Surgical Procedures
Surgical Procedures
Cataracts
Cataracts are the clouding of the eye’s clear lens, like a window that is “fogged” with steam. When the lens becomes cloudy, light rays cannot pass through it easily and vision becomes blurry. Cataracts are not a growth or a film over the eye. Initially a cataract hardly affects vision and does not need surgery. As the cataract becomes denser, affects vision, and interferes with activities of daily living, it can usually be removed with surgery to restore clear useful vision.
Cataracts may cause:
- Painless blurring of vision, either distance, near, or both;
- Difficulty focusing;
- Sensitivity to light and glare;
- Double vision in one eye;
- Poor night vision;
- Fading or yellowing of colors;
- Frequent changes in glasses or contact lens prescriptions.
Although cataracts usually develop as part of the aging process (more than half of all Americans develop cataracts by age 80), they can also result from:
- Eye Injuries;
- Certain diseases, such as diabetes;
- Genetic inheritance;
- Certain medications;
- Frequent, unprotected exposure to UV-A and UV-B rays;
- Smoking.
New advances and techniques have made cataract surgery one of the most successful and life-improving surgical procedures.
- After surgery, vision is improved in most patients
- Cataract surgery is the most frequently performed surgical procedure in the United States, with more than 1.6 million procedures performed each year...
- Cataract surgery is usually covered by medical insurance, including Medicare.
- Cataract surgery is usually done as an outpatient procedure under local anesthesia. In this procedure, the Eye M.D. makes a tiny incision through which he or she removes the cloudy lens and replaces it with a permanent artificial lens.
- Lasers are not currently used to remove cataracts. Lasers are sometimes used after cataract surgery to remove a film that can grow behind the lens implant.
Currently, there are no medications or exercises that will cause cataracts to disappear. Contrary to popular belief, cataracts are not removed using lasers. If cataracts don’t interfere with your life, you may decide not to do anything about them.
Types of Intraocular Lens Implants (IOLs)
Typically during cataract surgery, an artificial lens implant (IOL) is inserted into the eye to restore clear useful vision. Measurements of the eye are done preoperatively in the office to determine the size and strength of the IOL. With the variety of lenses currently available, patients can experience refractive cataract surgery.
Monofocal
A Monofocal IOL is designed to give the clearest vision in one range: either distance, near, or intermediate. Usually the patient would at least need glasses for the other visual tasks, such as wearing reading glasses or computer glasses if the implant corrects the distance vision. This is the “typical” IOL choice. If someone chooses a Monofocal distance IOL in one eye and a Monofocal near IOL in the other eye, he/she may experience “Monovision” and not need glasses for most visual tasks after surgery.
A Multifocal IOL can give clear vision over a variety of ranges from near to distance. Many patients will not need glasses, or will be much less dependant on glasses, when Multifocal IOLs are utilized. For the best results, usually a Multfocal IOL must be placed in each eye. Not all patients are good candidates for such an IOL however, and during the exam the Eye M.D. can determine suitability of the Multifocal IOLs. Also, there are some relative visual limitations to these lenses in certain lighting conditions.
Toric
Toric IOLs are specialized Monofocal IOLs that are made to correct astigmatism. This lens implant can reduce or eliminate visual aberrations that astigmatism causes and so may result in clearer postoperative vision in patients with pre-existing corneal astigmatism. Another, somewhat less predictable, method of correcting astigmatism, Corneal or Limbal Relaxing Incisions (or Astigmatic Keratotomy), can also be utilized to reduce or eliminate astigmatism at the time of cataract surgery. These procedures also are not covered by insurance benefits.
Your ophthalmologist can help you to decide what would be the best procedure for you.
For more information refer to these links:
AcrySof ReStor Intraocular Lens