sensitivity to cleaning and storage solutions, or what is generally described as "eye strain", implant surgery may reduce or eliminate these symptoms. Eye irritation can be caused by a wide variety of internal and external factors including allergies that have nothing to do with the REAL Vision procedure. Consult your doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment of red, irritated eyes. top

Will security eye scanning still work after the REAL Vision procedure?

Security scanning should not be affected after the REAL Vision procedure. Security scanning usually relates to iris or retinal pattern recognition. The implant has no influence on iris scanning and should not interfere with retinal visualization through a normal sized pupil. top

What will the REAL Vision procedure cost? Will insurance cover any of it?

REAL Vision is obviously more costly than Lasik. But considering all that REAL Vision does for presbyopic patients, and the fact that it is permanent, most people agree that it is well worth the investment. We have several finance options available. top

Over 65 and on Medicare? A recent ruling by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) clarified its payment rules that now allow Medicare beneficiaries with the choice to receive presbyopia-correcting intraocular lenses (accommodating IOLs). Although Medicare will only reimburse the normal cataract treatment portion of the total REAL Vision fee, it does reduce the amount a Medicare patient would otherwise pay. top