What if I have cataracts AND astigmatism?
For cataract patients with astigmatism, successful cataract surgery is only half the battle for regaining quality vision. Astigmatism is a common vision problem, but most people don't know what it is.  It may accompany nearsightedness or farsightedness and is usually caused by an irregularly shaped cornea (called corneal astigmatism).

In a normal eye, with a round corneal curve, light rays passing through the cornea bend towards the center and focus exactly at one spot on the retina.  With corneal astigmatism, the surface of the cornea has an uneven curvature.  As a result, light rays are not focused at one spot on the retina and your vision becomes distorted.
If you have only a small amount of astigmatism, you may not notice it or have just slightly blurred vision. But sometimes uncorrected astigmatism can give you headaches or eyestrain, and distort or blur your vision at all distances.

Unfortunately, cataract surgery by itself will not correct astigmatism.  However, the AcrySof® ToricIQ IOL now makes it possible to treat the cataract and correct the corneal astigmatism at the same time. The AcrySof® IQ Toric Intraocular Lens is an advanced technology that now makes it possible to correct the cataracts clouding your vision — AND the corneal astigmatism distorting your vision — all at the same time.

Goodbye Cataracts and Astigmatism…Hello Quality Distance Vision
The technology behind the AcrySof® IQ Toric IOL offers precise astigmatic correction that reduces or eliminates corneal astigmatism and delivers significantly improved distance vision without glasses or contacts for cataract patients with pre-existing astigmatism.

With the AcrySof IQ Toric lens, your distance vision can be clear and vibrant, all in just one step.