Toric lenses in Vienna: Custom precision for astigmatism

A standard artificial lens (spherical) has the same refractive power in all directions. A toric lens is like a tailored optical suit: it has a different refractive power along one specific axis to precisely compensate for the irregular oval shape of your cornea (astigmatism) inside the eye.

Usually not. If you have cataract surgery, insurance only covers a standard lens that ignores astigmatism (you will need distance and reading glasses afterwards). The upgrade to a toric lens (or even a toric trifocal lens for complete freedom from glasses) is a private service, but you can deduct it for tax purposes.

A toric lens must sit exactly on the calculated axis. Thanks to our FLACS technology (femtolaser) and precise 3D measurement, the lens is usually extremely stable. Still, in rare cases (approx. 1–3%) it can rotate slightly in the first weeks, leading to mildly blurred vision. If that happens, we simply rotate the lens back into the perfect position in a short, sterile routine procedure.

No. Your eyes are fully numbed with drops. The procedure takes only about 10 to 15 minutes per eye. You’ll only feel slight pressure, but no pain at all.

Yes—this is the “top tier”. The latest EDOF and trifocal lenses (e.g. ODYSSEE Toric, ENVY Toric, PureSee Toric) combine everything: they correct myopia, hyperopia, presbyopia AND astigmatism at the same time.

For patients (often under 45–50) whose cornea is too thin for laser treatment, or for whom lens exchange would be too risky due to myopia, we implant the toric EVO ICL. This is an ultra-thin, biocompatible (Collamer) add-on lens that is placed in the eye in addition to your natural lens. It is 100% reversible.

Absolutely not. Since there are no pain nerves inside the eye and the lens is positioned in the tissue with micrometer precision, you won’t feel the implant when blinking or rubbing.

The biocompatible materials (acrylate or Collamer) do not break down. The lens lasts your entire life and never needs to be replaced.

No. Since your natural lens that can become cloudy has been removed and replaced with an artificial lens, you are protected from cataracts for life. (Note: This applies only to lens exchange, not to the EVO ICL).

Months or years after a lens exchange, the tissue capsule that holds the new lens can become slightly cloudy (secondary cataract). Vision becomes milky. We “polish” this capsule painlessly in our clinic with a YAG laser in 60 seconds. After that, vision is crystal clear forever.

We mark your eye before surgery, taking cyclotorsion into account (the natural rotation of the eye when lying down). Combined with our highly precise preoperative AI calculations (TCA, SIA), the lens is aligned to the calculated axis under the surgical microscope with millimeter precision.

Visual recovery is rapid. As early as the first day after surgery, most patients see excellently in the distance—above all without the familiar astigmatic distortions.

Most patients are able to return to work and work on a screen 2 to 3 days after the operation. Heavy physical work should be avoided for 1 week.

Light exercise (jogging, stationary bike) is allowed after 3 to 4 days. Swimming (Old Danube, thermal baths) and sauna are strictly forbidden for 3 weeks to avoid serious bacterial infections inside the eye.

Absolutely not on the day of the surgery. During the medical check-up on the following day, the doctor will give you permission as soon as the legally required visual acuity is reached.

Make-up particles and cream vapors jeopardize the absolute microbiological sterility in the operating room. Come with a freshly washed, “naked” face.

Please avoid all eye make-up completely for at least 1 week to prevent infections.

Contact lenses deform the cornea and distort the OCT values we absolutely need to calculate your astigmatism and the axis of your toric lens to the micrometer. Stop wearing soft lenses 1 week and hard lenses 4 weeks before the examination.

With EVO ICL, we often operate on both eyes on the same day. With lens exchange (RLE), for safety reasons we often prefer an interval of a few days up to a week.

The risk of a severe complication leading to blindness is extremely low (far below 1:10,000). The greatest theoretical danger is infection. We uncompromisingly minimize this risk through highly sterile operating conditions (Class 1 OR) and strict hygiene protocols.

Myopic eyes are longer and the retina is under tension. If we remove the natural lens and implant a flat artificial lens, the vitreous shifts. The risk of retinal detachment increases. We don’t expose you to this risk unnecessarily and instead often recommend the toric EVO ICL.

Yes—excellent! By correcting astigmatism, the annoying “frayed” lights (starbursts) disappear. If you also choose a toric EDOF lens, you’ll have virtually no halos (rings of light), which is ideal for frequent drivers.

Calculating a toric lens leaves no room for error. The optical AI measurements, measurement of posterior corneal astigmatism (MS39), ocular surface optimization, and retinal check with dilated pupils take time. On top of that comes the detailed medical consultation.

The procedure with toric premium lenses (as ICL or RLE) usually costs between €3,000 and €4,500 per eye. The toric custom build (cylinder integration into the lens) is technically complex and increases the already high material costs of these world-market lenses.

Yes, in cooperation with our reliable financing partners, we offer convenient installment payment models.

Yes. Because every body heals differently, in rare cases (approx. 2–5%) there can be a small residual visual weakness or a minimal residual cylinder. This is where our EyeLaser quality promise applies: we can usually perfect the optical result easily with a fine laser touch-up on the cornea (e.g. with Trans-PRK).