Cataracts and Cataract Surgery

Cataract surgery is performed to improve vision by replacing the clouded lens with an artificial one. Cataracts affect millions of people in the United States each year. Cataract surgery is commonly performed and considered safe and effective.

We perform a stitch-free, pain-free surgery by using numbing eye drops for anesthesia. The procedure is performed using an ultrasound-driven instrument that “sonically” breaks up the cataract (phacoemulsification) as it is suctioned out of the eye. Our surgeon utilizes a microscopic incision that allows for a quicker recovery and eliminates the need for stitches, as the very small incision seals on its own. After your surgery, you will use eye drops multiple times a day as prescribed by your physician.

Although cataract surgery is a common procedure and considered quite safe, any surgery poses risks. In the case of cataract surgery, there is a slightly increased risk of retinal detachment, a painless but dangerous condition. Other risks of cataract surgery include bleeding and infection. The risk of complications after cataract surgery is greater if the patient has another eye disease or serious medical condition. Danger signs of complications after cataract surgery include increased pain in or redness of the eye, light flashes or floaters, diminished vision, nausea, vomiting or intense coughing.

Immediately after surgery, an eye shield is worn at night to prevent from accidently rubbing the eye. Vision may be blurry at first due to swelling, just like walking is harder after knee surgery– not easier, but improves that first week. Some itching and discomfort are also present for a few days, but it is important that a patient not rub or exert pressure on the treated eye. Heavy lifting, swimming, and eye makeup should be avoided. Eye drops to prevent infection and clear up inflammation are used a few days before surgery and for about a month after surgery. Once the first eye recovers, then the second eye is done.

With custom cataract surgery the goal is to improve vision even more than traditionally done and decrease dependence on glasses or bifocals. The majority of patients who choose custom cataract surgery report that they can read a book or magazine, work on the computer, drive in daylight or night, play golf and tennis with increased freedom from glasses. Custom cataract surgery addresses two conditions: astigmatism and presbyopia.

When the surface of the cornea has an uneven curvature, vision becomes distorted. This irregularity is called corneal astigmatism. A person who has both a cataract and corneal astigmatism will not have clear distance vision after cataract surgery unless the astigmatism is also corrected. At the time of the cataract surgery, your surgeon can choose a special astigmatism correcting intraocular lens called a Toric intraocular lens. This is an implantable lens that makes it possible to treat the cataract and correct corneal astigmatism at the same time. This lens corrects more distortion than the traditional lens covered by insurance. This toric lens makes it such that you have good distance vision and only need over-the-counter glasses for near tasks such computer and reading. Most patients pass a driver’s test without glasses, drive without glasses day and night, watch TV without glasses and exercise without glasses!

Presbyopia is an age-related condition that most people over the age of 40 experience. This condition results in the difficulty seeing up close without bifocals or reading glasses. Patients who have traditional cataract surgery with standard monofocal intraocular lenses develop “instant presbyopia”, because these intraocular lenses focus at only one distance. Most patients usually need glasses for near and intermediate distance. By choosing custom cataract with a presbyopia correcting intraocular lens however, patients are usually much less dependent on glasses or bifocals at all distances. If you are considering cataract surgery, you may be a candidate for custom cataract surgery with a presbyopic correcting intraocular lens that can provide a full range of vision. This means that one may see clearly at distance, near and in-between with little or no dependence on bifocals or reading glasses. There are several types of presbyopia correcting intraocular lenses– which are referred to as multifocal lenses. Dr. Perozek will take careful measurements of your eye and discuss with you your lifestyle needs. You and your surgeon will then decide together which lens is the best for you.