Part 2: Q&A with Cataract Surgeon

Video Transcript:

Testing Retinal Function of Multifocal Patients Before Surgery

 Multifocal lenses inherently split the light so there can be a loss of contrast in someone with a less than optimal retina. Normal retina has no problem with this lens. But abnormal retinas may actually lead to dissatisfaction and possibly even lens exchange. If the patient doesn’t get the best vision that they expect, we have to take the lens out, put a standard lens in. I’d rather avoid that situation, avoid the second surgery by doing a simple test before surgery.

Good for the Practice, Good for the Patients

 I’ve been screening my multifocal lens patients for about a year now with the AdaptDx. It is good for the practice and good for the patients, most of those patients have tested normal. I would say maybe 10 % of patients are abnormal. If they have a completely normal exam, we know that anyone with exam findings of AMD, we’re not even recommending multifocal lens. I think most surgeons would not.

Having the RI number also allows us to quantify the disease, talk about the severity and maybe put in a blue blocking IOL. If you believe that the yellow filter will help protect the macula, then that’s an opportunity to say “”We’re going to use a lens that we feel is better for you because you have macular degeneration.”

 Good Results Lead to Increased Patient Referrals

What’s better for the multifocal patients is that I have added confidence that I know they’re going to get a good result and we’ve done everything we can to eliminate other potential reasons for dissatisfaction with that lens and achieve success.

We all know happy patients tell their friends. It has actually increased referrals for multifocal lenses by knowing that the patients are fully tested and our results are excellent. We’re not backtracking later to explain “Oh well, the reason you’re not doing so well is you have macular degeneration. We just couldn’t see it through cataract.” Now we can test for it and identify it even if our view of the back is impaired.