OPTIONS AT THE TIME OF CATARACT SURGERY

During conventional cataract surgery at St. Joseph’s Health Centre, the highest quality equipment and intraocular lens (IOL) are used to maximize results.  Cataract surgery is an OHIP-covered benefit, as is the pre- and postoperative care.  Recently, new technologies have been made available which may enhance the final visual outcome in some patients.  Choices may be available to you in the technique used to calculate the power of IOL placed into your eye and in the type of intraocular lens used at the time of surgery.  These enhanced services are optional and are not covered by OHIP.  Details on these available choices are outlined below.  It is important to realize that choosing these options will in no way change the way in which surgery is done to remove the cataract, nor will it affect your priority status in terms of wait time for your surgery.  It is also important to recognize that not all patients benefit from these options, and for many patients, the BEST option available is the one covered by OHIP.  At the time of your consultation, two optional components of your surgery will be reviewed with you - (1) the technique used to measure your eye before surgery (i.e. biometry) and (2) the type of IOL implanted at the time of surgery.  Details are listed below.