LASIK - iLASIK - PRK - CK - ICLs - Cataracts - IOLs
ReSTOR® - ReZoom™ Lens - Crystalens™
Diabetic Retinopathy - Cornea - Fuchs' Dystrophy
DSAEK - Glaucoma - Keratoconus - Aesthetics
Your eye has a clear lens through which light passes, allowing you to see. When the lens loses its transparency, the cloudy tissue that develops is known as a cataract.
 Cataracts cause progressive, painless loss of vision. The lens clouds naturally as we age so anyone who lives long enough will eventually see a gradual reduction in vision. Most people over the age of 65 have some degree of clouding, or cataract but the degree or severity is quite variable. No one is exactly sure what causes cataracts. In younger people they can result from an injury, certain medications, or illnesses such as diabetes. Prolonged exposure to ultraviolet light may also play a role in the formation of cataracts. Studies have also shown that people who smoke cigarettes have a higher risk of developing cataracts than non-smokers.
Although cataracts usually develop without apparent pain, some indications that a cataract may be forming are:
- Blurred or hazy vision
- Double vision
- Poor vision in bright light
- Seeing halos around lights
- Yellowish tinged vision
- Night vision difficulty
If visual impairment interferes with your ability to read, work, or do the things you enjoy then you will want to consider cataract surgery. Surgery is the only proven means of effectively treating cataracts. Cataract surgery is a relatively painless and is one of the most frequently performed procedures. It has a very high success rate and more than 98 percent of cataract surgery patients will demonstrate an improvement in their vision.
Cataract Surgery
We perform a minimally invasive, no-needle, no-stitch cataract surgery called phacoemulsification ("phaco") surgery. Although commonly referred to as a laser surgery, sound waves are used to remove the cataract rather than a laser (light wave). First, the eye is numbed with anesthetic drops. Then a tiny incision is made in the eye to make room for a small ultrasonic probe. This probe breaks up, or emulsifies, the cloudy lens into tiny pieces.
After the cloudy lens has been removed, a new artificial lens is implanted in the eye. The most preferred lens replacement is an acrylic or plastic intraocular lens implant (IOL). These implants come in prescriptions just like eyeglasses and contact lenses. They also come as a standard lens or a premium lens. The standard lenses focus at only one or two distances which often require eyeglasses. Premium lenses like the Crystalens may providing a full range of vision without the need for eyeglasses.
Click here to learn more about Implant Options.
With the recent advance of foldable IOLs (intraocular lenses), artificial lenses can be implanted through the same small incision from the phaco procedure. Because the incision is so small, no sutures are necessary. No-needle, no-stitch surgery means trauma to the eye is greatly reduced. This allows a faster return to normal activities plus offers less risk of complications.
Improvements in technology also allow the cataract procedure to be performed as an outpatient procedure. For most patients the procedure is painless and performed in under 15 minutes. Vision recovery is also generally quite quick with many patients returning to their normal activities within a day.
Cost of Cataract Surgery
Cataract surgery is covered by Medicare and under your medical insurance (not vision insurance). We accept Medicare assignment and participate in most medical insurance plans. This minimizes your expense for the surgery. There may be some additional expense if you choose a premium IOL. We will be glad to discuss these expenses with you before your procedure.
For more information about Cataracts , please click here »
LASIK - iLASIK - PRK - CK - ICLs - Cataracts - IOLs
ReSTOR® - ReZoom™ Lens - Crystalens™
Diabetic Retinopathy - Cornea - Fuchs' Dystrophy
DSAEK - Glaucoma - Keratoconus - Aesthetics
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