Special Lens Design

Alberta Health Services covers intraocular lenses for cataract surgery at no extra cost to the patient. These lenses are designed to correct only one area of vision, typically focusing on distance vision. As a result, after surgery, if your eye sees clearly at a distance, your mid-range and reading vision may become blurry, requiring you to use reading glasses. Sometimes your vision far also should be finetuned and you will need far and near glasses.

It's important to note that these lenses do not correct astigmatism.

 

Special lens design: (not covered by AHS)

 

The Alberta Health Services does not cover the cost of these special lens designs, which are intended to reduce your reliance on glasses. These lenses are designed to balance your vision at three distances: far, mid-range (60 cm), and near (40 cm). Some of these lenses can also correct astigmatism. The designs vary to accommodate different lifestyles.

 

It is important to understand that Patients can choose either the basic Monofocal lens, which is covered by AHS, or a Special Design lens, which is not covered.

 

These advanced technology lenses are considered "convenience items" and are not medically necessary. As such, they can be purchased by patients at an additional cost.

 

We often recommend a specific lens style based on the patient's requirements, but it's essential to remember that not all lenses are suitable for every patient. Some compromises must be made based on your lifestyle to select the best lens design for you.

 

Remember, realistic expectations mean a reasonably, but not completely, glasses-free lifestyle. There is no guarantee of being "glasses-free" after cataract surgery, but these lenses offer the best opportunity to reduce your dependency on glasses, particularly for reading. Remember that these lifestyle lenses are not recommended for high-performance night activities.