Have you been diagnosed with cataracts?
A cataract is a clouding of the eye's natural lens. It's a normal part of aging. Along with guidance from your eye care professional, the information here will help you understand your lens options and next steps.
Take a closer look at cataracts
The majority of patients report an improvement in their quality of life after cataract surgery. But that's just the beginning. Learn more about what you can expect as you start your journey towards a future without cataracts.
Understanding Cataract Symptoms
Be sure to discuss your symptoms with your eye care professional
With cataracts you may experience:
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Blurred vision |
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Trouble seeing at night |
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Light and glare sensitivity |
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Seeing halos around lights |
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Fading or yellowing of colors |
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Double vision |
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Frequent changes to your vision prescriptions |
Experiencing any of these symptoms?
Click the button below to discover which intraocular lens may be right for you.
What happens during cataract surgery?
Cataract surgery is one of the most common and successful surgical procedures.1 It's an exciting opportunity to renew your vision and see life clearly again. The procedure takes 10-15 minutes, plus 1-2 hours for recovery.2
The surgeon removes your clouded lens and replaces it with a new, artificial lens
You’ll receive local anesthetics to numb the area around your eye and you may be given a sedative to help you relax.2
Recovery after cataract surgery is usually very quick
Within a few days most patients can return to their daily activities, with vision improving over time.2
After surgery, your doctor will monitor the healing process
Patients usually see their doctor a day or two after surgery, the following week, and then again after one month.2
What kind of vision would you like after cataract surgery?
Depending on the IOL you choose (in conjunction with your surgeon), cataract surgery may also help you become less dependent on glasses, or even spectacle-free.3-6
Clareon® PanOptix®
The first and only trifocal lens available in the United States. Enjoy a full range of vision and exceptional clarity, and reduce your need for glasses.3,6
Clareon® Vivity®
Allows you to see clearly at far and intermediate distances.4 You may require glasses for reading small print.4
Clareon® Toric
Provides clear distance vision while correcting astigmatism.7 You may need glasses for clear near and intermediate vision.7
Clareon® Monofocal
Provides clear distance vision.5,8,9 You may need glasses for clear near and intermediate vision.5
Alcon’s proven intraocular lens platforms are the #1 choice of cataract surgeons worldwide.10,11*
*Based on worldwide IOL unit sales, Q1-Q3, 2023.
Find a cataract surgeon near you
Cataract surgery is one of today’s most common and successful surgical procedures.1
Download our discussion guide
You and your doctor have an important choice to make about the kind of cataract replacement intraocular lens (or IOL) you receive.
IMPORTANT PRODUCT INFORMATION - CLAREON® FAMILY OF IOLS
CAUTION: Restricted by law to sale by or on the order of a physician.
DESCRIPTION: The Clareon® Family of Lenses are artificial lenses implanted in the eye of adult patients following cataract surgery. The Clareon® Aspheric Hydrophobic Acrylic IOLs are designed to allow for clear distance vision. However, you will likely still need glasses for reading and for distance vision particularly if you already have astigmatism. The Clareon® PanOptix® Trifocal Hydrophobic IOL is a type of multifocal lens (sometimes called “presbyopia-correcting IOL”) designed to allow for clear distance, intermediate, and near vision with the potential to be more independent of the need to use glasses for daily tasks. The Clareon® Vivity® Extended Vision Hydrophobic Posterior Chamber IOL provides clear distance vision, and better intermediate and some near vision compared to a monofocal IOL. The Clareon® Aspheric Toric, Clareon® PanOptix® Toric, and Clareon® Vivity® Toric IOLs are also designed to correct pre-existing corneal astigmatism, which is the inability of the eye to focus clearly at any distance because of difference curvatures on the cornea, and provide distance vision.
WARNINGS / PRECAUTIONS: You may experience and need to contact your eye doctor immediately if you have any of the following symptoms after cataract surgery: itching, redness, watering of your eye, sensitivity to light. The safety and effectiveness of these IOLs have not been established in patients with eye conditions, such as an increase in eye pressure (glaucoma) or complications of diabetes in the eye (diabetic retinopathy). As with any surgical procedure, there are risks involved. These risks may include but are not limited to infection, damage to the lining of the cornea, the retinal layer which lines the inside back wall of your eye may become separated from the tissue next to it (retinal detachment), inflammation or swelling inside or outside the eye, damage to the iris (the colored diaphragm around the pupil), or an increase in eye pressure that cannot be controlled by medicine and secondary surgical procedure. There is a possibility that the IOL may be placed incorrectly or could move within the eye. This may result in less improvement or a reduction in vision, or it may cause visual symptoms. The Clareon® Aspheric Toric, Clareon® PanOptix® Toric, and Clareon® Vivity® Toric IOLs correct astigmatism only when placed in the correct position in the eye. There is a possibility that these Toric IOLs could be placed incorrectly or could move within the eye. This may result in less improvement or a reduction in vision because your astigmatism has not been fully corrected, or it may cause visual symptoms. With the Clareon® PanOptix® and Clareon® Vivity® IOLs, there may be a loss of sharpness of your vision that may become worse in dim light or in foggy conditions. There is also a possibility that you may have some visual effects such as rings or circles (halos) around lights at night. You may also have trouble seeing street signs due to bright lights or glare from oncoming headlights.
ATTENTION: As with any surgical procedure, there are risks involved. Prior to surgery, ask your eye doctor to provide you with the Patient Information Brochure for the lens to be implanted. This Brochure which will inform you of the risks and benefits associated with the IOL. Discuss any questions about possible risks and benefits associated with your eye doctor.
REFERENCES
1. Davis G. The Evolution of Cataract Surgery. Mo Med. 2016;113(1):58-62.
2. Cataract Surgery. Mayo Clinic web page. https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/cataract-surgery/about/pac-20384765. Accessed March 8, 2023.
3. Clareon® PanOptix® Trifocal Hydrophobic Acrylic IOL Model CNWTT0 Directions for Use.
4. 4. Clareon® Vivity® Extended Vision Hydrophobic IOL (CNWET0) Directions for Use – USA..
5. Alcon data on file, 2023.
6. Zhu D, Ren S, Mills K, Hull J, Dhariwal M. Rate of Complete Spectacle Independence with a Trifocal Intraocular Lens: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis. Ophthalmol Ther. 2023;12(2):1157-1171.
7. Clareon® Toric Directions for Use.
8. Lehmann R, Maxwell A, Lubeck DM, Fong R, Walters TR, Fakadej A. Effectiveness and Safety of the Clareon Monofocal Intraocular Lens: Outcomes from a 12-Month Single-Arm Clinical Study in a Large Sample. Clin Ophthalmol. 2021;15:1647-1657. Published 2021 Apr 20.
9. Werner L, Thatthamla I, Ong M, et al. Evaluation of clarity characteristics in a new hydrophobic acrylic IOL. J Cataract Refract Surg. 2019;45:1490-1497.
10. Alcon data on file, 2024.
11. MarketScope LLC. 2023 IOL Market Report: Global Analysis for 2022 to 2028. St. Louis, MO: MarketScope LLC; 2023.