Cataract Surgery
 

The surgery is performed through a tiny incision that measures about 1/8 of an inch. The pencil tip-sized end of an instrument called a phacoemulsification machine is then placed through the tiny incision. This sophisticated device uses high frequency sound waves, known as ultrasound, to gently break the cough-drop sized cataract into small pieces. Simultaneously, it vacuums those pieces from the eye. The incision used for cataract surgery is so small that it usually seals on its own, without stitches. Contrary to popular belief, cataracts are not removed with a laser. Cataract surgery is painless and usually takes only about 20 minutes to complete. You’ll usually be in the surgery center for a total of two to three hours.

How will I focus if my lens is removed during surgery?

Because removing the cloudy lens of the eye takes away focusing power, that power is replaced with a clear plastic artificial lens called an intraocular lens implant or IOL. The IOL is usually folded up like a taco, and inserted using the same tiny incision through which the cataract was removed. Once inside the eye, the IOL unfolds into its full size and can be properly positioned. The IOL stays in the eye permanently and you do not feel it. The power of the IOL to be used is determined with painless computerized measurements of the eye that are taken in the office in advance of surgery.

What is the recovery like?

After surgery, a protective shield will be placed on your eye; you’ll rest for a short time, and then go home. In most cases, a follow-up visit will be scheduled the day after surgery. Although each patient heals differently, most patients see well enough to return to routine activities within a day or so after surgery. You’ll be asked to use prescription eye drops for a few weeks after surgery.

Which intraocular lens implant is best?

There are many types of lens implants or IOL’s. Lens implants known as monofocal IOL’s are designed to help you to see either far away after surgery, or up-close, but not both. If you choose a monofocal IOL for distance vision, you should be able to see far away pretty well without glasses but will need glasses for reading and close-up vision. If you choose a monofocal IOL for near vision, you should be able to see pretty well close-up without glasses, but will need glasses to see far away.

There are also advanced IOL’s called multifocal and accommodating IOL’s that can help you to see both far away and up close, greatly decreasing and sometimes even eliminating your need for glasses after surgery. There are also advanced IOL’s that help correct astigmatism. Astigmatism is a type of distortion of vision that occurs when the front window of the eye, or cornea, is shaped more like a football than a basketball. With conventional IOL’s which don’t correct astigmatism, glasses are prescribed after surgery to improve vision both far away and up close.

With the advanced astigmatism-correcting or “toric” IOL’s, the need for glasses after surgery can often be reduced. We’ll help you determine the type of implant that’s best for you and will answer all of your questions about this amazing procedure when you come into our office for your cataract surgery consultation.