Cataract Surgery

Cataract is clouding of the natural lens of the eye. The most important factor in cataract formation is increasing age, but there are additional factors, including smoking, diabetes, and excessive exposure to sunlight. Cataracts can also be present at birth or be caused by injury to the eye.

More than 20 million Americans over the age of 40 have cataracts, and it is the most common cause of preventable blindness in the world.

While a comprehensive eye examination by an eye care practitioner can determine the presence of a cataract,
there are a number of signs and symptoms which may indicate a cataract:

Blurred or hazy vision where colors may seem yellowed
A tendency to become more nearsighted
A gradual loss of color vision

The feeling of having a film over the eyes
An increased sensitivity to glare, especially at night

New Technology in Cataract Surgery

Having a cataract does not necessarily mean that you need surgery. A cataract needs to be removed only when vision loss interferes with your everyday activities, such as driving, reading, or watching TV. The decision to have cataract surgery is one that you and your doctor should make together.

We perform a minimally invasive, no-stitch cataract surgery. The patient is given anesthesia to numb the eye. A tiny incision (2.75 mm or less) is made into the eye and a small ultrasonic probe is inserted. This probe breaks the cloudy lens into tiny pieces and gently removes those pieces out of the eye.

Cataract surgery is a common outpatient procedure and one of the safest and most successful surgical procedures performed today. During cataract surgery, the cloudy natural lens is removed and replaced with a clear synthetic lens called an IOL (intraocular lens) to restore vision. Until recently, the only option was a fixed-focus lens, typically designed for correcting distance vision, which left the patient needing reading glasses to see up close. New multifocal lenses are now available that allow cataract patients to see not only far away, but also at near and computer distances without wearing glasses. Since the multifocal lenses are relatively new, not all cataract surgeons are trained to implant them.

Cataract Lenses

There are a wide range of replacement lenses available to cataract patients, each offering different advantages for your post-surgical vision. The most effective lens implant depends on each patient’s individual preferences and goals for their vision. The latest lens implants help eliminate the need for glasses or contacts after cataract surgery, providing convenient, effective results for your specific visual conditions.

Multifocal IOLs

In the past, cataract implants were only able to correct distance vision, often leaving patients with the need for reading glasses. Multifocal IOLs offer patients freedom from glasses after cataract surgery by improving vision at all distances and at any time of day. Up to 80 percent of patients do not need to rely on glasses with multifocal IOLs.

Toric IOLs

Toric IOLs are specifically designed for patients with astigmatism. In the past, patients with astigmatism would need eyeglasses or contact lenses even after cataract surgery as the basic lens implants did not correct for astigmatic refractive error. Toric IOLs, such as AcrySof Toric ®, corrects cataracts and astigmatism with just one lens and provides a more convenient and affordable solution.

ReSTOR® Intraocular Lens

AcrySof® ReSTOR® is one of the first IOLs to provide cataract patients with a quality range of vision. In clinical trials, 80 percent of patients reported never having to wear reading glasses or bifocals following cataract surgery in both eyes.

The AcrySof® ReSTOR® lens is a foldable IOL that has a unique, patented optical design which allows patients to experience the highest level of freedom from glasses after cataract surgery. It does not rely on the eye muscles, which weaken with age, to quickly change focus to see objects at near, intermediate and far distances. This allows 80 percent of cataract patients, with and without presbyopia (age-related vision loss), to see clearly without the aid of glasses or bifocals.

It is important to understand that while ReSTOR ® is a new technology, intraocular lenses are not new. Lens implant surgery for cataracts is the most commonly performed surgery in the U.S. and has been performed for more than two decades. However, for years, medical researchers have been eager to find a lens that would give patients the range of vision they wanted. ReSTOR ® works by diffractive and refractive properties which allow an exceptionally high degree of freedom from any form of corrective eye glasses.

LenSx® Laser System

Bring proven precision and safety to every cataract procedure with the LenSx® Laser, featuring ASCEND™ Technology — the market leading femtosecond platform.

The ORA System

The ORA SYSTEM is the first and only database for real-time IOL calculations and in-procedure adjustments during surgery.

For more information or to schedule an appointment please call our office at 718-502-3937.