What is a Cataract?

A cataract is the natural lens in our eye, which has turned cloudy, usually as part of the natural aging process. Light has difficulty passing through a cataract, so the retina, the neural receptors in the eye, only receives blurred and distorted images. Consequently, the brain only receives a dim or distorted image. If cataracts are not removed, ones vision will continue to gradually decline with age.

Cataracts develop for a number of reasons, such as age, trauma, and/or infection. The most common cause of a cataract is aging. Age-related cataracts develop as a result of natural changes within the lens. Some cataracts may also result from ultraviolet radiation, use of certain medications, or certain diseases. Fortunately, the advent of modern cataract microsurgery has had an extraordinary impact on the visual rehabilitation of most cataract patients.

Microsurgery

Cataract surgery is performed with an instrument that uses ultrasound to break the cataract into tiny pieces which are then suctioned from the eye. This process, called phacoemulsification, is done through a very small incision in the cornea, typically less than 3 millimeters (1/8") in size. For most cases no stitches are used.

Intraocular Lens Implants

Once the cataract has been removed, a lens implant is placed in the space that the natural lens occupied. Lens implants are made of a soft, inert plastic material and are designed to remain permanently in the eye. The lens implants come in a variety of powers similar to glasses or contact lenses. Every patient's eye is measure prior to cataract surgery to determine the appropriate lens implant power that will give them the best possible vision.

Premium Lens Implants

Most people experience a significant improvement in their vision after cataract surgery but may find that they still need glasses for their best vision. For the clearest possible vision without glasses, the premium lens implants Crystalens® and ReSTOR® both provide outstanding results. These premium lenses give both eyes a full range of vision from distance to near virtually eliminating the need for glasses in the majority of patients.

Anesthesia

For the majority of cases, cataract surgery is done under topical anesthesia. Topical anesthesia uses drops and ointment to numb the eye and makes it unnecessary to utilize any needles. In some cases, regional anesthesia is used to gently inject numbing medications into the tissues around the eye. There are advantages to each kind of anesthesia. Your eye doctor will help you determine which of these options will be best for your surgery.