New Lens Corrects Cataracts and More

Senior Eye IssuesLimited vision or total vision loss can make living in your own home difficult. Safety can be a risk for seniors, especially if they can’t see dangers – such as an object on the floor, a raised carpet edge, or a loose scatter rug, which could cause them to trip and fall. Reading a medicine bottle label may be hard at the best of times and with decreased vision, it may be impossible. This could cause medicine errors, a common problem for older adults who may be taking several prescription drugs each day. Meal preparation can also be tricky, and this can lead to poor eating habits and malnutrition. All this can result in a decreased quality of life.

But, there’s help on the horizon: a new type of lens that can correct the blurred vision and haloing effect that is common in cataracts, and also nearsightedness and farsightedness. Recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration, the Tecnis multifocal implantable lens is showing incredible results, with as many as 9 out of 10 patients no longer needing corrective lenses after the procedure.

For one patient, Melissa Crow, the new Tecnis lens has proven nothing short of miraculous. Prior to the procedure, she struggled with blurred vision during the day, difficulty reading, and issues with light reflections when driving at night. Dr. Kerry Assil, who recommended the Tecnis lens, performed the procedure in less than an hour, and within a few days, Crow reported marked improvement in the quality of her vision. As she describes it, “I was so excited. When I woke up that next morning, I could see 20/20 and it was amazing because I was used to getting up and just seeing a blur out of that eye. And all of a sudden I was seeing print that I hadn't seen in ages.”

Read more and watch a brief news report on the new Tecnis multifocal implantable lens.

If you or your loved one has difficulty seeing, Independence-4-Seniors can help you with many of the things that need to be done around your home, such as light housekeeping and food preparation. If you need help with personal tasks, such as hygiene, transportation, and more, we can do that too. Our free home care assessment will determine what type of assistance you or your loved one needs, and we can provide you with a personalized care plan. If you are looking for assistance and you are in Cook, DuPage, Will or Kane County, contact Independence-4-Seniors for more information.