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Cost of Vivity IOL & PanOptix: Comparison
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Vivity IOL and PanOptix lenses can add over $2,000 to the cost of your cataract surgery per eye.
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The PanOptix and Vivity IOLs are premium IOLs that correct vision at various distances. While surgery will remove your cataracts, these premium IOLs can further improve your vision and reduce the need for glasses or contacts.
The cost of Vivity IOL and PanOptix lenses can vary depending on who does your surgery, where you live, and your specific eye needs.
Both are top-of-the-line lenses. The main difference between the two of them is the technology. PanOptix is a trifocal lens. The Vivity IOL works like a monofocal lens but actually offers an extended range of vision as a multifocal lens.
How Much Do Vivity IOL & PanOptix Cost?
The PanOptix is an extended depth-of-focus (EDOF) trifocal lens that can correct vision at near, intermediate, and far distances. It is designed to be implanted during cataract surgery, and it is the first lens of its kind on the market in the United States.
The PanOptix can cost over $2,000 per eye just for lens itself. The average cost of cataract surgery in the United States is between $3,000 and $5,000 per eye, and this costs gets higher when a premium IOL is used.
The Vivity IOL is new, as it just received FDA approval for use in the United States in February 2020. It is currently being offered by specific clinics as part of a comprehensive study.
The Vivity IOL is also an EDOF, but it uses a new non-diffractive technology so that it still functions as a multifocal lens to correct vision at various distances. It comes with fewer side effects than trifocal lenses do.
The Vivity IOL is less readily available as of January 2021. It can cost closer to $2,500 per lens on top of cataract surgery costs.
Cataract surgery is typically covered by insurance, including Medicare, since it is determined to be a medically necessary procedure. The coverage extends to monofocal intraocular lenses (IOLs). Premium IOLs will cost extra, and patients will have to pay for them directly.
Factors Influencing Cost
There are several things that can impact the cost of your cataract surgery aside from the lens you choose.
Where you live
This includes your geographical location and the availability of your selected lens in your area.
Who performs the surgery
The experience of the ophthalmologist and their reputation both affect price.
Traditional versus laser surgery
Cost can vary based on the type of surgery. Laser surgery can add to the price tag, but traditional surgery can include fees for the use of an anesthesiologist and/or hospital expenses.
Difficulty of surgery
If you have any underlying issues that need to be addressed or complications, the cost can increase.
The cost of cataract surgery is highly specific. Talk to your ophthalmologist and surgery center to find out exactly how much it will cost to have either the PanOptix or the Vivity IOL implanted during the procedure.
Comparison
With an EDOF lens, you may potentially no longer need glasses to read or use the computer. The PanOptix trifocal lens can help to correct your vision at each distance by splitting the light and helping your eyes to focus. This type of lens does have some potential side effects, such as difficulties seeing in dimly lit conditions and glares and/or halos around lights.
The Vivity IOL uses a new X-WAVE technology that does not split light in the same way. This reduces the odds for dysphotopsias and still helps to correct for presbyopia as well. It functions more like a monofocal lens, although it is actually a multifocal option that is helping you to see clearly near and far.
Both the PanOptix and the Vivity IOL can significantly increase your overall cost for cataract surgery, but they can also enhance your quality of life and even potentially reduce your need for prescription eyewear.
References
- Eyeglasses & Contact Lenses. Medicare.gov.
- AcrySof IQ PanOptix Trifocal IOL. (2020). Alcon.
- Growing Variety of IOLs Heightens Selection Challenges, Chances of Success. (May 2020). Ocular Surgery News.
- AcrySof IQ Vivity Extended Vision Intraocular Lens (IOL) (Model DFT015), AcrySof IQ Vivity Toric Extended Vision IOLs (DFT315, DFT415, DFT515), AcyrSof IQ Vivity Extended Vision UV Absorbing IOL (DAT015), and AcrySof IQ Vivity Toric Extended Vision UV Absorbing IOLs (DAT315, DAT415, DAT515) – P930014/S126. (March 2020). U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
- Alcon Announces European Launch of Vivity, the Only Presbyopia-Correcting Intraocular Lens With X-WAVE Technology. (March 2020). Alcon.
- Matching the Patient to the Intraocular Lens. (August 2020). American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) Journal.
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