ST. LOUIS (KMOX) – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a new type of cataract lens that Dr. Jay Pepose, medical director at the Pepose Vision Institute, says could have a major impact on patients. The new lens is called the Trulign Toric Intraocular lens.

Pepose says it will provide astigmatism correction and improve uncorrected vision. Previously, cataract lenses could do either one of those but not both at the same time.

“It’s a great lens for people who have preexisting astigmatism going into cataract surgery and who want a reduction, not only in their astigmatism, but they want increase spectacle independence or less dependence on glasses,” Pepose says.

The new lens will improve uncorrected vision at near, intermediate and long distances, which will benefit people who want to be able to look at their cell phone, computer or watch, Pepose says.

“It creates not only good uncorrected distance but really good intermediate vision,” he says.