Are you older than 40 and struggling with blurry vision? You may be one of more than 20 million people who have cataracts.
The lens in your eye is normally clear, and it focuses light (like the lens in a camera) to help you see clearly. As we get older, the lens naturally ages and begins to become cloudy. The cloudy lens is called a cataract, and it eventually affects your vision.
Cataracts still remain the most common (curable) cause of blindness in third world countries today.
In the U.S., cataract surgery is one of the most common procedures done in all of medicine. Cataract surgery is a procedure to remove the lens in your eye and, in most cases, replace it with an artificial lens.
By using a combination of advanced laser technology, hand-held tools, ultrasound, and custom intraocular lenses, many patients are able to regain the independence and confidence that only clear vision can provide.
Today, Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery offers a new way of performing surgery in a predictable precise way, therefore maximizing outcomes. The advanced, three-dimensional imaging helps the surgeon automate and execute the most challenging steps of traditional cataract surgery. The laser surgery often requires less energy to break up the cataract and facilitates removal of the cataract.
Laser can directly treat astigmatism
For many patients with mild to moderate astigmatism, the laser can treat the astigmatism directly to help maximize the quality of vision. It is important to note that the traditional manual surgery is still a good option for many patients and still offers excellent results.
Once a cataract is removed, it does not come back.
With incredibly precise instruments used to measure the eye before surgery, we are able to calculate the specific power of the new lens implant, which is gently placed into the eye following removal of the cataract, often allowing patients the freedom of clear vision without glasses for both distance and near activities. While no doctor can guarantee that you’ll be free of glasses, there have never been so many great options when considering cataract surgery.
Today’s cataract surgery is an outpatient procedure that often takes 10 to 15 minutes or less and lets you get back to your normal activity level within a few days. It is commonplace for patients to leave the surgery center and go out to lunch or dinner on the same day as their cataract surgery. So now, instead of waiting for a “ripe” cataract, surgery can be an option when cataracts are milder, but still affecting your quality of life and lifestyle.
